[dba-Tech] Wiping ALL data from a hard drive

The "smack it" advice is ill placed.  While it will probably stop the casual
"next owner" from using the disk, any police force (or anyone else for that
matter) can hire a firm to just remove the disk platter and have it read.  

If the platter itself isn't destroyed, then scrambling the data is required.
Any of the good programs will write alternating ones and zeros in every bit
position N times which will scramble the data.  The US government has
specified N for government drives being wiped.

John W. Colby
www.ColbyConsulting.com 

Contribute your unused CPU cycles to a good cause:
http://folding.stanford.edu/

-----Original Message-----
From: dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of John Bartow
Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2005 1:07 PM
To: 'Discussion of Hardware and Software issues'
Subject: RE: [dba-Tech] Wiping ALL data from a hard drive


Hi Jeff,
I have similar requests from accountants, financial planners, etc.

If they're just disposing of them:
If you have a bunch of PCs then buy one of those huge-electro magnets from
the hardware store or radio shack. Takes a few seconds per unit. Otherwise,
if you only have a couple remove the hard drive and smack it dead center
with a hammer. It takes less than five minutes.

Your customer will be impressed with your thoroughness, and as a byproduct,
it alleviates job related stress. :o)



-----Original Message-----
From: dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Jeff Barrows
Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2005 10:23 AM
To: Dba-Tech
Subject: [dba-Tech] Wiping ALL data from a hard drive

I am looking for a quick, easy, inexpensive way to wipe ALL data from a hard
drive.  A local non-profit business has recently replaced their hardware and
wants to be sure that their data on the old machines is not retrievable by
anyone before they dispose of them.  I could format each hard drive, but I
was wondering if anyone here had a better idea.
 
TIA
 
 
Jeff Barrows
MCP, MCAD, MCSD
 
Outbak Technologies, LLC
Racine, WI
jeff at outbaktech.com _______________________________________________
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