D
dennis@home
"jim" <jim@home.net> wrote in message
news:958fj.60952$K27.50818@bignews6.bellsouth.net...
>
> "Malke" <notreally@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
> news:%23JGzETiTIHA.3400@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>> jim wrote:
>>> If you wanted to clean ALL traces of your activity from a PC before
>>> selling it or giving it away, what would be the best way to do that
>>> without a format and complete re-install of the OS?
>>
>> You can't. Even with a format, data recovery software can retrieve files.
>> The only way to make sure there is nothing left of your activity is to
>> wipe the hard drive (Darik's Boot and Nuke is free; Acronis Disk Cleanser
>> is good but not free) or smash it with a sledge hammer.
>>
>>
>> Malke
>> --
>> Elephant Boy Computers
>> www.elephantboycomputers.com
>> "Don't Panic!"
>> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
>
> Thanks for the info - http://dban.sourceforge.net/ for those that want it
> too.
Apart from the fact that its impossible to guarantee to erase a hard disk of
all information using /any/ software you can get.
The mechanical tolerances mean that the erase head can never be guaranteed
to actually pass over the entire track and will not leave some remains at
the edge of the track which can be read if someone wants to put in the
effort.
The claims made by software writers are not really justified and any disks
with secrets on them should be physically destroyed.
news:958fj.60952$K27.50818@bignews6.bellsouth.net...
>
> "Malke" <notreally@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
> news:%23JGzETiTIHA.3400@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>> jim wrote:
>>> If you wanted to clean ALL traces of your activity from a PC before
>>> selling it or giving it away, what would be the best way to do that
>>> without a format and complete re-install of the OS?
>>
>> You can't. Even with a format, data recovery software can retrieve files.
>> The only way to make sure there is nothing left of your activity is to
>> wipe the hard drive (Darik's Boot and Nuke is free; Acronis Disk Cleanser
>> is good but not free) or smash it with a sledge hammer.
>>
>>
>> Malke
>> --
>> Elephant Boy Computers
>> www.elephantboycomputers.com
>> "Don't Panic!"
>> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
>
> Thanks for the info - http://dban.sourceforge.net/ for those that want it
> too.
Apart from the fact that its impossible to guarantee to erase a hard disk of
all information using /any/ software you can get.
The mechanical tolerances mean that the erase head can never be guaranteed
to actually pass over the entire track and will not leave some remains at
the edge of the track which can be read if someone wants to put in the
effort.
The claims made by software writers are not really justified and any disks
with secrets on them should be physically destroyed.