asked on

Delete file parentally non-recoverable

I would like to be able to do the above ? so that I can sell a external HDD drive.

With the comfort knowing that, whoever buys this cannot retrieve any file through data recovery.

Can anyone help?

aijmexico

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

war1

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SOLUTION

sunray_2003

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aijmexico

ASKER

Can you tell me how reliable these programmes are?

http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,22393,00.asp

Thanks

war1

I have used Sure Delete before and it works well. PC Magazine recommends it.

Norton WipeInfo, which is part of Norton SystemWorks, has been used by many.

SOLUTION

Luc Franken

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Analog_Kid

As far as I am aware, only the physical destruction of the magnetic media will insure that data is not recoverable. Even if the data has been overwritten several times, I understand that a magnetic force microscopy technique can be used to recover old data. This involves a physical inspection of the disk media by use of some very specialized equipment and highly trained personnel.

Likewise, expensive computer forensic software can possibly retrieve data that has been wiped using software such as those listed above. However, I have seen some such software tested after a wipe using Norton Disk Wipe. The 3 recovery programs used were all unable to recover any data after a government style wipe using Norton WipeInfo. I would therefore recommend Norton WipeInfo, which is bundled in the Norton SystemWorks package - http://www.symantec.com/sabu/sysworks/basic/

war1

aijmexico,
We have not heard from you in awhile? Did any comment help you solve your problem? Do you have any more questions? If an Expert help you, please accept his/her answer with an excellent or good grade.

Thanks, war1