Festus

I got to go pick it up.

Now, is there a way to completely wipe everything from my POS HP so nothing I've ever typed is retreivable? Other than driving over it with the truck. They are taking it in as a trade.

Any suggestion as soon as possible would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Jim Lane

I just did this to a Dell laptop, I think the easiest was is to format and reload the O.S. onto the HD
If you have the restore disk it is easy but FORMAT it don't just repair when it ask you.
Jim

Marine

If you do a search on google for hard disk wipe, that will get you what you need.

DBan is supposedly the best. That is what I used on my last computer. It has options for how many wipes you want to do. DoD standard is 3 layers, and you can do 20 if you like.

Here's a link for a free one.

Geico266

Oh great! I tried it for fun and whipped out my puter! I'm on my mom's web tv. Thanks Marine!

Marine

LOL.
That's too funny!
Works well, doesn't it?

LOL

Geico266

Now if I can get a few certain admin guys tricked into this life would be good!

TomW

Keep in mind, there are forensic tools that can retrieve information that has been overwritten. Seems the electromagnetic signature remains on the disk and the software is capable of reading the different levels to retrieve what was originally there. Even if it's been overwritten 3 or 4 times, it can be retrieved.

I'd crank the wipe program up to the maximum allowed for overwrites and let the bugger run until it's finished.

2500CTD

Its not driving the truck over it. Some disassembly required.......clicky

Marine

That is true to a point. The DoD requires disks to be written over 3 times. That is pretty good if the DoD allows it.
DBan will do MANY more than that if you want. I know around 30 since I did something like that with my last hard drive.
I use Acronis Privacy Suite for my Recycle Bin, and I use the fast method. Even with that, it would be hard pressed to get anything I have deleted.

bulabula

Depends on who you talk to (and I'm not referring to the Geek Squad types either), but pretty much anything is retreivable (shredding the HD accepted), even if you drive over it with a truck - its a matter of how much effort they want to expend on poking into your "computer" business and putting the pieces back together.

If you're gonna merely trade the old one in, and assuming there's no state secrets, VA-like data, all your co-workers personal info, kiddiporn, etc., on it, boot it up on a floppy or CD and reformat the HD and give it to them like that - blank. Let them reinstall everything or do it yourself if you know how.

If you have that other stuff on it, it would seem that DBan might be a good start.

Festus

Thanks for all the quick replies guys....it is done.

I had no spy data, voodoo, hoohow, or **** stuff on it (well, none the GF doesn't know about anyway ). I however, did some banking, ebay stuff, DTR password, etc. that I didn't want anyone else to readily get their hands on.

I removed enough programs that they had to reformat and upload all the drivers and operating system just to fire her up. I think that'll take care of it.

BTW, I'm very honest. If anyone is looking to purchasing any HP laptop or desktop, DON"T DO IT. They rewrite their own software for the drivers that run the components they use. This software doesn't like anything that's not HP. For example, using my HP laptop with a Lexmark printer driver threw alot out of wack. Save yourself the grief.

Thanks again gents!! Cheers!!

spunbearing

The thing that gets me about HP is when you call tech support you get someone in India or Pakistan. Most of them are highly educated and speak english ( gramatically anyways) better than most Americans but I just can't understand them and it burns my behind.

Festus

Well, I'm replying from my new Toshiba Satellite Pro P100 SD4. I wanted the new SD8, but the price was right for this. Let's just say I'm already liking it - my screen hasn't gone fuzzy yet, no reboots to get display back, and I've almost got everything uploaded from the other one.

Woooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhoooooooooooo!

Now this is how it's supposed to operate - no hassles.

Almost threw the HP out of the truck window coming back home from work the last time - while crossing the bridge. Good thing I held off. My PC guy took it on trade when I told him what was happening.

Festus

Oh! And it brings up DTR likety split!

Duallydog

Gotta love laptops. I even take mine to class. I don't use it during class due to power constraints but I usually check my messages before and after classes. Now if you wanted to get really detailed on no one getting to your hard drive, do it MI-5 style, take the disks out of the hard drive and grind them into a fine powder, then lock them in a secure facility. (now that's overkill. Kinda like someone (Beagle1) wanting to drop a Cummins in Gremlin. BTW gotta love Firefox it has it's own spell check on here and it wants Cummins spelled Cummings.