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All Forums > Tech Talk > Tech Talk Forum Page 31 > A way to erase/reformat WD Ext. HD?
AuthorPost
ChodeMasterJ
Perpetual Marxist

5405 Posts
4/03
Posted - Sep 21 2007 : 4:04AM
I'm looking to sell a 500GB Ext HD that I got about 9 months ago because i don't use it. I only used it for porn and mp3s. I erased all the files off of it but do I need to do anything else with it before I sell it?
Anyone want it? I'll cut you an ADT Deal. I've got all the cords and everything. Message me if so.

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licker
Senior Member

Heretic, Iconoclast, Skeptic
1141 Posts
8/03
Posted - Sep 21 2007 : 5:07AM
If you have only used "delete" to erase your files, your data is still on the disc.
You can use a product like BCWipe (http://www.jetico.com) to overwrite the disc with random numbers to permanently erase any of your private data. To be really sure, perform this procedure seven times (U.S. DoD standard I believe.)
There may be free alternatives by now, but BCWipe is the one I have been using. You can also use it to securely delete files in normal day to day use of your computer.
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ChodeMasterJ
Perpetual Marxist

5405 Posts
4/03
Posted - Sep 21 2007 : 5:17AM
yuck. i guess I have to sell it to someone on here then who doesn't give a shit if there was porn on it. I don't like selling shit on ebay anyways.
I'm "promoting from within", persay. haha. thanks for the tip though.
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conquistador
Deactivated User

Hellhamster.
2947 Posts
10/03
Posted - Sep 21 2007 : 6:00AM
ChodeMasterJ
Perpetual Marxist

5405 Posts
4/03
Posted - Sep 21 2007 : 6:32AM
actually this is one that i had on the PC. I'm just cleaning shop and selling stuff i don't need/use. I'm even thinking of selling the Mac. Blasphemy. I need the cash. :-\
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willywilly
Member

Activated Member
662 Posts
2/05
Posted - Sep 21 2007 : 1:58PM
DBAN, maybe?
Darik's Boot and Nuke
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Hardware All-Star Supporter
All-Star Member

Your other left
14595 Posts
3/02
Posted - Sep 21 2007 : 2:58PM
Your average Joe isn't going to go through the hassle of recovering your files.
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Leyden
Senior Member

The people have spoken. I'm a nitpicking dick. Woo!
8754 Posts
1/04
Posted - Sep 21 2007 : 7:01PM
Open source program Eraser will do what you want.
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RandomPrecision
Senior Member

Enjoy!
8175 Posts
3/06
Posted - Sep 22 2007 : 7:22PM
Probably not but that doesn't mean there isn't a chance. I guess it depends on how sensitive the data is. Anyone who shreds all their bills and statements and so forth should probably do the same with a hard drive they're planning on getting rid of. You never know.
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Tinaka
Member

953 Posts
8/03
Posted - Sep 24 2007 : 7:51PM
I read in the newspaper just today about a university that bought a whole load of hard drives off e-bay for a study. They analysed them and found loads of valuable data from businesses and government and some child porn.
Click
Edited by - Tinaka on 9/24/2007 7:53:02 PM
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All Forums > Tech Talk > Tech Talk Forum Page 31A way to erase/reformat WD Ext. HD?

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