I have a Sony vaio laptop and want to wipe the hdd. I used a CD in the past for my desktop (don't recall the name) but it doesn't work on the Sony. Does win 7 still have a dos terminal and what do I type in.
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Wipe hdd
- Thread starter Bob Cat
- Start date
Isthmus
Android Expert
Pull the HD from the laptop. Plug it to a SATA/IDE converter with a USB connection and plug that to y9ur other computer. You computer will now see the hard drive from the laptop as an external drive. Go to the icon for the external drive and right-click on it. You will see an option to format it about 2/3 of the way down the list, click on that. Select Fat32 and format the drive. That should overwrite everything on that drive and get it back to new.
That data is still accessible, but anyone wanting it needs to have some solid forensic skills, software and a desire to go slodging through that hard drive to find what may be inside. The overwhelming majority of people (even trained professionals) won't be bothered to do that unless they have a specific reason do do so.
Keep in mind that doing what I just described will wipe the HD of ALL data, including the OS. You will have to reinstall an OS after you've wiped it clean.
If you have an installation file for an OS, you can always run that directly without having to wipe out the hard drive. doing so, however might not remove any additional partitions you have on the disk (assuming you've created any), you will have to remove the partitions before running the fresh OS install that will overwrite the existing one.
That data is still accessible, but anyone wanting it needs to have some solid forensic skills, software and a desire to go slodging through that hard drive to find what may be inside. The overwhelming majority of people (even trained professionals) won't be bothered to do that unless they have a specific reason do do so.
Keep in mind that doing what I just described will wipe the HD of ALL data, including the OS. You will have to reinstall an OS after you've wiped it clean.
If you have an installation file for an OS, you can always run that directly without having to wipe out the hard drive. doing so, however might not remove any additional partitions you have on the disk (assuming you've created any), you will have to remove the partitions before running the fresh OS install that will overwrite the existing one.
XplosiV
Master X is Watching You
Or alternatively, if your pc is currantly still in working order, or your have access to a fully working pc, download and burn a copy of windows 98 
Assuming you have a windows 98 cd, you can boot your pc into BIOS settings and change the boot order, to change the first boot device from Hard drive to CD drive.
Save & exit, let the pc reboot, and follow the instructions and boot from CD
This gives you a DOS prompt at c:>
type D: to change to cd drive (assuming thats the allocated letter)
then type CD win98 to Change Directory to D:\win98\
then type fdisk.exe
this will give you various warnings and an interface to be able to delete the hard drive partition, recreate a hard drive partition, add logical drive partitions and such.
To perform and verify a low level format, you need to have used fdisk to create your new disk partition. then from the \win98\ folder at the prompt use the format.exe c: command for a normal format or include the /u switch for an unconditional format. note that an unconditional format will take hours and hours.
Or you could do as above, and put the drive into an enclosure, if you have one, but if your doing this method, id recommend the full format option, not quick format, or you could go into admin tools and computer management and use the disk tools there to effectively delete and remake your partition, then format it, much like fdisk does. If your desperate to stop anyone getting hold of old data, then format a few times (full format) switching between fat32 and NTFS.
Why not quick format? all that does is wipe the MBR & FAT so the drive "forgets" what files and stored on it, and any simple undelete/recovery program you can get much of the data back if need be.
Assuming you have a windows 98 cd, you can boot your pc into BIOS settings and change the boot order, to change the first boot device from Hard drive to CD drive.
Save & exit, let the pc reboot, and follow the instructions and boot from CD
This gives you a DOS prompt at c:>
type D: to change to cd drive (assuming thats the allocated letter)
then type CD win98 to Change Directory to D:\win98\
then type fdisk.exe
this will give you various warnings and an interface to be able to delete the hard drive partition, recreate a hard drive partition, add logical drive partitions and such.
To perform and verify a low level format, you need to have used fdisk to create your new disk partition. then from the \win98\ folder at the prompt use the format.exe c: command for a normal format or include the /u switch for an unconditional format. note that an unconditional format will take hours and hours.
Or you could do as above, and put the drive into an enclosure, if you have one, but if your doing this method, id recommend the full format option, not quick format, or you could go into admin tools and computer management and use the disk tools there to effectively delete and remake your partition, then format it, much like fdisk does. If your desperate to stop anyone getting hold of old data, then format a few times (full format) switching between fat32 and NTFS.
Why not quick format? all that does is wipe the MBR & FAT so the drive "forgets" what files and stored on it, and any simple undelete/recovery program you can get much of the data back if need be.
"Darik's Boot and Nuke ("DBAN") is a self-contained boot disk that securely wipes the hard disks of most computers. DBAN will automatically and completely delete the contents of any hard disk that it can detect, which makes it an appropriate utility for bulk or emergency data destruction."
Darik's Boot And Nuke | Hard Drive Disk Wipe and Data Clearing
Darik's Boot And Nuke | Hard Drive Disk Wipe and Data Clearing
C
CodeMonkey
Guest
+100
Excellent utility - been using it for years to wipe down drives / laptops before sale.
With the sizes of disks today, I don't think formatting touches all the sectors on the disk. Wiping takes a long time, might as well do it right with DBAN or
sudo dd if=/dev/urandom of=/dev/sdxx bs=4096
Depending on the size of the disk, that can still take many hours though.
If you're not interested in reusing the disk, a more fun approach is physical destruction. Open up the drive (you'll have to poke through the label, they always hide at least one screw under the label) with a Torx screwdriver. Then disassemble the spindle and head (more screws) and remove the platter. Take it outside and rub both sides on pavement, or take some sandpaper to it. Then stomp on the platter and grind your foot into it (as if you were vigorously putting out a cigarette); it shatters into many pieces.
andruoid
Android Expert
LOL, I love the anger involved however, just drill through the drive a few times ...even more fun if you have a drill press
Better yet, if you have access to an Oxy/Acetylene torch just melt the bugger down. ;-)
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