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I have a PC on which I should clean the disks. Cleaning, meaning : making all data on it, disappear, and thus not readable.
Deleting it will not do, since he will still store many files on his hidden filesystem mechanism.
Format will the do the same as above.
I have 2 disks, one OS and one simple data disk, and both are using FAT32.
I was thinking on this procedure:
- deleting all files
- deleting the Recycle Bin
- looping a copy of a dummy file (with no valuable data), to continue copy until the disk is full, ex. :copy dummy.doc dummy00001.doc
copy dummy.doc dummy00002.doc
copy dummy.doc dummy00003.doc
...But how do I do with the OS disk ? I want to be able to check the result ... for which I need the OS still to work. I currently have NO startup CD or so.
Hi there.
What are you trying to accomplich? If you erase ALL data how do expect to retain the OS?
BTW, the term is wiping the disk.
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As stated, that is part of the problem yes. But when you delete files (as a last thing before you do tha magic trick), you determine what to delete. So, you select all data, possibly even Program Files, and ...
But, indeed, it's better if you can startup the computer, whilst not needing C: drive, so you can clear that drive as well ...
Hi there.
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Your posts make absolutely no sense, sorry not no sense totally indecipherable!!
If you just wanrt to clean up the junk on the PC use http://www.ccleaner.com
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User, if you're attempting to state a procedure for cleaning data off of a computer, then you're completely wrong...at least the part that I can understand.
I think sometimes people post these completely off-the-wall, indecipherable ramblings just to see how we'll react.
Life's more painless for the brainless.
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Maybe I didn't stress this part clearly enough : I do NOT want to retain the Operating System. The only reason I don't remove it immediately, is because I want to use it to have the disks wiped.
Hi there.
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Actually, you didn't stress ANYTHING clearly. :)
"The only reason I don't remove it immediately, is because I want to use it to have the disks wiped." You can't do that anyway. You can't format/reinstall Windows from within Windows.
Boot to the OS CD, run through the setup, delete the parititons found, reparition as you wish, then format and reinstall.
Life's more painless for the brainless.
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Yes, that is clear by now.
I'm just anticipating the fact that I may not have a working boot-CD. I'm working on that issue.
Hi there.
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Found these references, need to check them. It's not that I have information of National security on my system, but it would be stupid of me to say : hell yes, all data is removed from the disks, I formatted them !
Interesting thing is that the dummy file creation is needed several times, instead of one time only. Would like to see a technical explication for that. A bit is zero or one, and the previous state is never kept ... which leaves only one explication, be it that you must make sure to address all bits on a drive. O-oh.
Anyway:
http://hermetic.ch/dd/dd.htm
http://forums.techguy.org/all-other...Hi there.
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This is a Windows 2000 forum, and yes, my copy of Windows 2000 is legal.
How about your copies ?
Hi there.
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"I'm just anticipating the fact that I may not have a working boot-CD. I'm working on that issue".
The above statement indicates you aren't sure what you have.
I didn't accuse you of anything, did I? Honestly, your post rambles like you are on something.
Why haven't you simply tried booting to the CD to find out if it is bootable? You make things much more difficult than they are.
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"dummy file creation is needed several times, instead of one time only" Why do you think that?
Again, WHAT EXACTLY ARE YOU TRYING TO DO?????? If all you want to do is wipe the drive and reinstall the OS from scratch, then all the rest of this stuff is a waste of time.
Life's more painless for the brainless.
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Download a program called Eraser. With that program you can create Nuke Boot Disk. If yor computer restarts enter the floppy and follow the instructions. After that the HDD is inreadable. You have to format the HDD to use it.
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