Want to erase hard drive
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Original Message
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Name: SMC1219
Date: October 3, 2005 at 18:45:28 Pacific
Subject: Want to erase hard driveOS: Windows ME 4.90.3000CPU/Ram: PIII 127.0MB |
Comment: I want to erase my hard drive before I give it to charity. My CD drive doesn't work, so I can't use my Compaq Recovery Disk (I don't know whether that erases everything or not anyway). What is the cheapest, easiest way for me to remove all data from this computer? Thanks!
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Response Number 2
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Name: SMC1219
Date: October 3, 2005 at 20:04:12 Pacific
Subject: Want to erase hard drive |
Reply: (edit)I already went to killdisk and followed the instructions, created a bootable floppy (for autoexecute mode) -- but when I tried to boot up with the floppy in the drive, it didn't go to DOS. Instead, I just got the same message you always get when you try to start your computer with a floppy in the drive. I read the troubleshooting guide but I honestly can't understand what I'm supposed to do to prevent that. I was hoping maybe there was an easier way.
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Response Number 3
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Name: jboy
Date: October 3, 2005 at 20:16:22 Pacific
Subject: Want to erase hard drive |
Reply: (edit)... then you didn't create a bootable floppy, now did you?? Bootdisks are widely available - you have to execute the file to create the actual boot diskette. Boot to DOS (98 or ME would likely be best) and then pop in the killdisk floppy and run it We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology, in which hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology
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Response Number 5
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Name: Mechanix2Go
Date: October 4, 2005 at 04:01:25 Pacific
Subject: Want to erase hard drive |
Reply: (edit)With ME you can: format a: /s boot on it and run whatever. Not quite RS.
If at first you don't succeed, you're about average.M2
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Response Number 7
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Name: SMC1219
Date: October 5, 2005 at 17:25:25 Pacific
Subject: Want to erase hard drive |
Reply: (edit)Problem solved. Jboy wins the prize. I had not executed the file after downloading it. Not sure how I missed that. I'm usually better-than-average at this sort of thing, even though it is not my area of expertise.(Just so you know, plainandsimple, I had already downloadeded killdisk. That wasn't the problem.) Thanks to all who offered help with sincerity rather than sarcasm.
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Response Number 8
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Name: jboy
Date: October 5, 2005 at 19:40:23 Pacific
Subject: Want to erase hard drive |
Reply: (edit)Many folks aren't aware that the downloadable image files are not themselves bootable. It takes more than just one file to boot into DOS. The d/l site is handy, but Windows also has the option of creating a diskette. Glad it all worked out
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