Hey, I was trying to install LINUX on my machine so i used Partition Magic to create a LINUX native and LINUX swap drive. Well, after LINUX didnt work I decided to delete those partitions. Basically I tried to delete and merge the partitions, that didnt work, then i tried to reformat the hard drive, that didnt work, so i found out the by placing the HD next to a magnet, I would ease the Partitoins and get all of the 80 GB back instead of the 32 its showing. I dont care about the data on there, im only running the OS right now becasue I reformated it. Right now I am trying to use an amplifier magnet to wipe the drive, data, partitions and all to restore it to the way that it was when i bought it. (I think the top metal side is magnetically shielded so I am currently trying teh underside of trhe drive). I doubt this will work and if it dosent, is there a way to restore the drive back to the way it was when i bought it with no partitions and the full 80 gigs? any help is appreciated. Thanks!

hello you should have goten low level wipeing from your hard drive makers sight. or d/led eraiser and just over wrote the drive what you have mostlickly done is screw up the drive. and if your lucky no premanet damaged other than partion tables that can be rewrote easy enogh. hope fully the magnet has not damaged circetry on hard drive.

When you are unable to wipe a hdd using fdisk and/or format or whatever, a low level format should achieve the desired result. I feel that using a magnet to correct hdd problems to be somewhat risky. This is becuse while it may wip e the platters of sectors, tracks and data etc, it may als cause unwanted effects to the circuitry and the hdd's own magnets. Go to the hdd makers website and download their low level format or using a general ll formatter such as pc-check. Good luck - Keep us posted.

It may be killed by the magnet technique. Residual magnetisism(sp?) can be VERY difficult to remove and may render the drive useless. Jimi_l

HI all Never use a magnet on a hard drive unless you want to trash it. If you mess up the secotor or tack header information put there by hdd manufacture it can not be replaced by your comp and it becomes a door stop!

That's ridiculous Tox1cthreat. I assume that you are trying to put us on. But for any others out there that might consider trying that, Even if you were successful in erasing the drive (which is very unlikely), that would remove the low level formatting. A low level format can only be accomplished at the factory, so there is no recovery.