how to remove all data from hard drive

[Rubber314Chicken]

I have a computer running windows ME that I want to completely erase the hard drive of, like somebody would before selling it, to make data in-retriveable. What program do I use?

 

[Trivium Nate]

You can format it

 

[Nik00117]

Not enough info, basically get your OS disc stick it in, go to bios make your first boot drive CD/DVD save and reboot, your will see microsoft stuff find somthing call reformat. This wipes your HD clean.

 

[borat_sagdiyev]

but that doesnt make your data irrecoverable, i once accidantally formatted my digital camera, and i got the pics back. theres this program you can use, i forget what its called, that replaces the whole hard drive with random numbers 35 times, and then formats it.

 

[Rubber314Chicken]

but that doesnt make your data irrecoverable, i once accidantally formatted my digital camera, and i got the pics back. theres this program you can use, i forget what its called, that replaces the whole hard drive with random numbers 35 times, and then formats it.

That is what I want. Please get me the name. Can I use it on a computer with only one HD?

 

[joxley1990]

Or, if you want it completly blank for the buyer to install his own OS..

Take the hard drive out, put it in your computer and set the jumper to "Slave" - plug in IDE cable, power cable etc, go into "My computer", Right click on the drive, click format

I didnt say it would, just that it would be blank...as in the new user would not be able to see the files..

 

[borat_sagdiyev]

omg, formatting does NOT permanantly erase the drive!!!

 

[borat_sagdiyev]

i found one, but its not the one i was talking about, but its good.

http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,22920,00.asp

 

[CrossCech]

Are you thinking of KillDisk john123? Here's the link: http://www.killdisk.com/downloadfree.htm

 

[borat_sagdiyev]

yeah, thats the one