How to Wipe my HDD

Vidya

Vidya

Vidya

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Joined
20 Aug 2011
Posts
182
Ok so what I've done so far on my 1TB Samsung HDD is:

I've got windows 7 booted from a usb and I'm in command prompt

I've

chkdsk /r
done a full format
then i'm now on clean all

is the clean all where it zeroes the whole hdd

I'm just wondering if i've done it in the right order, I want to fully clean my HDD up as though it's new, let me know if I should do it in a different order than what I've done, also whats the difference between clean all and an unconditional format
 
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Do you deliberately ignore peoples advice? I (and a million other people) have already explained to you what to do.

I gave you a very detailed explanation in your other thread. Read it!
 
sorry I've got OCD and I get anxiety if I don't understand how things work fully, I just want to pretty much restore my hard drive to how it would have came and I'm just asking for the process I should go through and in what order to achieve that
 
Not another one.. Can you stick to one thread or this is going to end bad.. For you.
You really dont want to zero wipe a 1TB hard drive, unless you got a few days to waste.

So, format, install windows and enjoy?!
 
Vidya said:
sorry I've got OCD and I get anxiety if I don't understand how things work fully, I just want to pretty much restore my hard drive to how it would have came and I'm just asking for the process I should go through and in what order to achieve that
Click to expand...

Your giving me anxiety with all these posts.

If you go onto your other thread and follow my instructions clearly. This will do exactly what you want.

If your sensible. You will just install Windows the way mentioned above.

If your paranoid the men in lab coats are going to break down your door in the middle of the night and take away your hard drive for analysis. Then just smash it up and buy a new one :p

All the data on it will eventually be erased the more you use the drive if you install the normal way.

Like I said... read my other post in your other thread.
 
If you truly have OCD then I feel sorry for you. My brother has that bad and he is the same. He has to switch his PS3 on about 3 times before he's happy that it's switched on OK.
 
Thank you, also just for general understanding

what actually is the difference between disk part clean all and an unconditional format?

when I look for explainations they both write zeros to the disk was hoping someone could enlighten me
 
remove the screws holding the case together,

remove the silver platters

using a sharp impliment etch 0's into the surface of the platter, once the whole surface is etched with 0's replace the platters in the casing and screw it back together

if you don't want to overwrite your windows install look really closely at the platters and you will see the data, jsut make sure you dont etch over it... also keep the platers on a flat surface or your data will fall off...
 
Vidya said:
Thank you, also just for general understanding

what actually is the difference between disk part clean all and an unconditional format?

when I look for explainations they both write zeros to the disk was hoping someone could enlighten me
Click to expand...

a format only overwrites a tiny bit of the drive where all the meta data goes, all the data is left intact jsut no longer visible to the OS.

a chkdsk /r only verifies all the sectors it does not do anything to them

unconditional format if there is such a thing will probably jsut format without asking more questions...

a quick format does not verify the sectors of the media

a normal format will verify (but not overwrite) the sectors

disk part clean, who knows what that will do, probably erase the data

a simply overwrite can sometimes be undone that is why you have different levels of overwrite single / multi pass.

If you have a drive with data on that should NEVER be read by anyone I would advise you milti pass erase the drive then remove the platters and burn everything... for all you know the erase program is jsut encrypting that data (paranoid i know)..
 
Vidya said:
Thank you, also just for general understanding

what actually is the difference between disk part clean all and an unconditional format?

when I look for explainations they both write zeros to the disk was hoping someone could enlighten me
Click to expand...

According to what I've just read, there isnt anything different in either, they basically mark the data as deleted (So it can be recovered with software if needed). If you really want to delete data to the point that is unrecoverable, then get software like DBAN. Seriously though, if its only you using it, then just use the built in format with the OS disc.

*Edit* Basically just read all the advice you've been given in all your other threads.
 
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Vidya, there are quite a number of threads that have been opened on this, we understand that you have OCD but you have more than enough information to do what you are looking to do, I myself have even looked at the threads.

If doing something like this is causing you so much grief, I suggest next time you purchase a pre-built machine from OCUK it'll save you a lot of time and hassle.
 
Why have you created yet another thread?

Your question has been answered correctly and in full across a number of threads yet you choose to ignore the advice given by other members who have taken the time to reply. What answers are you specifically looking for?

Regardless of which format option you choose, the file system is designed to manage free/usable space so you don't have to worry about it. If you must, format you hard drive as previously instructed, install windows and use CCLEANER using the "Wipe Free Space" option say once every 6 months or so.

If the answer you seek isn't what you were expecting then it maybe that other members haven't fully understood your question, If so then make sure you make your point clearly and read all the replies. Please don't create anymore threads
 
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