Computer help forum: Formatting a hard drive

Good.
Format and reload.

Better.
Run a pass of killdisk/dban format and reload.

Best. (high paranoia level)
Remove the HD and destroy it.

It seems there is no good way to 100% erase a HD.
Your call.

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What about a magnet? Magnets are supposed to erase data from discs so wouldn't that be an option as well? Would that mess up a hard drive so that nothing could be put on it again ever? Just curious.

What about a magnet? Magnets are supposed to erase data from discs so wouldn't that be an option as well? Would that mess up a hard drive so that nothing could be put on it again ever? Just curious.
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I'm not a HD guru....perhaps what your saying is true.
However the focus of this thread is not about putting more data on a HD.

But rather how to keep the data that is on the HD from being recovered.
It is my understanding (limited reading) there is NO 100% effective way to erase a HD.

Data recovery houses have some very effective tools.

Run a file shredder prog or disk wipe util 100's of times.
Send the HD to a data recovery house along with a blank check.
I suspect you'll be amazed at the amount of data that is recoverable.

Grif Thomas:
"Yep, it makes a difference.. If the installation disc (Recovery disc) came with the computer and is OEM, then you'll need to use the product key on ONLY this one computer. On the other hand, if the disc is a standard/full XP installation disc and you've already used the XP product key on another computer, then you can't use it on this one as well when preparing it for sale. Unless your version of XP has the option to install on a second personal computer, it won't validate and as such, you'd be selling the computer without a legal OS."

My friend used the recovery disc from one computer he bought to install that operating system onto a different computer and he used the key code that came with the first computer, which went right in and validated. He now has both computers with the same operating system. Does that make the install on the second computer an illegal copy? If you buy a computer, don't you own everything that comes with that computer, since you paid all that money for it? And putting anything from that computer onto another one shouldn't be considered illegal if you own both the computer and whatever you put on it and use it for personal use. It's one thing to make copies and sell them to people, but for your own personal use, if you buy something, you should be able to use as you see fit.

Since you are simply replacing the hard drive on the same machine, YES, the System Recovery Disc should correctly and legally install everything on the new hard drive.. Still, it must be on the same machine with the same motherboard, etc.

Hope this helps.

Grif

...identical to the originals, then the Recovery Disc would "probably" work correctly, assuming that the model numbers were the same as the previous ones.

Basically, Microsoft says if you install a new motherboard or CPU, then you've got a different computer.. At that point, you get to contact Microsoft and discuss it with them.. Sometimes, they can be quite agreeable.

Hope this helps.

Grif

Nope, you don't "own" everything that comes with that computer. This has been discussed a lot on these forums. You only own the rights to "USE" the operating system and programs installed. Depending on the End User License Agreement (EULA), you may, or may not have the right to install those items on a second computer.. When it comes to OEM operating system installations, you only have the user rights to install it on one system.. It can't legally be "moved" to another system even if the computer dies. If you have questions, look for the EULA on the computer.. It will tell you the options you have.

As to whether the second installation is an illegal copy is entirely dependent on the EULA that came with the computer.. Some knowledge as to the OEM installed key code and the Microsoft Authentication sticker on the computer is important and might explain why it worked. Those two key codes are frequently different when a factory install is made.

Still, what you describe is unusual. Generally, the standard "Recovery disc", (which includes the OS and all the drivers and factory programs), won't install correctly on a second computer with a different motherboard, processor, etc. It just doesn't work. On the other hand, if it was a full OS disc such as those which were used by Dell a few years back, it will install but a correct key number would be required. Either way, it's not legal when OEM software is used unless the EULA says so.. (I've not seen one that allows such.)

There are other full license versions available which allow for installation on an office desktop and a home laptop but once again, you'll need to read the user's license to see the options.

Hope this helps.

Grif

But this part doesn't make sense to me:

"Transfer of a Windows License
The OEM license for the Windows desktop PC operating system is tied to the device on which software is first installed. Accordingly, customers may not transfer the OEM license to a third party without that device. As long as the license and device remain together, there is no limit to the number of times they may be transferred."

How can the operating system be transferred from one computer to another and at the same time move with the device? That's a paradox. By "device" I'm assuming it means part or the whole of the computer, which in itself doesn't make sense if it's being 'transferred".