Best free ways of cleaning and wiping a HDD?

[South Bound]

I will be getting rid of a laptop soon and want to wipe it properly. Looked online and there are lots of software tools to overwrite the whole thing etc. Anyone recommend one that is easy and free?

Also, anyone use one that does the same to freespace to use on our other laptop as we go along?

 

[legrandefromage]

When I rebuild laptops/ pcs I do a fresh install of the operating system - pretty much formats and starts a HDD from fresh. This was acceptable for Comet and Dixons when we did their warranty work.

 

[outlander]

You can try Dariks boot and nuke its a free download http://www.dban.org/

Heres a clip of it on you tubehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpVh4nQDAD0

 

[cyfa2809]

yeah i usually format and fresh install. one time i had to format my memory card with all my data on, i used data doctor recovery after it was formatted and got loads of my data back, so maybe a format doesnt work :?

 

[barry2017]

The problem with shredders is they take forever, because they have to write over your data with gibberish several times. If it's quick, it's no good.

DBN is good though.

 

[South Bound]

Does DBN wipe the drive completely, or just the freespace?

 

[barry2017]

DBAN will wipe everything, even down to partition table.

Burn it onto a CD, boot and at the startup type

autonuke

. Then go away for a day.

If you really want to ensure security, the only safe way is to remove the hard drive and cut it into pieces.

 

[legrandefromage]

If you really want to ensure security, the only safe way is to remove the hard drive and cut it into pieces.

or throw it at a sturdy wall until the disk shatters.

 

[barry2017]

or throw it at a sturdy wall until the disk shatters.

Which I feel like doing at least once a day.

 

[Tad]

If you're getting rid as in not selling it just take the hard drive out and smack it with a hammer.