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  1. #101
    UHM's Arrogant Metal Head
    If anything is possible, is it
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    I wipe the drive when I reformat. I install a fresh ver. of Windows on it. That's all I know. I wipe C clean. I don't use any other programs to do it. I don't see how that would matter anyway. When you reformat you start fresh. I don't see how doing it one way or another matters. But maybe I'm just ignorant to this. Didn't know you could do it other ways..

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  2. #102
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    I was curious about what you meant by wiping the drive. A misconception some people (and I'm not saying you so no offense intended) have about reformatting is that the drive is wiped clean and ready for a new install.
    It's not. All low level reformatting does is remove the registry stuff that prevents the OS from accessing that previous information - that information however is still on the drive itself.

    A better and more secure way is to wipe the drive first with any available drive overwriting program that basically fills the drive sectors with either random data or a simple 1 pass with all 0's. An even better and more secure way is being able to access the internal secure erase command that is built into all sata hard drives manufactured after 2001, and at least over 20 gb i think.

    Alot of people are unable to access the command because the majority of the BIOS people have in PC's either make it hard to access - or give no option to actually use it due to a person accidentally enabeling it - thus resulting in a drive being wiped and the person being left with no OS available to reinstall.

    I found out about it accidentally while looking for various settings in the BIOS of a PC i used to have. It's called the secure erase command.
    Had to look it up to see what it was and found alot of info on it. Unfortunately many BIOS' in PC's don't give you the option to use it. HDD erase is a program that interacts with the secure erase - and will initiate the command.

    I've checked 3 desktops of people I know and 4 laptops, and only an older Lenovo had a BIOS in it that actually allowed the HDD erase program to run it. The problem isn't the drives themselves because every SATA drive has the command built into it - the problem is finding a PC with a BIOS that will actually let you run it.

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  3. #103
    The Architect
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    FrighT MasteR's Avatar
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    Whenever I do a wipe I just run the OS setup and chose to format a drive to erase all the old data within it and start fresh.

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  4. #104
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    Quote Originally Posted by FrighT MasteR View Post
    Whenever I do a wipe I just run the OS setup and chose to format a drive to erase all the old data within it and start fresh.
    I see where you're coming from, but it really doesn't do that. That just removes the registry settings for the old operating system. For alot of people that would be fine for their needs. If you're looking for scorched earth, and having an almost like new from the factory drive - needs to be wiped.

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  5. #105
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    Whenever I build a new comp I'll try the HDDerase method (if I use these drives again) and update this thread

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  6. #106
    The Scotsman
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    If you want proof that a format of the hard drive doesnt really do anything...install File Scavenger after a wipe/reinstall.

    Basically - all your files are still there.

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  7. #107
    The Architect
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    I think it's fairly common knowledge now that whenever you delete something that it's technically not deleted from the HD. Though I wasn't aware of a seemingly easy program like HDD Erase though But then again I don't do research on these things unless deemed necessary at the time.

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  8. #108
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dexter View Post
    If you want proof that a format of the hard drive doesnt really do anything...install File Scavenger after a wipe/reinstall.

    Basically - all your files are still there.
    Yes.

    A low level format and reinstall is probably good enough for most people. PC companies used to give you the operating system on a disc with your new computer, but they don't do that anymore. Now they put a "recovery partition" on your drive, and expect you to burn a set of recovery discs shortly after you start up your new PC - all done to save them money and to give you a PC at a cheaper cost. Problem is - alot of people don't burn them, or even know how - until it's too late.

    An example of why you'd want to wipe the drive would be maybe for this reason:
    You have a buisness, or you want to upgrade to a newer machine and your planning on donating your current PC to charity or maybe selling it to somebody you know or anybody else.

    If you got rid of it, and all you did was reformat it - all of the previous information might still be accessible to someone who knew how to access it. That could include alot of banking information... passwords... personal info... etc. Alot of people do buisness related stuff on their PC's It's pretty much recommended to use an overwriting program (plenty of free ones out there by the way) or use the more secure method of the secure erase. Really it depends on what your need is - as to what's the method you'd want to use.

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  9. #109
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    Dexter - you're not helping your cause - concerning my post count that is.

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  10. #110
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    Ok. I have this Text Enhancer annoyance going on for a few days. Some key words are clickable and an ad pops up or a survey. WTF. I clicked on the ? and it said to go to Google extensions to disable. I never enabled it and I find nothing there.

    Do you think I have to re install Google Chrome? Or can I look somewhere else to get rid of this fuck.

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  11. #111
    UHM's Arrogant Metal Head
    If anything is possible, is it
    possible for something to be
    impossible?
     
    DMHead777's Avatar
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    Do you have any adaware or cleaners on your system? I'd suggest running a few programs and clean out your registry then reinstall chrome. But reinstall Chrome for the hell of it. Use the program CCleaner to uninstall it though so it gets rid of everything

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  12. #112
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    FrighT MasteR's Avatar
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    Sounds like you may have some kinda spyware or something in your system

    You can try grabbing superantispyware from the first page and run it. See if it catches anything

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  13. #113
    UHM's Arrogant Metal Head
    If anything is possible, is it
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    This is why people should be cleaning out their systems at least once a week with programs

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  14. #114
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    This reminds me, I need to add a new program that I've been using to this list

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  15. #115
    UHM's Arrogant Metal Head
    If anything is possible, is it
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    Which one is that?

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  16. #116
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    Quote Originally Posted by DMHead777 View Post
    This is why people should be cleaning out their systems at least once a week with programs
    I CC, once a week. Run a AVG and defragg also. I do a drive wipe once a month. anything else I should do?

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  17. #117
    UHM's Arrogant Metal Head
    If anything is possible, is it
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    Use an anti-spyware program as well like Adaware or Spybot. Only defrag once a month, but other than that, you're good!

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  18. #118
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    Just added this..

    Revo Uninstaller:
    http://download.cnet.com/Revo-Uninst...-10687648.html

    A lot of people don't realize that once you delete something, remnants of the file are sometimes still left behind. It may just be a folder or a registry file, but either way, it's still in your system. Revo basically removes the program normally, but also gives you the option to run a system scan that searches for other pieces of the file that may still remain. It will sniff it out and give you ability to remove it all entirely. This is a nice way to completely remove something. There are other nifty features that you can play with, as far as cleaning your comp goes, which is why I highly recommend this.

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  19. #119
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    Ok. I didn't have that. I grabbed the one from the first page. Thanks!

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  20. #120
    UHM's Arrogant Metal Head
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    You don't need that, just use CCleaner to uninstall. It's the same thing and you won't have an added program

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