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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Posts
    1,366

    Secure Formatting Tools

    Can anyone reccomend tools to securely format hard drives so data can not be recovered?

    I used one a few years ago, but I forgot the name of it.

    Thanks.
    - Matt

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Posts
    209

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Posts
    1,366
    Originally posted by ajaspers
    http://dban.sourceforge.net/
    Thanks.
    - Matt

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    San Francisco, CA
    Posts
    2,455
    I just zero my drive, haven't reformatted in years . I still think zeroing is better then any software out there.
    Tyler Cole
    Eeek, a Blog

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2002
    Location
    Arizona
    Posts
    602
    Kill Disk

    http://www.killdisk.com/

    Version
    FREE
    Professional

    Securely overwrites and destroys all data on physical drive
    Yes
    Yes

    Erases partitions, logical drives and even not used disk space
    Yes
    Yes

    Erasing report is created and can be saved as file
    Yes
    Yes

    US Department of Defense 5220.22 M compliant
    -
    Yes

    Supports several erasing methods including the most secure Gutmann's algorithm
    -
    Yes

    Data verification could be performed after erasing is completed
    -
    Yes

    Display detected drive information
    Yes
    Yes

    Disk Viewer allows to preview any sectors on a drive
    Yes
    Yes

    Support IDE / ATA / SCSI drives
    Yes
    Yes

    Support HDD / Floppies / Zip / Jazz drives
    Yes
    Yes

    Support large (more than 128GB) drives
    Yes
    Yes

    Support erasing any Operating and File System
    Yes
    Yes

    Support Command Line mode
    Yes
    Yes

    Can be placed on bootable floppy
    Yes
    Yes

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
    Posts
    47
    Pdwipe - it's forensically sound.
    http://www.digitalintelligence.com/s...ftware/pdwipe/

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Posts
    675
    So what does normail Formact C: leave behind?

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    San Francisco, CA
    Posts
    2,455
    Originally posted by Johnburk
    So what does normail Formact C: leave behind?
    Just what you reformat. Reformats are completely recoverable, however "secure" deleting it, or writing zeros to it, are not. They cannot be recovered. But some software, will recover your hard drive up to 15 reformats before.
    Tyler Cole
    Eeek, a Blog

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Posts
    675
    So where is the reformats stored? I formated my 120GB hdd and there was 120GB free.

    I don't get it?

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Goleta, CA
    Posts
    5,566
    That's just it they are still there until you write over them.
    Patron: I'd like my free lunch please.
    Cafe Manager: Free lunch? Did you read the fine print stating it was an April Fool's joke.
    Patron: I read the same way I listen, I ignore the parts I don't agree with. I'm suing you for false advertising.
    Cafe Owner: Is our lawyer still working pro bono?

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Posts
    675
    Originally posted by pixelized
    That's just it they are still there until you write over them.



    Does that slow down your harddisk?

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Goleta, CA
    Posts
    5,566
    No it doesn't slow down your drive at all. As far as windows is concerned data doesn't exist there with a normal format but it's still magnetically on the disk until something replaces it.
    Patron: I'd like my free lunch please.
    Cafe Manager: Free lunch? Did you read the fine print stating it was an April Fool's joke.
    Patron: I read the same way I listen, I ignore the parts I don't agree with. I'm suing you for false advertising.
    Cafe Owner: Is our lawyer still working pro bono?

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Posts
    675
    So in wat situation do you need to "really" format you r harddrive?

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Mar 2002
    Location
    England
    Posts
    2,014
    Originally posted by Johnburk
    So in wat situation do you need to "really" format you r harddrive?
    I'd imagine if sensitive data exists on the hard drive, it should be formatted completely. Also if you were to sell the hard disk.
    <?php include_once('signature'); ?>

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Posts
    1,171
    Originally posted by pixelized
    No it doesn't slow down your drive at all. As far as windows is concerned data doesn't exist there with a normal format but it's still magnetically on the disk until something replaces it.
    Another example would be of thinking of a audio tape that has recorded material on it. Reformatting would be somewhat like rewinding to the front, and recording over what you previously had.. but the part's you havnt gotten to are still there.
    www.Yekaroo.com - Your Chinese Radio Online!

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