wipedrive.com?

Larry Robbins · Post by **Larry Robbins** » 28 Oct 2005 1:24 pm

Anyone here know anything about this software? Not much of a computer guy at all...but want to "clean up" a computer before I give it to a faimly member. Any
thoughts? Thanks.

www.wipemydrive.com <font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Larry Robbins on 28 October 2005 at 02:25 PM.]</p></FONT>

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 28 Oct 2005 2:02 pm

That should "clean" the drive. After you run that program you can then reformat it, and reload whatever software you want on it.

There are several of these programs around. They are not like the "super" programs government security uses but for most "consumer" applications it will do the job.

Larry Robbins · Post by **Larry Robbins** » 28 Oct 2005 2:23 pm

Thanks Jack,
This is a Dell that I bought new last year and want to give to my oldest daughter.Just want to make sure no-one can accidently
find credit card #'s and such!

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 28 Oct 2005 3:15 pm

Just read on their site they claim it wipes out things that format doesn't get.... wouldn't running Debug script get it all?

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 29 Oct 2005 2:49 am

The "security" or "wipe" programs write a certain algorithem based pattern on the hard drive - actually write and re-write several times based on an "NSA" standard.

When you just "erase" a file or even the entire hard drive all you are doing is setting "flags" on the drive that says the sector(s) are available for use. You can even take an "unerase" program and recapture the "erased" data if you haven't reused that sector.

There are various "depth" security programs and for most people the ones such as originally referenced are perfectly adequate. If you were covering up a crime then you would need a "deeper" erase program or the governement could still get some "erased" data from your hard drive.