How can i wipe data from the hard disk ?

[seanm]

I work in 'financial services' and have sensitive client information stored on my hard disk. As i am planning to upgrade my pc, can you tell me how to permanently wipe all data so it cannot be recovered from the hard disk . Thanks.

[LeMarchand]

There's various (FREE!) utilities that should do the trick here: http://www.webattack.com/freeware/security/fwerase
.html .

[powerless]

...With a hammer! If someone wanted to extract data from your HDD they could with very sophisticated methods = Expensive. To be sure smash it up with a hammer. But this maybe OTT....

[SavageMonkey]

I believe some pieces of software powerless can completely remove all traces of data on hard drives. I don't think data permanently leaves information on the hard drive, so once it is written over (NOT FORMATTED, physically written over with other data) it is gone for good.

[seanm]

Thanks guys, I assume that anything in http://www.webattack.com/freeware/security/fwerase
.html .as posted by LeMarchand should do. I just want to leave the disk blank, I don't think anyone will be trying to recover any info if they buy the pc.

[j2buttonsw]

Low level format the hard drive: It will be impossible to retrieve any data that was previously stored on it. See http://www.ameriwebs.net/groupworks/george/maxtor.
htm It is for maxtor drives but I have used maxllf.exe on loads of other makes.

[LeMarchand]

"Eraser" claims in it's documentation to use Department of Defence approved methods of wiping your drive (basically a lot of passes writing random data).