How do you securly erase your hard drive?

[Nimrod]

Q: How do you sucurly erase your hard drive so data isnt recoverable?

A: Use Dariks Boot and Nuke.
DBAN Download | Darik's Boot And Nuke

I always do this before selling hard drives on ebay, or giving stuff to other people or binning hard drives.

 

[punkymunky]

this is very useful thnx i might use it to erase my slow laptops hard drive and start fresh but not sure my parents will let me

 

[InsaneNutter]

You can just put your Windows DVD in, format the hard drive and re install.

Unless you need to destroy some data so it can not be recovered running your hard drive though this would be a bit extreme.

 

[natemoen]

If I am just tossing the hard drive I just literally destroy them.

 

[Nimrod]

That's good, but if you intend to sell them or give them away, your need to securely wipe before giving them away.

 

[Fennyariel]

You can just put your Windows DVD in, format the hard drive and re install.

Unless you need to destroy some data so it can not be recovered running your hard drive though this would be a bit extreme.

No it's not! ;v) I do this probably all too frequently because I've got WAY too much HDD space for my own good and sooner or later two somethings end up butting heads! ;v) So instead of picking through ALL my hard drives I just say the heck with it and start all over again from scratch! ;v) Besides, not only does it get rid of my problems it's like blowing the carbon out of your car's engine only for your computer! ;v)

 

[Howard]

DBAN is ace. If you've got enough time on your hands, do one of the mega DOD-rated wipes, they take weeks on slower drives/controllers