Format without Reinstalling Windows

[SwamiJi]

Hi guys, I have a computer that I'm trying to sell and I'm trying to wipe all of the software off of it. The computer is currently running Windows XP. Is there a simple way for me to format the hard drive without having to reinstall an operating system? To effectively remove all software from the computer?

Thanks for your time

 

[LuckyTaxi]

Originally posted by: SwamiJi
Hi guys, I have a computer that I'm trying to sell and I'm trying to wipe all of the software off of it. The computer is currently running Windows XP. Is there a simple way for me to format the hard drive without having to reinstall an operating system? To effectively remove all software from the computer?

Thanks for your time

Add/Remove programs

 

[JW310]

http://www.killdisk.com/

The free version there looks like it'll do the trick.

JW

Edit:

Oops, misunderstood your question. Yeah, I think add/remove programs is about the best you're gonna get, without formatting and reinstalling the OS.

 

[LuckyTaxi]

Originally posted by: JW310
http://www.killdisk.com/

The free version there looks like it'll do the trick.

JW

No, that'll kill the entire disk. The program's name gives it away. KILLDISK

 

[JW310]

Originally posted by: lilcam

Originally posted by: JW310
http://www.killdisk.com/

The free version there looks like it'll do the trick.

JW

No, that'll kill the entire disk. The program's name gives it away. KILLDISK

See my edit above. I thought he meant he wanted to wipe the drive totally clean, rather than leave the OS intact, but get rid of everything else.

JW

 

[TheLiberalTruth]

I dunno, JW310 might be right. He said he wanted to get rid of all the software to sell the thing. Some people take the OS off when they sell, too.

 

[SwamiJi]

sorry for the confusion, JW310 was correct the first time....I am trying to wipe the disk totally clean...no OS...no software...just a blank HD.

I think I will look into killdisk

 

[Illusio]

you could delete and remake the partition. That will wipe everything.

 

[ShadowBlade]

whats wrong with formatting?
btw: before you format, download and install "Eraser 53" and right click your drive
then choose "Erase empty space" (or something like that) this will overwrite all data 35x with actual random data (not 1x pseudorandom normal shift+delete) Then go in and erase everything except the OS (right click folders, erase)

Then format

this will make sure all data is totally gone
the Department of Defense standard is 7 overwrites, Eraser does 35

 

[TGS]

If you are selling the disk make sure whatever program you use writes tot he entire disk at least a few times.

If you are looking to just kill the windows installation for later use, you could just boot off the CD and delete the partitons, though that won't actually get rid of the data on the disk.

 

[SwamiJi]

thanks guys, I appreciate it

 

[sourceninja]

I use eraser on all the drives wipe at work. Just formatting/deleting the partition wont work. In fact, one time I screwed up and deleted my root partition and was able to recover it by just recreating the ext3 partition.