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Thread ID: 52800 2004-12-30 08:03:00 How to erase new hard drive Colin Green (6713) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
308806 2004-12-30 08:03:00 Hi,
I have just built a new box and loaded my old copy of ME. Had problems with driver loading (with many ME files reported missing) so I chose to reinstall over the top. System crashed during reinstall.. no longer have access to safe mode. Need to erase HDD and start again but don't know how to erase HDD. Can anyone help???
Colin Green (6713)
308807 2004-12-30 08:32:00 Old Win98/ME bootdisk + fdisk. E|im (87)
308808 2004-12-30 08:40:00 Err..... fdisk.exe is for PARTITIONING, then the drive has to be FORMATTED using format.com.

If you dont need to make new partitions, then all that you have to do is to use the boot disk as mentioned and just format the existing partitions to remove data.

EG from the A:/ prompt after booting from the boot disk, type format c: and/or format d: if you have c: and d: partitions.
Terry Porritt (14)
308809 2004-12-30 09:50:00 a new install off the cd rom would acheive what you what, fdisk or format as metioned by the previous posters, will wipe the disk clean how ever personally I would use fdisk as a new install would take care of the format part beama (111)
308810 2004-12-30 10:40:00 Thanks everyone. All data is now being erased. Colin Green (6713)
308811 2005-07-17 12:10:00 Hi,

The best way to erase HDD is to use KillDisk software. It is capable of erasing the whole drive so that data can not be restored. Also after using it you should re-partition and re-format it, so that you start from scratch with pure drive. Head to www.killdisk.com for more info and download.
Brona (3896)
308812 2005-07-17 12:57:00 What trash. Greg (193)
308813 2005-07-17 13:20:00 Ive used Killdisk, its not half bad, does the job very well and stays true to its word from what data recovery & recovery prevention Ive done in the past couple of years.

Personally I prefer using a Bootable LiveCD and filling the entire HDD with random data 7 times over, but each to their own ;)
Chilling_Silence (9)
308814 2005-07-17 16:50:00 When I install a new or old hard drive and want to clean it for the format, I use the Shredder in Spybot to clear anything off the Hdd .

Not too many people know about Spybot's shredder, but if one were to click on the "Version">>advanced in it's toolbar and get all the utilities, then the shredder is available to them .

I then use it on the drive I want to erase . . . it's pretty good . I usually make about 5 passes .

. . . . just a thought :2cents:
SurferJoe46 (51)
308815 2005-07-18 06:20:00 Thats only good if you have an OS on the HDD that boots fine. Ive used it once or twice, but usually cant be bothered going to all that hassle :-/

Admittedly most of the stuff I do isnt classified
Chilling_Silence (9)
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