On 11/19/02 Obi-Wan 'Kyle H. Hansen' <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> responded to: > >On 11/18/02 7:19 PM, "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Spew into the >Cybertrough: > >> In a message dated 11/18/2002 9:10:40 PM Eastern Standard Time, >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: >> >>> I need to wipe this drive clean, really clean. Will apples disk >>> utility on 10.2 wipe it so no info will be able to be >>> recovered or >>> seen. If not what is best way delete the data I have on it. >> >> When you reinitialize the drive, choose the "zero" option. It actually >>writes zeroes EVERYWHERE. > >Which still makes your drive recoverable to prying eyes, unless you write it >to zero 7+ times.
Ah, but Obi-Wan Kyle, what does it take to actually retrieve 'real' data from a zeroed-once (or twice or thrice) drive? Is there a practical way to do it without going through a pretty serious HW recovery effort? I assumed the OP merely needs to ensure the IBM refurb factory or a later user of said HD won't stumble upon some corporate secrets (or whatever.) And would writing zeros 7+ times make a significant difference from just doing it once or twice or thrice? Is the zero option in Drive Setup adequate for the task BTW? The suggestion to the OP would then seem to be write zeros 8 times with DS, just to be really, really sure. Would that then be sufficient to ensure the drive is actually totally unrecoverable?? Inquiring minds want to know, : >) Then Mike Amato <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> offered: <snipped some stuff> >Also do a low level format. Takes a while. Mike, please note you cannot do a "Low Level Format" on a IDE drive, as that applies only to SCSI devices. One mistake I've made is trying an 'LLF' on an ATA disk attached to a PCI-ATA cad. Big mistake, for while DS will allow it under the mistaken assumption it's actually a SCSI disk, you may render your drive useless (though I got lucky.) With a disk on a native ATA bus, the point should be moot as DS grays out that choice in Options. Then Andrew Main <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> noted: <snipped some stuff> >I don't know of any consumer-available utility that will actually >low-level-format an IDE drive (I've read somewhere in another thread >that that's done only in the factory), though I haven't looked hard. >Seems like the zeroing option is the best we "end users" have, and >it's not bad. Or a Radio Shack bulk tape eraser (which has sometimes >enabled me to resurrect a misbehaving floppy disk), but I suspect it >may damage some other components in a hard drive, so I've never tried >it. I've thought of using a powerful bulk-eraser too and if I had one handy I'd try it on an old IDE drive just to see the effects (if any.) Anyone else out there tried it or willing to try just for funsies? I suspect using a bulk eraser would remove needed markers from the platters, rendering the drive useless. Ya think? Dan K -- G-Books is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- Check our web site for refurbished PowerBooks | & CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> G-Books list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-books.html> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/g-books%40mail.maclaunch.com/> --------------------------------------------------------------- >The Think Different Store http://www.ThinkDifferentStore.com ---------------------------------------------------------------
