Files being recovered after hard drive is deleted?

[SantaCBear]

 

[looseliam]

There are programs that will do a DoD wipe of the data on the drive.

When you delete something, it just opens that space in the file table and the OS knows it may save data there.

Until the data is overwritten by something, it remains intact.

I use East-Tec DisposeSecure. They have a trial version available.
http://www.east-tec.com/enterprise/disposesecureent/

 

[SantaCBear]

No Joke - Several yrs ago I had a 12gig 5200 RPM HD with stuff on it which was bothersome. I ran BCWipe set at DoD on it then smashed it with a hammer about 10 times.

Then threw it in a local river.

 

[Corny]

even hammered hard drives *can* be recovered. the best way is to use STRONG magnets. and after that scramble the hard drive (you need to see those machines in reallife .. they are totally fun to watch. you will never forget the deep humming when the electro magnet charges up) .

but to keep things simple .. just use one of the software tools that overwrite it with random data multiple times.

i like this tool:
http://dban.sourceforge.net/

warning - this disc (when in the disc drive during boot up) wipes all your harddrives

 

[looseliam]

^^ I'm not sure how many times it needs to be overwritten.

 

[SantaCBear]

^ dude, I think you outted yourself

 

[looseliam]

I know I don't charge for my hammer programme.

walks away whistling

 

[mike_n_herrin]

Just make sure you don't throw the pieces into regular trash please. the circuit boards have heavy metals in them.

 

[knobgoblin]

Have any of you guys suggesting he take a hammer to the drive considered that he's probably going to have to send it back to Gateway? From his other posts I'd gather that this is a warranty replacement.