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    poseidon's Avatar
    poseidon Posts: 244, Reputation: 55
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    #1

    Feb 7, 2012, 08:43 AM
    Completely Wiping Hard Drive
    I am wondering if anyone can tell me the most quick, easiest and most reliable software available (preferably free) in order for me to completely delete all data from my hard drive.

    I intend giving it away for others to use and I have a lot of sensitive data on it which I wish to ensure does not get recovered. I realise a simple format will not suffice.

    I have been informed that Microsoft provide a free program for this called 'SDelete' but I can find nothing about it or a download link on the Microsoft site.

    I am using W7 Ultimate and IE8

    Any advice or help will be greatly appreciated.

    Poseidon
    NeedKarma's Avatar
    NeedKarma Posts: 10,635, Reputation: 1706
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    #2

    Feb 7, 2012, 08:48 AM
    Here is a site I trust with peer-reviewed freeware: Best Free Secure Erase Utility

    Personally I have used DBAN in the past.
    wildcatmike's Avatar
    wildcatmike Posts: 11, Reputation: 3
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    #3

    Feb 13, 2012, 11:18 PM
    I have used a free, open-source application called Eraser to do this type of thing. It has many options from a quick wipe of a drive to DOD spec multi-pass overwrite of the drive with random data. You can download it from Sourceforge.net here:

    http://sourceforge.net/projects/eraser/
    poseidon's Avatar
    poseidon Posts: 244, Reputation: 55
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    #4

    Feb 17, 2012, 07:35 AM
    Thank you both for your answers.

    I will look into these applications.

    Poseidon
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