'scrubbing' a hard drive

[Earth_First]

Any suggestions on how one would go about this to a complete pc novice?

THANKS in advance!

[benburch]

1. Do you ever want to use it again?

The best way to totally remove data from a hard drive is to heat the whole drive past the curie point for the media, which can most effectively be done with a propane welding torch.

This method is proof against even governments.

However, if extreme paranoia is not the issue, there are a number of utilities available that do a good job of overwriting all of the data on a hard disk several times in a way that is proof against the average corporate or law enforcement snoop and which leave the drive usable.

[Earth_First]

3. I do want to use it again...

I just want to start from scratch. No paranoia issues (yet).

Would I be better off with just a re-format?

[benburch]

7. Then format is what you want.

The installation CDs that came with your system should be able to restore it to the condition is was in when it was new. Or at least, all of the ones I have dealt with could.

[MADem]

2. You might do better/get more techie responses in the computer forum

...I'm no real help, back in the day we used to just format C, but there's people around who know what they are talking about--regular whiz kids.

No help to you but at least this suggestion also gives your request a kick.

[merwin]

4. I would suggest some environment friendly cleanser

[burythehatchet]

5. depends how sensitive your info is

it has been said that the only sure fire scrub is a shredding.

[Heyo]

6. DoD wipe...

....google "DoD wipe".

Heyo

[benburch]

8. I wouldn't trust that if it were important.

Only heat will destroy the data totally. However, for what this person wants, even format would be enough.

[BlueJazz]

9. When you format the disk, use the switch "U"

as: Format C: /U

[Az]

10. Are we talking a forensic wipe

So that no data will ever be recovered from it? You will want to do a zero write across the drive (there are tools for this). And afterwards you can do a format (low level if you really really want to blitz the drive).

But if you just want to clear the drive off for a new load you need only do a format.