[olug] wiping out a laptop

[Jordan Fox]

I'll second dd from a liveDC, used that several times - even the gov't uses
it sometimes.  If you really wanted to go crazy, chain several of them
together to run it more than once.  dd if = /dev/zero of=/device/path && dd
if = /dev/random of=/device/path && dd if = /dev/zero of=/device/path
etc.  I suggest running the command overnight then going to work the next
day... it will take a LONG time, esp with the huge drives we have these
days.

if = input file
of = output file
from an email above
bs = block size - ie the amount of data written to do the drive as a
chunk... larger number should make it take less time

I would agree though that wiping the drive is probably overkill, since the
laptop isn't changing hands (ie deleted files need to be wiped off the
drive).  Deleting ALL (all is the keyword here) partitions, creating new
partitions, and writing the Grub entry to the MBR (which overwrites anything
currently in the MBR) would get rid of any virus or worm that I can think
of.

Jordan

On Wed, Mar 18, 2009 at 8:53 AM, Obi-Wan <obiwan at jedi.com> wrote:

> > i was asked to wipe out a laptop that a friends son downloaded some
> > junk. Its running MS Vista the parents want every thing gone. I tried
> > using dban boot nuke and came with a error non fatal error. would anyone
> > know of any other programs out there to zero out a hard drive.. Thanks
> Kelly
>
> I use Active KillDisk for such duties and love it.  It has various
> levels of security, from zeroing to 7-pass random.  I use the $25
> commercial version, but they appear to have a free version, too.
>
> http://www.killdisk.com
>
> I bought this because I couldn't get dban working, either.
>
> --
> Ben "Obi-Wan" Hollingsworth                             obiwan at jedi.com
>   The stuff of earth competes for the allegiance I owe only to the
>     Giver of all good things, so if I stand, let me stand on the
>       promise that You will pull me through.  -- Rich Mullins
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