Help finding software

[rspassey]

Hi guys; I've forgotten the name of a piece of software that I am looking for, and am hoping you'll be able to help me out.

It's the program (or one of the many programs) that will overwrite blank areas on one's harddrive many times (like 5 or something) so that what was once stored there cannot be recovered.

If I remember correctly, it was freeware.

Thanks,
Ryan

[glc]

Darik's Boot and Nuke.

If you download and make the Ultimate Boot CD, it has that plus many other utilities on it.

[Chris_Rootes_Wizard]

"It's the program (or one of the many programs) that will overwrite blank areas on one's harddrive many times (like 5 or something) so that what was once stored there cannot be recovered."

Sorry to hijack post, but why would you want to do that?! (well not YOU, but generally)

[rspassey]

Originally Posted by glc Darik's Boot and Nuke. If you download and make the Ultimate Boot CD, it has that plus many other utilities on it.

Thanks! I can't remember if this is it or not, but it looks like it will work. I have my ultimate boot CD lying around somewhere, so that'll do it.

Originally Posted by Chris_Rootes_Wizard "It's the program (or one of the many programs) that will overwrite blank areas on one's harddrive many times (like 5 or something) so that what was once stored there cannot be recovered." Sorry to hijack post, but why would you want to do that?! (well not YOU, but generally)

I might be donating a PC - I don't want anyone to be able to recover any data from the drive. There are also utilities that will do the same thing after you delete a file - write overtop of the same space like 10 times so the files you deleted will never be recoverable.

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by rspassey Hi guys; I've forgotten the name of a piece of software that I am looking for, and am hoping you'll be able to help me out. It's the program (or one of the many programs) that will overwrite blank areas on one's harddrive many times (like 5 or something) so that what was once stored there cannot be recovered. If I remember correctly, it was freeware.

Another free wipe/zero-fill utility is KillDisk.

Originally Posted by Chris_Rootes_Wizard "It's the program (or one of the many programs) that will overwrite blank areas on one's harddrive many times (like 5 or something) so that what was once stored there cannot be recovered." Sorry to hijack post, but why would you want to do that?! (well not YOU, but generally)

There are several reasons people will zero-fill a hard drive. Some will do it right before they sell a computer just to be sure their old info/data can't be recovered from the old hard drive.

Other people do it prior to re-installing Windows.

A lot of people will do it if their computer gets hit with a really nasty virus or spyware. Zero-filling just makes sure that the offending bug is really wiped off the drive.

Cricket

[Chris_Rootes_Wizard]

So, it isnt there anymore! ohhh, i see, i thought it was stored, and un retreavable (using up space) Basically, deleted. Thanks Cricket!


"Yes and no. The files have been "deleted", though there is a pretty fine line between simply clicking the delete button and actually abolishing the existence of the file: you can delete files on your hardrive, and as long as that area of the drive hasn't been rewritten over, someone with the tools and skills could recover what you had on your drive. That's why I use the DoD level cleaning option on CCleaner - writes of the space a couple times to make sure it's gone."

Ohh,okay. Deleted, can be recoverd, wow never new. Thanks!

[rspassey]

Yes and no. The files have been "deleted", though there is a pretty fine line between simply clicking the delete button and actually abolishing the existence of the file: you can delete files on your hardrive, and as long as that area of the drive hasn't been rewritten over, someone with the tools and skills could recover what you had on your drive. That's why I use the DoD level cleaning option on CCleaner - writes of the space a couple times to make sure it's gone.

[glc]

The freeware Killdisk only makes one pass. DBAN has a lot more options. Killdisk is also on the UBCD.