Completely clean hard drive

I think you're a bit confused...
The way I read it is after a WIPE (writing random data), some methods employ physical (non-software) methods of data recovery.

And after a FORMAT (deleting FS), software utilities can get it back easily.
 
PTNL said:
Again, please re-read the part that you stated:

Quite not true as it is written. However, if you never meant that a "format" is a "wipe", then mark this one as a case of brain not matching what was sent to the keyboard. And yes, after a legitimate "wipe" of the drive (likely through random data writes), you get past the point of software recovery tools and more into physical drive forensics to rebuild the original data.


Moving on with the thread now...
Click to expand...

I did not say that...

Please check who you are quoting, thanks

I am not Lt.Col.Dehler
 
PTNL said:
Staying out of the realm of speculation, the "my friend saw this done", and Federal NDA documentation, perhaps a good way to test this out is to approach it from the opposite direction. Why not actually wipe a hard drive, then run it though one of the data recovery tools that are available to users?

Apps from a company like "Disk Internals" will let you install the demo version of their data recovery app to see *if* any data is recoverable. To actually recover the data, you need a valid license key, but they tell you in the demo whether or not the data is recoverable.
www.diskinternals.com
Click to expand...

As I said earlier, no software solution I've used can recover data after a proper wipe.

p.s. why do people say "full format"? There is no such thing as a full format. Only difference between quick format and the regular is that the regular method scans the HDD for any bad blocks at the same time, that's the only reason it takes so long compared to quick method. The end result is exactly the same though.
 
if i use DBAN does it wipe ALL HDD i have connected to the computer or can i select which drvies to wipe?
 
Retardo said:
if i use DBAN does it wipe ALL HDD i have connected to the computer or can i select which drvies to wipe?
Click to expand...

If you have to ask this question, you should unplug drives you don't want nuked and test it yourself.

I personally don't know the answer, however weighing the value of my data against the remote possibility someone might give me an incorrect answer on something so important when I could unplug my drive in all of 3 seconds and test it myself, its kind of a no brainer.
 
lol thats true. reason i asked cuz i unplugged my HD twice and both times for some reason my audio wouldnt work. than when i reinstall the drivers it says i have no sound card installed. gotta mess around w/ it for like 30min each time.
 
Well I work in a command and control function with sensitive material hard drives and lets just say we've been trained how to properly wipe a hard drive under combat conditions.......There is a shotgun, sledge hammer and a burn bag. Be my guess what we do with it.

There is a whole unit dedicated to the destruction of comsec and compusec. They got all kinds of neat stuff to take care of wipes, but none of them include the programs mention above. They are all by physical means. If I remember correctly there are 7 ways.
 
it's simple. although data is written and read as binary, it is contained as differences in voltage or magnetic strength.

Consider that a 0 bit is +3 and a 1 bit is a +5. Knowing this, when you overwrite a bit, it doesn't overwrite exactly, just close. Knowing this, you can examine the entire drive and then recreate each "layer" of data.

I work for a law firm. We have data recovery services at our disposal. It is incredibly expensive...as in thousands of dollars expensive. Including complex algorithms into the mix makes it take a long long time to recover data. Given enough time, anything less than complete physical destruction can be recovered. We've sent DRILLED drives in and had data come back.

Ultimately it comes down to how much money you have and how much it's worth to you.
 
my buddy works making chainsaw blades that are designed for concrete. let's just say they work pretty well ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top