PC hardware: Donating hard drives, how do I get rid of all my personal data?
- 11/14/08 3:00 PM
(NT) WOW!
by RichardIII - 11/15/08 12:26 PM In reply to: Enough to be safe, not so much as to be paranoid by WatzmanSecurely cleaning disks
by Zouch - 10/31/08 7:59 PM In reply to: Donating hard drives, how do I get rid of all my personal data? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi Kathy,
great idea to donate your old hard drives to worthy causes. You say you have some presently in computers and some not. For the ones that are not, you will have to re-connect them to some computer system to securely erase them or use a large hammer - but then they won't be a lot of use to your worthy causes! The hammer is semi-serious - when I worked for a computer company, we had a customer who required absolute security. When our drives developed errors, a normal company would just call our engineer and he would swap the failed drive for a new one. The "secure" customer would dismantle the old drive and give us everything but the platters back. They had a demonstration of why they did this but we'll let that one lie!
So, for your disks which aren't currently in a machine, you will either need to put them back into a machine or else use an external USB disk caddy (about USD 25 equivalent where I am). If you use the caddy, you can just pop the drives in and plug the USB cable into an available port - you won't need to do up all the screws or put the cover back on - so long as you don't touch the circuit board on the disk, of course.
For your purposes, there are many freeware and proprietary software packages that will clean the disks (by overwriting) sufficiently to ensure that the data is not practically recoverable without specialized equipment. Take a look at http://www.thefreecountry.com/security/securedelete.shtml for a summary of the issues and a selection of solutions. Alternatively, Google Disk Secure Erase and you'll find what you need.
Personally, I use Partition Magic (from Symantec). All I need to do is fire up Partition Magic - it will display all the disks the computer can see, together with all the partitions they contain. Select a partition and select Delete Partition. From Version 8 onwards, it offers the option to do a quick delete (insecure) or a secure erase. Select Secure Erase and it will completely overwrite all the date in the partition and then delete the partition. This will take a while for a large disk or partition. So if anyone tries to restore the partition, all they will get is the overwrite data. Repeat the process for all the partitions on the drive. As a courtesy for the future owner, I create a single partition to cover the whole of the disk, whatever format you like - FAT32 is OK for most operating systems.
If you have a computer with only one disk drive, yes, there are some, you can still use this technique by putting the disk in the machine and booting Partition Magic from the distribution CD. But in this case, I would recommend using the external USB caddy instead.
Just a word of warning. Do make ABSOLUTELY SURE that the disk or partition you are erasing is the one you are donating. Were you to accidentally delete your primary disk, as they say in the sales, "when it's gone, it's gone" - forever!
Erasing Hard Drive Using External Hook-up
by JamesJoel - 1/18/09 1:15 PM In reply to: Securely cleaning disks by ZouchI apologize for not knowing the proper techinical terms.
I purchased a USB2.0-3.5" External Enclosure "Speed Metal Box" hoping to be able to retrieve data from a Western Digital Caviar 33100 hard disk that had been installed in a desktop with a failed mother board. I could not get the computer to recognize that HD, nor could the store technicians. No setting would work: single, master, or slave. The manufacturer also was no help.
I'm not writing asking for solutions -- though I'd be grateful for any! I am writing to warn that the advice to use such "external enclosures" to achieve wiping a hard disk be given with the caution which my experience suggests.
cleaning hard drives.
by butch1127 - 10/31/08 8:05 PM In reply to: Donating hard drives, how do I get rid of all my personal data? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
there realy is no way to complety clean a hard drive. once information is put in the hard drive it will be there forever. the average computer user will not be able to retrive your imformation. but it can be retrived with the right program & the know how. best bet is to take a big hammer to the hard drive to be on the safe side.
cleanign hard drive
by CloudWOmega - 11/14/08 5:41 PM In reply to: cleaning hard drives. by butch1127simple and easy, download DBan and put it on floppy, or CD then run it at start up (i work for a donation company and we must clean it of all traces so it is hack proof) recovery will be impossible. it is a military grade wipe and we have many pros at getting data back from hard drives yet with it we still haven't found a way to get past, but if your hard drive comes up with non fatal errors then it i bad and need the hammer
cleaning hard drives
by Smulders - 11/16/08 8:35 AM In reply to: cleaning hard drives. by butch1127Not true...
If you use tools to erase the data government style, there is NO way someone can retrieve any usable data. These tools write random stuff so often OVER the data, that the usable data has been overwritten, and cannot be reconstructed ever.
I use an opensource tool like D.B.A.N. (http://www.dban.org)
which allows anything from a quick wipe to an enormous amount of passes to erase the data. If you're very concerned, run like 15-20x the clean cycle - and no one will be able to retrieve any data. Even not institutions with loads of cash and equipment.
Use a pair of goggles and a drill, then crazy glue
by Accuphased - 11/21/08 8:11 PM In reply to: cleaning hard drives. by butch1127Never been a big issue, drill about eight holes in the drive with a power drill and 1/4inch bit, or one of your choice.
put crazy glue inside, put in bag with syrup and some cayenne pepper, usually ends any effort for anyone to look at my limited data, like my depleted 401K figures.
If someone knows how to do this on purpose...
by bofahs - 10/31/08 8:13 PM In reply to: Donating hard drives, how do I get rid of all my personal data? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
It would be great! I once hooked up a digital camera to a fairly new computer to transfer the pics. I got, like, a ba-jillion copies of the first picture, until the drive was full, then it stopped. If I knew how to do this on purpose, that's what I'd recommend. Overwrite everything.
Anybody know how to do that?
I use Killdisk 2, to rid hard drives of all personal data.
by net2j - 10/31/08 8:13 PM In reply to: Donating hard drives, how do I get rid of all my personal data? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I like and use killdisk2.zip
http://www.killdisk.com/?gclid=COaN37730pYCFQ8QagodvCwu4Q
This is a low level drive wipe, I use it on recycled and pre-owned drives. It works without Windows, it boots a machine from a floppy, and can easily remove Windows from a drive. It takes about 5 to 20 hours, depending on the drive size and the machine's speed.
I have not yet tried the newer, Active@ Kill Disk - Hard Drive Eraser
"Active@ KillDisk - Hard Drive Eraser is powerful and compact software that allows you to destroy all data on hard and floppy drives completely, excluding any possibility of future recovery of deleted files and folders. It's a hard drive and partition eraser utility. Active@ KillDisk conforms to US Department of Defense clearing and sanitizing standard DoD 5220.22-M. The most secure Gutmann's data destruction method is also implemented. You can be sure that once you clean up with Active@ KillDisk, sensitive information is purged out forever. New Wipe function that wipes out all unused space on existing drives, not touching existing data. We highly recommend you to run this FREE utility for the hard and floppy drives you want to dispose of, recycle, re-use, sell or donate to somebody.
Version 5.0 build 5.599 adds new Wipe function that wipes out all unused space on existing drives, not touching existing data."
Eraser, is another wipe that works in Windows.
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/eraser.html
"Eraser is a secure file deletion tool that allows you to completely remove sensitive data from your hard drive by overwriting it several times with sophisticated patterns (Gutman, USDoD and others). You can simply drag and drop files and/or folders onto the on-demand eraser, use the convenient Windows Explorer right-click extension or use the built-in scheduler for automated wiping of unused disk space, browser cache files etc."
One GOOD way
by eqshannon - 10/31/08 8:14 PM In reply to: Donating hard drives, how do I get rid of all my personal data? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have been a fan of unusual things all of my life and that doesn't disclude Tesla and the weird unknowns..
Simple answer...One removes the hard drive, then purchase or already has a VERY powerful magnet. There are stories about magnetic Theory..and new more powerful magnets are available even as I type. I does take a very powerful one but one you can get your hands on if you know the right folks...My rule of thumb is to use a magnet which can be held by one hand and not too heavy. Then put it on the refrigerator door...If you can pull it off easily then forget this message. If it is hard to pull off then forget this message. If it takes sliding and two hands to move it to the edge of the door end then almost pry it off...it will work...
After the test...you take you hard drive and move your magnet all over it in contact with the drive....Do this on both sides...At that point...your drive will not only have NO DATA...it will be totally ruined and not the smartest persons in the world will get it working or even formatted again...but then you did say donated...strange...like in organ donation? Is someone working with only one drive and needs a transplant? Then use the first and lightest magnet...it will remove all data but still be format able once more...end of story..Been there...Done that...
Bob
One GOOD way
by Riaan Pieters - 11/15/08 2:26 AM In reply to: One GOOD way by eqshannonBob;
Wow! Dude! Thanks for that info. Who would've guessed that? An interesting fact; Your brain that (as it shows from your post) battles to think straight gets oxygen fed from your heart to which there is no spare available except for a transplant. So are there some people that works with only one drive and can't afford another. Will you accept a damaged heart when it comes to that?
Donating hard drives
by Richard Pascarelli - 10/31/08 8:41 PM In reply to: Donating hard drives, how do I get rid of all my personal data? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
The only way to be really, really, really sure is the physical destruction of the drive. Sophisticated people can get all kinds of information from drives that have been "wiped clean".
R
Erasing Your Hard Drive
by Accokeek - 10/31/08 8:52 PM In reply to: Donating hard drives, how do I get rid of all my personal data? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have a program called Evidence Eliminator that you can set to write over existing data. Seven times is recommended however I usually overwrite nine times. They claim that no one even the FBI or CIA can retreive information after you have used this program. As for the drives that are not connected you can hook them up as a slave and run the program. You will need the instructions for your brand of hard drive to do this. Hopefully this is helpful. Good Luck.
Some third party software probably easiest
by abandaid - 10/31/08 8:52 PM In reply to: Donating hard drives, how do I get rid of all my personal data? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
For hard drives installed - a program called Webroot Window Washer has a file called system eraser. Full instructions are with it when you want to use it.Costs about $20. Also Norton Utilities has a Wipe Info program.Costs about $50. Both work very well. You could also do a low level system format but that's a bit complicated.
As far as the hard drives outside, as far as I know, you would have to install them to wipe them. Or take them to a trusted computer store who will wipe them. But that may cost a bit and if your donating them do you want to spend money (more than $20)getting them ready?
Hope that helps,
Tom
Use the Drive manufacturer's utilities
by back_water_tech - 10/31/08 9:10 PM In reply to: Donating hard drives, how do I get rid of all my personal data? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have been in the business of refitting PC's for a few years. There are tons of programs out there that can "wipe" your drives. 
Honestly, the best ones I’ve found are the setup utilities that the drive manufacturers use to set the drives up in the first place.
Look at the drive manufacturer's website for the drive then for downloads. Maxtor, for example, uses a utility called MaxBlast for their drives. by running this utility, you can write a string of 1's and 0's to the disk there by effectively removing any data from it. and this is also a great way to see if the drive is worth donating as the software will alert you to any failures.
As far as I can tell, all drive manufacturers have such software available. 
Of course, if you have anything on the drives that could require a government level 4 wipe, you might as well smash the drive then through it in an incinerator. But that would defeat the purpose of a donation. 
Reuse is better than recycle. If you know someone that wants the drives, take the drives to them. Even old 30 gig drives can be used in a computer that is meant for web and office applications.
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