TrevorNasko
Flashlight Enthusiast
will it do it permanantly so the computer may donated or is the only way to erase all files forever via buckshot?
must get answer ASAP!
thanks
must get answer ASAP!
thanks
Will reformating get rid of all the files? urgent
- Thread starter TrevorNasko
- Start date
Help Support Candle Power Flashlight Forum
Re: Will reformating get rid of all the files? urg
If you do a low level format that should erase the files to the point where only serious forensic data recovery has any chance of getting any of the information back. That should be good enough for most purposes.
If you have REALLY secret stuff on it (e.g. you're actually a covert CIA operative, which explains what you're doing with all those flashlights) the only way to be 100% sure the data is completely gone is basically to slag the platters (melt them, grind them into powder, etc).
If you do a low level format that should erase the files to the point where only serious forensic data recovery has any chance of getting any of the information back. That should be good enough for most purposes.
If you have REALLY secret stuff on it (e.g. you're actually a covert CIA operative, which explains what you're doing with all those flashlights) the only way to be 100% sure the data is completely gone is basically to slag the platters (melt them, grind them into powder, etc).
Skyline
Enlightened
Re: Will reformating get rid of all the files? urg
You can use a Disk Wipe utility, such as BCWipe: http://www.jetico.com/
I've never used BCWipe, but I've used Norton's Disk Wipe in the past.
You can use a Disk Wipe utility, such as BCWipe: http://www.jetico.com/
I've never used BCWipe, but I've used Norton's Disk Wipe in the past.
Re: Will reformating get rid of all the files? urg
Just formating isn't enough. For real security, even low level formating isn't enough. Goto http://dban.sourceforge.net and download Darik's Boot and Nuke. You put it on a floppy and boot from the floppy. It'll find all your hard drives and wipe them with a seven pass wipe.
Make sure you label it indicating that it is very hazardous unless you're trying to wipe the drives clean. It has it's uses and place, but in a computer you're using isn't one of them.
It's useful for computers you're donating, discarding or trading in.
Just formating isn't enough. For real security, even low level formating isn't enough. Goto http://dban.sourceforge.net and download Darik's Boot and Nuke. You put it on a floppy and boot from the floppy. It'll find all your hard drives and wipe them with a seven pass wipe.
Make sure you label it indicating that it is very hazardous unless you're trying to wipe the drives clean. It has it's uses and place, but in a computer you're using isn't one of them.
It's useful for computers you're donating, discarding or trading in.
was_jlh
Enlightened
- Joined
- Oct 15, 2002
- Messages
- 751
Re: Will reformating get rid of all the files? urg
Aragorn, another one :
http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/
Works well
Joe
Aragorn, another one :
http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/
Works well
Joe
tvodrd
*Flashaholic* ,
Re: Will reformating get rid of all the files? urg
A large, Hand-held, rare earth magnet can render the sucker close to unformattable for the next user. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif (Be careful not to get your fingers blood-blistered from the pinch of the initial magnet approach. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif )
Larry
A large, Hand-held, rare earth magnet can render the sucker close to unformattable for the next user. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif (Be careful not to get your fingers blood-blistered from the pinch of the initial magnet approach. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif )
Larry
Tomas
Banned
Re: Will reformating get rid of all the files? urg
Formatting just gets rid of the directory or indexing of the files - they are still on the disk, there's just no "Table of Contents" for them.
To get rid of the data you DO need to write random "data" over the file contents several times (I usually use just three passes unless I'm feeling expecially paranoid, then I do the full seven or eight passes like I did when I left the company I worked at for 25 years ... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
Formatting just gets rid of the directory or indexing of the files - they are still on the disk, there's just no "Table of Contents" for them.
To get rid of the data you DO need to write random "data" over the file contents several times (I usually use just three passes unless I'm feeling expecially paranoid, then I do the full seven or eight passes like I did when I left the company I worked at for 25 years ... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
Tomas
Banned
Re: Will reformating get rid of all the files? urg
Magnatron magnets, Larry. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Get 'em surplus for cheap.
Magnatron magnets, Larry. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Get 'em surplus for cheap.
Re: Will reformating get rid of all the files? urg
Empath, thanks for that link to DBAN Boot and Nuke. That sounds like the best software solution so far. Because of the way hard drives work (*), there is NO way to be sure you've erased everything, but something like Boot and Nuke can make it very hard to recover.
(*) Modern hard drives notice when the signal on some sector gets weak, and then they transfer the data for that sector over to another sector (drives contain spare sectors for that purpose) and operate on the new sector whenever the computer asks for the old one. That's called "remapping". It means that the old sector is no longer accessible for either reading or erasure by software. No amount of overwriting can ever get rid of it because it effectively doesn't exist any more. But taking the drive apart and analyzing it with lab equipment can potentially get the old sector. Hence the DoD requirement that if a drive contains classified data, the only way to declassify it is to physically destroy the media.
Empath, thanks for that link to DBAN Boot and Nuke. That sounds like the best software solution so far. Because of the way hard drives work (*), there is NO way to be sure you've erased everything, but something like Boot and Nuke can make it very hard to recover.
(*) Modern hard drives notice when the signal on some sector gets weak, and then they transfer the data for that sector over to another sector (drives contain spare sectors for that purpose) and operate on the new sector whenever the computer asks for the old one. That's called "remapping". It means that the old sector is no longer accessible for either reading or erasure by software. No amount of overwriting can ever get rid of it because it effectively doesn't exist any more. But taking the drive apart and analyzing it with lab equipment can potentially get the old sector. Hence the DoD requirement that if a drive contains classified data, the only way to declassify it is to physically destroy the media.
star882
Enlightened
Re: Will reformating get rid of all the files? urg
"Modern hard drives notice when the signal on some sector gets weak, and then they transfer the data for that sector over to another sector (drives contain spare sectors for that purpose) and operate on the new sector whenever the computer asks for the old one. That's called "remapping". It means that the old sector is no longer accessible for either reading or erasure by software. No amount of overwriting can ever get rid of it because it effectively doesn't exist any more. But taking the drive apart and analyzing it with lab equipment can potentially get the old sector. Hence the DoD requirement that if a drive contains classified data, the only way to declassify it is to physically destroy the media."
It most likely won't be the whole file, though.
"Modern hard drives notice when the signal on some sector gets weak, and then they transfer the data for that sector over to another sector (drives contain spare sectors for that purpose) and operate on the new sector whenever the computer asks for the old one. That's called "remapping". It means that the old sector is no longer accessible for either reading or erasure by software. No amount of overwriting can ever get rid of it because it effectively doesn't exist any more. But taking the drive apart and analyzing it with lab equipment can potentially get the old sector. Hence the DoD requirement that if a drive contains classified data, the only way to declassify it is to physically destroy the media."
It most likely won't be the whole file, though.
logicnerd411
Flashlight Enthusiast
Re: Will reformating get rid of all the files? urg
Go neodymium magnets! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yellowlaugh.gif
Dan
Go neodymium magnets! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yellowlaugh.gif
Dan
DavidW
Flashlight Enthusiast
Re: Will reformating get rid of all the files? urg
I see people using a sledgehammer when only fdisk is needed. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
I see people using a sledgehammer when only fdisk is needed. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
DieselDave
Super Moderator,
Re: Will reformating get rid of all the files? urg
If the data is not completely erased during a format how does it free up all the space on your hard drive? If the data is still there it takes up space, right? Or, the data is still there but the system knows the space is available to be overwritten so it shows it as free?
If the data is not completely erased during a format how does it free up all the space on your hard drive? If the data is still there it takes up space, right? Or, the data is still there but the system knows the space is available to be overwritten so it shows it as free?
was_jlh
Enlightened
- Joined
- Oct 15, 2002
- Messages
- 751
Re: Will reformating get rid of all the files? urg
Dave, the file allocation table ( FAT ) is rebuilt and the directory entries are cleared. It's very easy to recover erased files, especially small ones, used to do it a lot "back in the day".
Joe
Dave, the file allocation table ( FAT ) is rebuilt and the directory entries are cleared. It's very easy to recover erased files, especially small ones, used to do it a lot "back in the day".
Joe
Re: Will reformating get rid of all the files? urg
Dave(s), the data on your hard drives remain intact after a format. The only thing that is changed is what is necessary for the operating system to read and write. That doesn't make it invisible to a simple utility that reads the drive sector by sector. The utility is so simple, you don't even need to boot the computer's OS; it can boot from a floppy. Or, the hard drive can simply be removed, plugged into a system that is set up specifically for recovering the information, and simply read like a book. There are even more sophisticated retrieval methods that only require the disks from within the drives, but that's usually only a concern with high security top secret situations, or possibly particular data needed for investigation or evidence by police, FBI, CIA or whatever.
When you finish with your computer and donate it, give it to a best friend or relative, sell it used or whatever, you lose control of it. You've no way of knowing where it will be eventually or even years down the road. Reformated or not, anything in sectors not destroyed by new overwrites is still there just waiting to be read.
There are some that will hit the Goodwill stores, used computer or appliance stores, or rummage sales looking for computers. They grab them up, take them home and read the sectors. They just boot them with a floppy or remove the drives and plug them into their system, and read everything there; yes even what you've deleted or reformatted.
Dave(s), the data on your hard drives remain intact after a format. The only thing that is changed is what is necessary for the operating system to read and write. That doesn't make it invisible to a simple utility that reads the drive sector by sector. The utility is so simple, you don't even need to boot the computer's OS; it can boot from a floppy. Or, the hard drive can simply be removed, plugged into a system that is set up specifically for recovering the information, and simply read like a book. There are even more sophisticated retrieval methods that only require the disks from within the drives, but that's usually only a concern with high security top secret situations, or possibly particular data needed for investigation or evidence by police, FBI, CIA or whatever.
When you finish with your computer and donate it, give it to a best friend or relative, sell it used or whatever, you lose control of it. You've no way of knowing where it will be eventually or even years down the road. Reformated or not, anything in sectors not destroyed by new overwrites is still there just waiting to be read.
There are some that will hit the Goodwill stores, used computer or appliance stores, or rummage sales looking for computers. They grab them up, take them home and read the sectors. They just boot them with a floppy or remove the drives and plug them into their system, and read everything there; yes even what you've deleted or reformatted.
Re: Will reformating get rid of all the files? urg
Aragorn, the appz above will take care of your needs. So let us know what you use /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
including the magnets. I've used the magnet tool that is used to erase tapes. with great success. Tho would I know after wiping is really wiped ? ? ?
We do think highly of you here.....
It's outside of here.....
Well......um.....you know
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Tom
Aragorn, the appz above will take care of your needs. So let us know what you use /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
including the magnets. I've used the magnet tool that is used to erase tapes. with great success. Tho would I know after wiping is really wiped ? ? ?
We do think highly of you here.....
It's outside of here.....
Well......um.....you know
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Tom
