what's best way to clean hard drive? - GoFuckYourself.com

vegas2003 · 02-21-2003, 07:59 AM

is there any free program I can use to clean my harddrive?

sinmaster · 02-21-2003, 08:11 AM

Don't know if this is what you are looking for
RegCleaner

Wilbo · 02-21-2003, 08:13 AM

Cotton balls and alchohol

Jon · 02-21-2003, 08:15 AM

if it's just to get rid of dust, then use one of those air spray cans that they sell in computer stores..

but if its to clean it because the feds are after you, i'd suggest a good ol fashioned bonfire.

Voodoo · 02-21-2003, 08:24 AM

Put it in the Dish Washer... Don't use a detergent with "Sheeting Action"... this will cause problems.

cafeaulait · 02-21-2003, 08:25 AM

A magnet, some wire and a car battery.

DrGuile · 02-21-2003, 08:25 AM

format c:

fdisk

or the good old low-level format

slackologist · 02-21-2003, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by vegas2003
is there any free program I can use to clean my harddrive?

on a windows pc. get a bootdisk. boot to dos. type "format c:\" where "c" is your drive letter.

Lane · 02-21-2003, 09:00 AM

nothing can beat a format c:

Mr.Teen · 02-21-2003, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lane
nothing can beat a format c:

ICQ me, i can beat that. I just formated my harddrive, i wrote all 0's to it..

NetRodent · 02-21-2003, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr.Teen

ICQ me, i can beat that. I just formated my harddrive, i wrote all 0's to it..

An even better way to completely erase the contents of a drive...

Lane · 02-21-2003, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr.Teen

ICQ me, i can beat that. I just formated my harddrive, i wrote all 0's to it..

and why is it any better than regular format?

railz · 02-21-2003, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lane

and why is it any better than regular format?

Latent Data Reconstruction.

strainer · 02-21-2003, 10:14 AM

Format just writes a few butes to the drive; the feds can still read everything.

Running patterns '0 and 1' for a few hours with various software will defeat all but the most persistent hacker - the cia can still reconstruct it, though, with weak magnetic patterns from the erased bits.

A bucket of gasoline will really clean it (plus a match) if you are really worried.

p00p · 02-21-2003, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lane

and why is it any better than regular format?

I mistakenly formatted a drive once, and recovered data on it with some data recovery utility I bought. Worked like a charm. It was a 20 gig drive, and I got all the data back off it. Yes, after an fdisk and format.

The only way to wipe a drive clean is with a zero write utility.
The one that springs to mind is Wipe by IBM, but I don't think it will do a whole harddrive.

buran · 02-21-2003, 10:31 AM

Norton use to have a program called DiskWipe. You need to write new data to the disk several times over. All 0's, all 1's, etc.

Of course, the only truley secure method is as follows:

http://driveslag.eecue.com/articles/index.php?artid=1

X-As-Seen-On: Slashdot

buran

(edit: guess the problem with opening a reply window and then forgetting about it for two hours, is another Slashdot reader beats you to the punch, NR

Filter · 02-21-2003, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sinmaster
Don't know if this is what you are looking for
RegCleaner

hehe

alias · 02-21-2003, 11:00 AM

www.iolo.com system mechanic

another way to get it reallly clean is dishwashers or pressure washing

Cash · 02-21-2003, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sinmaster
Don't know if this is what you are looking for
RegCleaner

Be careful with regcleaner, if you delete the wrong registry entries your system will suffer, and you may encounter serious problems.

Wizzo · 02-21-2003, 11:23 AM

soap, water, and good ole' elbow grease....

lightswitch · 02-21-2003, 12:00 PM

Formating does nothing!
YOu have to actually rewrite over the old data, shit ive read says upto 30 times. Theres two Geeks @ MIT who are buying old HD's from people off ebay & then using spimple tools with FreeBSD to look @ whats on the drive, as part of their thesis.

so either repeat writing over teh drive, or sleghammer are your only surefire ways of the Feds not seeing your kiddy porn.

AOLGuy · 02-21-2003, 12:29 PM

Format c: and Fdisk won't erase your HD.

Both can be EASILY recovered.

I have been up North visiting family this week and actually watched the 2 MIT guys on Tech TV.

They explained easy ways to recover data off either method. Even writing over data leaves trace amounts that could be recovered.

Tech TV online article

Ultimate Data Destruction article

The program they recommended on the air is called Autoclave.

Autoclave

It makes a boot disk, you boot with it then it completely wipes and cleans your HD.

Probably also fun to take over to your friend's house.

MrMonkeyFingers · 02-21-2003, 01:08 PM

Evidence Eliminator is another good piece of software I think

NoCarrier · 02-21-2003, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MrMonkeyFingers
Evidence Eliminator is another good piece of software I think

Evidence Eliminator is owned by the FBI

goBigtime · 02-21-2003, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vegas2003
is there any free program I can use to clean my harddrive?

2.5 million dollar hard drive cleaner:

02-21-2003, 07:59 AM	#1
vegas2003 Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: EL TOREO DE 4 CAMINOS Posts: 1,714	what's best way to clean hard drive? is there any free program I can use to clean my harddrive? __________________ SEACREST OUT!

02-21-2003, 08:11 AM	#2
sinmaster Confirmed User Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Oregon Posts: 376	Don't know if this is what you are looking for RegCleaner __________________

02-21-2003, 08:15 AM	#4
Jon Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: New York City Posts: 2,578	if it's just to get rid of dust, then use one of those air spray cans that they sell in computer stores.. but if its to clean it because the feds are after you, i'd suggest a good ol fashioned bonfire. __________________ WickedFire.com - Stay here. We don't need more of you. Not unless you have money, then, fine...

02-21-2003, 08:24 AM	#5
Voodoo ♥ ♦ ♣ ♠ Industry Role: Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 10,592	Put it in the Dish Washer... Don't use a detergent with "Sheeting Action"... this will cause problems. __________________ "I'm selflessly supporting the common good, but only coincidentally looking out for No.1."

02-21-2003, 08:25 AM	#7
DrGuile Confirmed User Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 2,025	format c: fdisk or the good old low-level format __________________ LiveBucks / Privatefeeds - Giving you money since 1999 Up to 50% Commission! 25% Webmaster Referal Powered by Gamma

02-21-2003, 08:13 AM	#3
Wilbo Confirmed User Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Baltimore Posts: 2,082	Cotton balls and alchohol

02-21-2003, 08:25 AM	#6
cafeaulait Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 587	A magnet, some wire and a car battery.

02-21-2003, 09:00 AM	#9
Lane Will code for food... Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Buckeye, AZ Posts: 8,496	nothing can beat a format c: __________________

02-21-2003, 10:14 AM	#14
strainer Confirmed User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 418	Format just writes a few butes to the drive; the feds can still read everything. Running patterns '0 and 1' for a few hours with various software will defeat all but the most persistent hacker - the cia can still reconstruct it, though, with weak magnetic patterns from the erased bits. A bucket of gasoline will really clean it (plus a match) if you are really worried.

02-21-2003, 10:31 AM	#16
buran Confirmed User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: how'd I get here? Posts: 264	Norton use to have a program called DiskWipe. You need to write new data to the disk several times over. All 0's, all 1's, etc. Of course, the only truley secure method is as follows: http://driveslag.eecue.com/articles/index.php?artid=1 X-As-Seen-On: Slashdot buran (edit: guess the problem with opening a reply window and then forgetting about it for two hours, is another Slashdot reader beats you to the punch, NR __________________ [this signature intentionally left blank]

02-21-2003, 11:00 AM	#18
alias aliasx Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 19,010	www.iolo.com system mechanic another way to get it reallly clean is dishwashers or pressure washing __________________ https://porncorporation.com

02-21-2003, 11:23 AM	#20
Wizzo 2011 GFY Hall of Fame! Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Back in Texas! Posts: 15,224	soap, water, and good ole' elbow grease.... __________________ Looking for Opportunity!

02-21-2003, 12:00 PM	#21
lightswitch Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Butte, MT, USA Posts: 870	Formating does nothing! YOu have to actually rewrite over the old data, shit ive read says upto 30 times. Theres two Geeks @ MIT who are buying old HD's from people off ebay & then using spimple tools with FreeBSD to look @ whats on the drive, as part of their thesis. so either repeat writing over teh drive, or sleghammer are your only surefire ways of the Feds not seeing your kiddy porn.

02-21-2003, 12:29 PM	#22
AOLGuy Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Nebraska Posts: 1,261	Format c: and Fdisk won't erase your HD. Both can be EASILY recovered. I have been up North visiting family this week and actually watched the 2 MIT guys on Tech TV. They explained easy ways to recover data off either method. Even writing over data leaves trace amounts that could be recovered. Tech TV online article Ultimate Data Destruction article The program they recommended on the air is called Autoclave. Autoclave It makes a boot disk, you boot with it then it completely wipes and cleans your HD. Probably also fun to take over to your friend's house.

02-21-2003, 01:08 PM	#23
MrMonkeyFingers Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 473	Evidence Eliminator is another good piece of software I think __________________ Greg Trooper [email protected] ICQ#132173082 I'm from the 4th Kingdom, the Kingdom of Plastics!