How to Completely Format HDD?

[mordsithus]

I was wondering how does one completely remove data on a HDD. I am planning to sell one of my 45gig WD HDD sometime in the near future and want to wipe it completely clean. Just doing a "format c:" doesn't completely do it since I know there are software programs out there that can still restore data after a format....so any help would be most gratefully appreciated.

[Direct1]

I never tried it but you can try Active@KillDisk. Good luck!

[leprechaun_40]

Go to the manufacturers website, and download their disc utilities for that drive, it should contain a program to ZERO the drive ( writes all 0's to it ) That'll effectively wipe out anything on the drive.

[Sterling_Aug]

Do a search for Wipe Drive. We use it at work and do a 3X write to each drive.

[morpheus kain]

Yeah a 3X write like Wipe Drive is the most complete form of data destruction there is.

[rankar7]

I would use evidence eliminator (i think it's at evidence-eliminator.com). Military and government grade. Nice product (I don't work for this company, nor do I get anything for saying it's what you need). Check it out and see if it'll work for you.

[mordsithus]

I am using evidence elminiator .... but I don't see how it would help with cleaning a HDD. I use this program and as far as I can tell focuses on internet related issues and such. All I can tell is program does is completely gets rid of cookies, history, and other "storage information files" and completely rids of these...but don't see how this relates to cleaning a HDD format but thnx for the input. Maybe Im incorrect on this but thats my view.

Direct1 that looks interesting and hope it works for me when the time comes!

Its not that im afriad that the person who gets my HDD is gonna get senstive data..i just feel that it would be something to try (gotta try something to understand ) and give it a "new" feeling.

[rankar7]

apologies; in my haste I recommended something that wouldn't quite fit the bill here. I agree with using Active@killdisk. I've used it and it works as described. You can download it from the usual places (e.g., search for killdisk on cnet.com or whatever)