just a few queries

[chappers]

can you tell me what i need to do to 'start from scratch' with my pc. When i have reformatted and installed win xp home again i havent had to install any drivers. If i use eraser or dban will i need to install the drivers? Also which is better eraser or dban? and what are their differences?

cheers bob 8)

 

[Swifty]

DBAN securely wipes any hard drive it detects on your system. Kind of like a reformat but more secure.

Eraser deletes files off your computer and writes over the file x amount of times (depending which method you use) so it cannot be recovered.

When you install XP from either a DBAN wipe or a normal reformat XP will still install the drivers on your system like it did when you done a standard reformat.

Most of the time people will only need a standard reformat but if you have stuff on your disk like credit card info or address and you don't want people to recover the info I'd suggest you use DBAN.

 

[chappers]

Right so which is the more thorough cleaner, eraser or dban? i want to wipe everything so the hard disk will be like it is new (although i know that cantbe done i want the nearest possible thing).

help is appreciated bob

 

[Swifty]

You'd have to use DBAN as Eraser doesn't wipe the hard disk, it only wipes files and cleans free space.

Here's a few things to remember.

1. Backup any data you need on a CD or ZIP disk.
2. Make sure you defrag your hard disk before performing a DBAN wipe.
3. Delete any info you don't want anyone else to recover by using Eraser. You might want to use the Gutmann method. Open Eraser and hold down CTRL + E and select Gutmann if not already selected.
4. Insert your DBAN floppy and hit restart. (Make sure any Windows/Linux CDs that are bootable are out of your CD-ROM)
5. After you have reinstalled Windows make sure you use Eraser to clean up the unused free space.

Everything there apart from #4 is optional so you don't have to do it but I'd advise you do it if you a paranoid PC nut like me.

 

[chappers]

thanks alot. I will try this and hopefully it will solve my problems...otherwise i have a fault with harware :cry:

thanks to everybody that posted on this thread help was greatly appreciated bob 8)