What was the name of that Hard Disk Formatting Program ??

[Moz]

It was posted on here a few months ago, by Sp00k I think.

It was in a thread about how to destroy your hard drive....

Searched to no avail, can anyone name if off their heads save me going through pages of search results ?

[Bartmanekul]

http://www.n95users.com/forum/lounge...gagghhhhh.html

Few posts down.

[Moz]

Thanks mate.

Does anyone have some PC Knowledge on formatting they could help me with ?

Last time I tried to format, I ended up with two Windows XP options on boot up. I don't think anything was wiped (Had a virus and malware) Just marked for overwriting.

Just creating a disk image and backing up now.

But it's the partitioning parts I get confused on. If anyone can spare a few moments later can you PM me please ?

[Bartmanekul]

No need to get confused mate.

Assuming you are just trying to have one partiation for a bog standard XP install, do the following:

Killdisk/wipe it first.

Load up the XP disk. When you get to the disk options part (my memory is rusty so it might not be exact here!), delete all the partitions you can find.

Then install XP. It will tell you that theres no partition and it will create one.

That should work.


However.....

For some unknown reason, on certain machines it creates an extra boot option, even though it's not actually there. This might be what happens to you.

If so let me know, as it involves modifiying the boot.ini file (not as scary as it sounds).

[Moz]

Thanks mate.

Just looking for a good wipe file, that one sp00k suggestted is a recovery program. Can you suggest any ?

[Bartmanekul]

Whoops, sorry. Should have read it!

I use killdisk, but then I have access to that from work. I have never had need to look into the freebie ones. Although if you plan to use them oftenish, might be worth buying one, I have no idea how much they go for.

Tbh, you don't really need to wipe to that level, unless you kept bank details etc on the drive. Once you delete the partition, nothing is going to work so you are safe from viruses that were on it.

But for a proper wipe, you want something that:

Writes to every sector

Goes over the whole disk mulitiple times.

[Moz]

Well to be honest, I have kept bank details, but in a password protected Excel file. But that's all been moved to my external drive. And my internal is just used for Windows & Programs.

So if I boot form CD, with the windows CD in I can just delete all partitions, and it should prompt me to create a new one ?

[Bartmanekul]

Yep, it will. It has to have one to install on, and thus it will create one.

Trust me, I have done it at least 20 times.

Do you format/reinstall often?

If so, well worth looking at vlite.

You can create a custom XP install CD. All your preferances, and no need to input licence code, region etc.

[Moz]

I do trust you :)

Thanks, I'll skip the full fomatting options then and just remove the partitions.

Cheers.

[Sp00k]

Recuva also has a Secure Delete facility... Click on 'Options', top right.

You'll need to be very patient if it's a large HDD tho! ;)