How do I destroy a computer hard drive before I discard it? And what does a hard drive look like?
610566
To format the hard drive before you dispose of it (ie get rid of all the data stored on it) get a magnet and rub it across the disk (silver part in the second image in the link below). This should erase all data on it.\n\nGOOGLE IMAGE RESULTS FOR HARD DRIVE:\nhttp://images.google.co.uk/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=hard+drive&btnG=Search\n\nHope this Helps!
234178
Make sure your machine is setup to boot off of your CD-rom and then insert disc one of your system recovery set (or some name of that nature).  Follow the prompts on the screen with the realization that everything currently on your harddrive will be wiped out!  Good luck!\n\nDrop me a line if you need more help.
312865
Left click "My Computer" to open a browser window to view all of your available drives.  Of course your hard drive is usually labelled as "C", but it may have two partitions.  The second partition is usually labelled "D".  "C" and "D" will be on the same drive but appear to be seperate.  I will get to why I mention this later.\n\nOnce in "My Computer" you can put your pointer over the drive that you want information on.  Without doing anything else, it should give you some basic information on the drive/partition; free space and total size.  If you want more details just right click and select "Properties".  This will give you a graphic representation of your available and total space on your drive. \n\nYou have a few options if you don't have any free space.  You can do a "Disk Cleanup".  Do this by clicking "Disk Cleanup" in the window you opened in the previous step or go to Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk Cleanup.  This will find all temporary files, files in your recycle bin and various other files that you may not need anymore.  When it has run, it will give you a list of all of these files and how much space that they will free up if deleted.  Select the ones that you wish to delete and Finish.  Note that you should do this periodically as part of your regular PC maintanance.\n\nAnother option is to go through your computer and manually delete files and programs you don't need anymore.  You may delete something that you need if you are not careful though.  Deleting files is easy.  Right click and Delete or drag them to the Recycle bin.  To remove programs go to Start, Settings, Control Panel, Add or Remove Programs.  Once the program list pops up select to Remove the programs you want ot get rid of and follow the prompts.\n\nIf you have a lot of files that are taking up space, but don't want to get rid of them, move them to another storage media.  Put them on an external drive, or save them to disk.  You can even save them to the D drive if you have space there.  I like to save everything from my projects and working folders onto my D drive.  That way I know where my files are and they don't take up program space on my C drive
162518
To answer the 1st part of this question, police will use some sort of data recovery software to gather data.  Basically what they should do is take a snapshot of the machine and then do a bit for bit data transfer from one hard drive to another, then they can play with their second drive to recover data while preserving the original for evidence.\n\nTo answer the 2nd part of the question.  In order to completely delete data off the disk it is possible and not really that difficult.  Do a web search for "how to zeroize a drive" and there is software out there that will do it for you.  The software will read the drive and mark any sectors that are not "write protected" and it will go back and write all 0's to the data storage portion of that sector.  Takes a long time depending on the size of the drive and the number or "wipes" you want to do, but after doing this, then the data is gone.
40245
if you don't want replace this hard drive, the best bet is - do a thorough disk check on it. this will mark all bad sectors and will take them out of use.\nafter you start that disk check you will be requested to reboot the system, do so and let it run.
338700
Easy recovery professional and other data recovery software can recover data from hard drive.\n\nbut for that hard drive should be in detectable condition and media of disk should be readable for having a little damage drive in working condition try putting it in freezer for 1 or 2.
122890
Latch onto an external hard drive...shove all your important files in it. then basically wipe the whole damn hard drive, and reinstall the operating system. and when you do...partition your hard drive
1053679
Sounds like your hard drive is gettin ready to take a dump, burn all your files that you want to keep before it does!
512689
Run a destructive read-write hard drive test about ten times...works!\n\nThere are also a number of programs out there, some even approved of for use in the department of defense.\n\nParagon Disk Wiper, R-Wipe & Clean, AEVITA Erase Hard Drive,  SecureClean, WipeDrive or Stellar Wipe.\n\nDo not do a format C command, that is usually where your operating system is, besides ist is still recoverable unless it is written over a number of times.
808703
Why would you want to remove bytes from your computer? You would have to remove your hard drive.
261194
Use Fdisk to delete the partition then Reinstall Windows. Doubt its a dead harddrive
84928
There is a software called Easy recovery that has tools for testing the mechanical and logical functions of any hard drive.  You need another hard drive if you are going to attemp any data recovery though.  Check the website.
1098644
Do a "system recovery" These instructions, will clean everything off of your hard drive, so you must back up anything that you want to save. I have done this several times, and I got these instructions, from a computer tech. When starting your computer, tap the F-10 key. click on next-yes-and follow the instructions, that come up on your screen. When you are finished, your computer, will look just like it did, when you first bought it.Do these steps, in order, when finished.\n1. set up windows firewall\n2. windows update (click express)\n3. install your anti-virus program (update)\n4. install anti-spyware (update)\nThis is called a "system recovery
1056034
Are you sure you want to erace your entire hard drive?\nSUGGESTION I\n1. Go to My Computer.\n2. Right-Click on the drive that you want to delete.\n3. Click Format.\n4. Check Quick Format.\n5. Click Start.\nI dont think this will work so do this\nSUGGESTION II\n1. Buy a Hard Drive \n2. Replace them
231292
Don't just format your hard drive.  Wipe it using DBAN, see sources, or a similar tool.  Formatting, alone, will leave much recoverable information on your drive.\n\nAfter wiping, as the other posters have already said, format your drive and reinstall your operating system from the original CDs.
1142
You can completely wipe a harddrive with a program called Dban Autonuke.  Or open Windows Explorer and select the files you want to remove and delete them.  make sure you clear your Recyle Bin.
418595
If you have to ask, you probably shouldn't be attempting this.  The command is FORMAT d: where d: is the drive you wish to format.  You can also run DISKFIX ... please, there is no recovery from this at all.\n\nIf you're getting rid of an old computer ... that's a different story.  We should probably have this conversation off-line ... my contact info is in my profile ... IM me and we'll figure out the best way to accomplish what you want to do.