How to totally erase or wipe-out data from hard drive!

[melvs]

I have a laptop that I need to dispose of in order for me to pay up some bills. Since I have another laptop which is much faster and capable to do all my works. That laptop is just laying around eaten by dust. But my concern is the information or data that are stored in the hard disk might be restored by anyone by accident or intentional can do harm for my family. I want to ask for your expert advice about this situation I am having. Let me know a much better way to do it. Thanks a lot guys in advance.

[Nathan]

On 3/12/2018 at 10:37 PM, melvs said:

I have a laptop that I need to dispose of in order for me to pay up some bills. Since I have another laptop which is much faster and capable to do all my works. That laptop is just laying around eaten by dust. But my concern is the information or data that are stored in the hard disk might be restored by anyone by accident or intentional can do harm for my family. I want to ask for your expert advice about this situation I am having. Let me know a much better way to do it. Thanks a lot guys in advance.

Is it a Mac or PC?  If a Mac I'd use Clean My Mac.  I use it just for normal cleanup, but it has a shredder option that will completely remove data.

[valentino]

Is your laptop is in good condition or not? If it's in good condition and can be turn on all you need is a external hard disk drive to back up all your files. Plug it in to your old laptop copy all the files that you need to back up. Just go to my computer to see your external drive . Double click the internal disk and select the file that you want to back up. after that your good to go you can dispose your old laptop or what ever you want to do with. If you want to format it bring it to the nearest computer shop from your house. 

 

Edited March 13, 2018 by valentino

[fishbate]

Well, there is a way to restore the files even it was already deleted by just using a powerful recovery software. Although there are software's that claims a 100% crumb free file shredder.  I think there are still files that can be recovered via software. If you want to know a good safe file deletion software, you can check this site for your reference:

https://www.lifewire.com/free-file-shredder-software-programs-2619149

But if you really think that the files on the HDD is really important, i suggest that you replace the HDD first before selling it. Most laptops HDD compartment are easy to open, some of them have only two screws securing it. Just unscrew, open the compartment and pull the HDD. If your not familiar on how to remove the HDD you might want to get some help from a friend. What to do with the old HDD? i suggest you destroy it so that you can be assured that your data is safe. I hope this helps.

[hoppip93]

If your laptop is still working, you can use various software such as CCleaner's Drive Wiper tool or you can select files to "shred" through the application Eraser. For a more thorough disk-wiping program, you can use DBAN (Darik's Boot and Nuke).

[melvs]

On 3/13/2018 at 10:37 PM, Nathan said:

Is it a Mac or PC?  If a Mac I'd use Clean My Mac.  I use it just for normal cleanup, but it has a shredder option that will completely remove data.

I am using PC right now @Nathan

[melvs]

On 3/14/2018 at 12:18 AM, valentino said:

Is your laptop is in good condition or not? If it's in good condition and can be turn on all you need is a external hard disk drive to back up all your files. Plug it in to your old laptop copy all the files that you need to back up. Just go to my computer to see your external drive . Double click the internal disk and select the file that you want to back up. after that your good to go you can dispose your old laptop or what ever you want to do with. If you want to format it bring it to the nearest computer shop from your house. 

 

@valentino, I know how to back up or transfer all my file from a laptop to another laptop or to an external hard drive or in any other storage. What I am asking is how to totally wipe out a drive so that all the information from it that was erased or removed will not be restored by anyone. I don't need to go to a computer shop or trouble shooter because I do that, that is my forte, I myself restore data from corrupted hard drives by my costumers computers who they brought to me for fixing. That's why I know data can be restored, what I don't know is how to wiped everything out so no restoration can be done to the disc.

[melvs]

On 3/14/2018 at 8:43 AM, fishbate said:

Well, there is a way to restore the files even it was already deleted by just using a powerful recovery software. Although there are software's that claims a 100% crumb free file shredder.  I think there are still files that can be recovered via software. If you want to know a good safe file deletion software, you can check this site for your reference:

https://www.lifewire.com/free-file-shredder-software-programs-2619149

But if you really think that the files on the HDD is really important, i suggest that you replace the HDD first before selling it. Most laptops HDD compartment are easy to open, some of them have only two screws securing it. Just unscrew, open the compartment and pull the HDD. If your not familiar on how to remove the HDD you might want to get some help from a friend. What to do with the old HDD? i suggest you destroy it so that you can be assured that your data is safe. I hope this helps.

Yeah that maybe one of the possible things to do, but I will need to buy a new hard disk and that's something I can't afford to do. But thank you very much for the link you have send I will try to read that so I can learn from it.

[melvs]

On 3/14/2018 at 9:00 PM, hoppip93 said:

If your laptop is still working, you can use various software such as CCleaner's Drive Wiper tool or you can select files to "shred" through the application Eraser. For a more thorough disk-wiping program, you can use DBAN (Darik's Boot and Nuke).

Yeah I think I will try to do that also. From all the answers in this thread, I came to a conclusion that I can will give time to use this applications for shredding, wiping, dban, and erasers, after doing that I will try and restore the disk, once I find out which one has done a much better job. That is what I am gonna post here so that many people can benefit from it. Thanks everyone!

[fishbate]

On 3/18/2018 at 7:15 PM, melvs said:

Yeah that maybe one of the possible things to do, but I will need to buy a new hard disk and that's something I can't afford to do. But thank you very much for the link you have send I will try to read that so I can learn from it.

If you want to lower your cost you can go for a second hand HDD with a lower capacity. HDD's are plug and play device you don't have to worry about drivers and other things. Just makes sure that the HDD is working well and the capacity is the same as stated then it will be fine. Some buyers really do not need large amount of internal HDD because now a days its more convenient using external drives and cloud drives.

[Nathan]

On 3/18/2018 at 8:37 PM, melvs said:

I am using PC right now @Nathan

Ah go with this then: CleanMyPC.

[NerdIndeed]

Since there is software out there that can restore deleted files, and you have said that it contains sensitive information that you think will be bad if it falls on other's hands. The best course of action to take is just to keep it or bury it in the ground or something. Regarding your bills payment, find another way or other things to sell that will not compromise yourself and your family.