How do you completely clear a hard drive

[antiabort]

title

[TheMatrix]

Try the GParted (http://gparted.sourceforge.net/) software, free on sourceforge.

[antiabort]

Thanks! i do not need to do it now, but for future reference.

[Overcast]

yeah, as the matrix said, there are softwares that do that kind of stuff. If not sure, but you might be able to take it like to best buy and have them remove everything- if they dont that might be a good idea for them!

[Jufjufjuf]

Do you need to clear it to be irrecoverable? Or just format it?

[Mirage]

There is a multitude of things you can do. If you want it thoroughly erased, then get a professional drive eraser software. Otherwise, just remove any valuable information and throw it away.

[Amaryllis]

Throw it against the wall. That's how I solve all my problems.

[Silicate Wielder]

I have a Flashdrive with Ubutnu 11.10 Installed on it and i can just use that to Wipe computer Hardrives completely, Along with Multi-partitioning them. and doing alot of other stuff like encrypting,Format Altering, Diagonostics and even checking how healthy the drive is if it is SMART Enabled

[anonymous53]

Best way for unrecoverable besides physically destroying the drive.

Dukes Boot and Nuke
Click "NSA level wipe" It'll take about 4 hours though.

[Sire]

Magnets, and I'm not trolling. If you wipe the magnet across the HDD in ONE direction multiple times, it will wipe everything from the drive.

[Commander Thor]

Magnets, and I'm not trolling. If you wipe the magnet across the HDD in ONE direction multiple times, it will wipe everything from the drive.

1) It doesn't matter if you do it in 1 direction, or 36.5 directions, it will erase the contents of the drive.
2) This is also a GREAT way to completly brick the drive. (Meaning, it will most likely never work ever again.

[Sire]

1) It doesn't matter if you do it in 1 direction, or 36.5 directions, it will erase the contents of the drive.
2) This is also a GREAT way to completly brick the drive. (Meaning, it will most likely never work ever again.


Regardless, it wipes the drive, of ANY and ALL info, from the standpoint of of someone trying to destroy contents permanently, it works, and if you're lucky it will still possibly work. (hence the one direction, you aren't screwing with the internal components as much)

[Dabigdtc]

you can cover it but i don't think you can erase it completely since it is a graphical thing but i may be wrong

[anonymous53]

@Sire

It will work, but there are much more efficient forms, because the data is still recoverable off the drive. If he's looking to erase it completely, drill a hole in it, smash it with a hammer and throw out all the parts.

If he wants it to still be usable use duke's boot and nuke