I've always asked how to wipe my hard drive clean with no o/s. No one has given me a REAL answer on how to do this. ALL i need to know is how to wipe my hard drive and just have a BRAND NEW CLEAN hard drive. If i could get an answer on how to do this NOT an answer saying install the o/s and it will do it.

I use a little program called clearhdd.exe (http://www.samsung.com/Products/HardDiskDrive/support/Download/software/software_HDD_0000002849.htm) . It does a so called "low level format" on the drive. It zeros out the drive and gets it ready to partition. Even though it is from Samsung, I've used it on different drives and it works.

You can then use fdisk or any other method to partition and format the drive. You can then install your OS and you're done. :)

http://www.tcwozere.co.uk/~cracks/contrib/jon/smillie_flag.gif

You create a Windows (Win98/ME) start up disk in the Add/Remove programs.
Boot up to the floppy and at A:\> prompt, type "format C:" (or the drive/partition of your choice).

Now when did you ask that killercow, I would have been happy to tell you.....

In addition to the 2 options already mentioned, you can also use fdisk to remove the partition and recreate the partition. This won't actually erase anything, but it will seem like it to your system. If you need it completely gone, your hard drive probably came with a utility disk that includes the option to "zero out" your hard drive. If you run that once, it will clean it well. If you run it 7 times, it will meet government standards for being clean enough for a security clearance. It will not be completely clean until you take it out and use a sledge hammer on it, but then it won't be able to run your OS.:D

There are a number of other utilities that will do a complete wipe of the hard drive, but the options offered will probably do it for you.

And BTW, have you cleaned out your mailbox yet??? If not, look for the thread with your name in the title.

If someone did tell me .... sorry I prolly didn't understand what you were saying. For example budfred here's what goes through me head in your post:

"^&@*#(@&^%#!^$#@!@^!()#&! @#*&!@^!&%#@^@*%^&(@%&!*^@#(!_&#@*#@&*(+¦-_ÆÖ&&*(#%#$@$@%$"

If you can tell what I'm saying I don't understand. If you could explain it step-by-step as if i were 13 (wait a second I am 13 ...:rolleyes: oh well). I just don't really know all the fdisk stuff. I can build and fix computers and a little other stuff here and there. Sorry I just don't 100% understand. thanx


And after being with the middle-eastern linksys techsupport lady for 3hours I'll gladly smash any hard drive:D

Okay, here is the real easy way. Find the disks that came with your hard drive. You probably have a floppy that will boot you into the hard drive utilities. Put that disk in your floppy drive and boot your computer. When the utilities come up, they will offer you a number of options and one of them should say something about erasing or zeroing out your hard drive. Use that one to do so. It will take a while, so go do something else while it works. If you really want it wiped clean, run the same program a few times and it will essentially be unretrievable except with some very expensive software. BE SURE you don't want anything on that drive because you probably won't be able to afford to get it back after even the first run.

And BTW, I wasn't critizing you, I just don't remember seeing a post where you asked how to do this. If it still isn't clear, keep asking until it is. I know you are 13, but I can tell you are one of the brighter 13 year olds around by your posts......:)

Sorry double post

Before doing what Budfred said we need to make sure you have your disks (CD's with Windows etc>)

Ok. Do you mean that you would like to 'start over' with Windows and reinstall any other softwares on your pc?

Do you have any recovery disks? Operating system disks? Like Windows 9x or XP? Please look around for them and let us know.

Maybe your pc was used and it has none, therefore you won't be able to start over until you get a hold of one/some.

We need a list of what you have for a system and the softwares on it plus if you have them to put back in afterwards.

Belarc Advisor (www.belarc.com/free_download.html) will put out a report of your systewm that you can post here if you are unsure of what you have.

I bought the hard drive OEM no disks or anything. Is there any way to do it from the bios.
-FTD:
I do have WinXP FULL edition (not upgrade)
My problem is winXP says it didn't fully install and so I repaired it then it just went haywire (correct spelling I hope).
I want to (without a WINxp cd) erase the HD. The first link above here the 1st post I believe didn't work.

Killercow,

I have to say, this is the kind of thing you have to do to understand. At least I did. :) Try to find a computer that you can play with. You can make a w98 bootdisk from any win98 machine by going to control panel > add/remove programs > startup disk > create disk.

HERE (http://fdisk.radified.com/) is a pretty good explaination of fdisk and format. Fdisk partitions the drive and format put a file system on it.

If you find a computer that you can play with, I'm sure that we can walk you through the process.

ooops...I see that you have one to work with already. ;)

It sounds like you should get the manufacturers software for that drive. What kind of drive is it?

If you have XP and that is all, is there anything else you want to keep on your harddrive before erasing it all?

Also, the XP CD should allow you to fdisk (make partitions) and format (wipe and prepare space for install) instead of making a Windows boot floppy from Windows98

If you want to do it with a boot floppy, fine I/we'll help but if it's from the CD I'll have to step back and let someone else take over. I've never done XP. I may say that right now... for tommorrow's another day. ;)

If the OEM drive is new, there is no need to do a government quality "Wipe out". (Why is it I hear drums when I type that? :D ) So the harddrive utility is not of much use at the moment.

First, did you install XP using the NTFS files system?

If so most of the above solutions won't work, because they rely on a FAT disk tools. The Win98 tools will not "see" the NTFS partitions and will not work.

Like FTT said, the WinXP CD has the tools that are compatible with NTFS, so you should use that, or the manufacter's utilities disk.

If that doesn't sove the problem, use the XP CD to fromta the drive as FAT32, then use something like Eraser (http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/). The latest version allows you to make a bootable floppy that will totally erase a drive (zero fill).

You may want to download the utilities from your hard drive manufacturer even if you do use the CD to reformat and reinstall. It is handy to have the utilities handy if something goes wrong with the hard drive since they contain diagnostics for the drive...

I got a download from Western Digital and it cleaned it.

Ps.
I am typing to you from my newly built computer I got the wireless router working:D

Good job.;)

I am typing to you from my newly built computer I got the wireless router working

Congratulations! :)

Can someone give me a synopsis of what this thread was about?

Thanks in advance....

killercow,

Congratulations!!

Now, have you cleaned out your PM mailbox yet???

no-mbr,

Did you read the thread?

IF BEING A NON DOS PARTITION IS A PROBLEM WHEN TRYING TO WIPE A DRIVE FOR A FRESH OP/SYS THEN USE FDISK OR ONE OF THE DISK PARTITIONING DISKS THAT CAME WITH YOUR DRIVE. OTHERWISE JUST USE A SETUP FLOPPY OR ROM TO DO IT: THAT IS. AT THE 'A' DOS PROMPT TYPE FORMAT /U C: WHERE THE 'u' STANDS FOR UNCONDITIONAL. THIS WILL WIPE THE DRIVE WITHOUT LEAVING ANY TRACKS FROM A OLD OP/SYS. NOW YOU CAN INSTALL. SIMPLE? YES.;)

rekcah3,

Welcome to http://www.pcguide.com/ubb/pcgubb.gif

And now that you are here, please stop shouting... All caps is considered shouting because it is very difficult to read and it is considered rude around here.

Also, I don't believe a single format of any kind will remove all traces from the hard drive. Even a total zeroing out of the drive leaves some traces and can still be recovered if someone wants to hard enough. As as already been said, the only way to make sure you leave no traces is a sledgehammer and a good workout.

thanks rekcah3 but:

I got a download from Western Digital and it cleaned it.

yea ... please don't yell I'm not totally stupid:D

I just use a little proggy called WIPE, works great and is equiv to running 7 low level formats.( 20gbs takes 3 hours)

I know I'm late to the discussion.

If you want to erase your hard drive

Go Here (http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/howto/story/0,24330,3393693,00.html)

and down load Delete 1.20

also see

This (http://news.mysanantonio.com/story.cfm?xla=saen&xlb=110&xlc=929443)