Now that I have "erase hard disk" on my screen, should i 1)DELETE ALL DATA AND PARTITIONS FROM HARD DISK or 2)DELETE ALL PARTITIONS AND OVERWRITE ALL SECTORS ON THE HARD DISK ******* I want to RE

Question 1

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How do you erase hard drive

A hard drive is the brain of a computer. However, over time, that brain can become overworked and overly saturated with old software and outdated information. It becomes clogged and needs a fresh start. By erasing a hard drive, you can give your PC that fresh new beginning. With a few steps you can erase your hard drive manually, without the aid of expensive software.

Make sure your data is protected before you proceed. Whatever you do not save will be lost once you erase the drive. Use a CD or jumpdrive to save your information. Boot with a system disk. Before you continue to erase the hard drive, use the system to create a system disk. Use a 3-1/2 inch floppy disk and format it with the command "format a: /s"; this will create a bootable disk that contains system commands. Place it in the drive of your system and turn it off, then back on. Reformat the hard drive. Once you've booted with the system disk, type "format c: /s"; this will reformat the hard disk, virtually destroying the old hard drive you used to know. Depending on the of the drive, the formatting may take a fairly long time. Once the formatting is over, use the command "fdisk" to create partitions (which are logical sections for your hard drive's storage). Given the newer hard drives and operating systems of today, you can fdisk the drive and use all of the space. or if you dont have a floppy drive Download a disk wiping utility, such as Darik's Boot and Nuke (DBAN) or KillDisk. DBAN is an open-source product, while KillDisk is available as a free, closed-source download. http://www.dban.org/ http://www.killdisk.com/ Once you download the file, save it to your computer somewhere easy to remember. Insert a blank CD into your computer and use a CD writing program to burn the hard disk wipe utility to the blank CD. If you are using Windows Vista or 7, there is a built-in utility that will perform this task. Back up the data on your computer that you want to save, if necessary. Insert the CD that you created into the computer that is attached to the hard drive you wish to erase. Power on the computer and choose the setup option to boot from the CD. Once you have booted from the CD, you will enter into the hard disk wipe utility. Depending on which utility you chose to use, this screen will vary, but the choice you want to select is to erase or wipe a disk drive. Choose the hard disk that you wish to wipe and confirm that you wish to permanently erase the data on it. Before confirming this, you may wish to physically double check and ensure that you are erasing the correct drive. Once you start the erasing process, it cannot be halted, paused or reversed. You will have to wait for anywhere from a few hours to even a few days for the process to complete, depending on how large your hard drive is.

Hope this helps.

Dec 20, 2012 • Computers & Internet

tip

Creating a bootable flash drive

Resolution: The USB Flash Drive must be configured with an active primary MS-DOS partition. It must also contain the boot files. Follow the steps below to create a bootable USB Flash Drive. Requirements: <ul> <li> Motherboard with BIOS that supports USB boot. <li> USB Flash Drive that may be erased. <li> Bootable floppy disk or CD with Fdisk and Format commands. </li></ul> Directions: <ol> <li> Plug in the USB Flash Drive. <li> Make the USB drive the only bootable hard drive. Method 1: If available, change the BIOS settings for the hard drive sequence, making sure the USB device is at the top of the list above all other hard drives. Not all BIOS Setup Utilities have this option. Method 2: Disable all hard drives in the BIOS. In some BIOS Setup Utilities you can disable the individual hard drives, while in others you will need to disable the controller. Method 3: Unplug all hard drive cables inside the case. If the cables are unplugged the computer cannot detect and boot to the hard drive. <li> Insert the bootable floppy disk or CD into the appropriate drive. <li> Restart the computer to the bootable floppy disk or CD. <li> At the command prompt, type: FDisk. <li> Delete and create a new active primary DOS partition. <li> Use FDisk to delete all partitions from the USB Flash Drive. <ul> <li> In FDisk, press the 3 key to Delete partition or Logical DOS Drive. <li> If there is just one partition on the drive, choose 1 to delete the primary DOS partition. If there are several partitions, the extended and logical partitions must be deleted before the primary partition. <li> After choosing option 1, the screen appears with partition information and a prompt for the partition to delete. Choose which primary DOS partition to delete, and then press ENTER. <li> A prompt appears to enter the volume label of the hard drive. Enter the label exactly as it appears on the top of the screen in the partition information. If the volume label contains gibberish or lowercase letters, the partition will have to be deleted as a non-DOS partition. Try using the option to delete a non-DOS partition in FDISK. After entering the volume label, press ENTER. <li> You are prompted if it should delete the partition. Press Y for Yes, and then press ENTER. <li> The screen changes to show only the total disk space and a line near the bottom that prompts that the primary DOS partition has been deleted. Press the ESC key to return to the main menu. </li></ul> <li> Use FDisk to create a primary partition on the USB Flash Drive. The drive letter will be C:, since all other hard drives were disabled in step 2. <ul> <li> In FDisk, press 1 to Create DOS partition or Logical DOS drive. <li> Press 1 to Create a Primary DOS Partition. <li> The next screen prompts if the maximum hard disk size should be made into one partition. Press the Y key, and then press ENTER. <li> The next screen prompts that the computer will now reboot. Press ENTER to continue. </li></ul> <li> Exit FDisk and restart the computer. <li> Start the computer from the bootable floppy disk or CD with the USB Flash Drive still connected. <li> At the command prompt, run Format by typing the following command: Format c: /s. Press ENTER. <li> At the command prompt, run FDisk by typing following command: Fdisk /mbr. Press ENTER. <li> Restart the computer without the bootable floppy disk or CD, and attempt to boot to the USB Flash Drive. If it works, it should go to a C:\> command prompt. <li> Change the settings made in step 2 back so that the computer operates normally again. </li></ol>

on Mar 14, 2011 • Computers & Internet

tip

Creating Bootable USB Flash Drive.

The USB Flash Drive must be configured with an active primary MS-DOS partition. It must also contain the boot files. Follow the steps below to create a bootable USB Flash Drive.
Requirements:

Motherboard with BIOS that supports USB boot.
USB Flash Drive that may be erased.
Bootable floppy disk or CD with Fdisk and Format commands.

Directions:

Plug in the USB Flash Drive.
Make the USB drive the only bootable hard drive. Method 1:
If available, change the BIOS settings for the hard drive sequence, making sure the USB device is at the top of the list above all other hard drives. Not all BIOS Setup Utilities have this option. Method 2:
Disable all hard drives in the BIOS. In some BIOS Setup Utilities you can disable the individual hard drives, while in others you will need to disable the controller. Method 3:
Unplug all hard drive cables inside the case. If the cables are unplugged the computer cannot detect and boot to the hard drive.
Insert the bootable floppy disk or CD into the appropriate drive.
Restart the computer to the bootable floppy disk or CD.
At the command prompt, type: FDisk.
Delete and create a new active primary DOS partition.
Use FDisk to delete all partitions from the USB Flash Drive.
- In FDisk, press the 3 key to Delete partition or Logical DOS Drive.
- If there is just one partition on the drive, choose 1 to delete the primary DOS partition. If there are several partitions, the extended and logical partitions must be deleted before the primary partition.
- After choosing option 1, the screen appears with partition information and a prompt for the partition to delete. Choose which primary DOS partition to delete, and then press ENTER.
- A prompt appears to enter the volume label of the hard drive. Enter the label exactly as it appears on the top of the screen in the partition information. If the volume label contains gibberish or lowercase letters, the partition will have to be deleted as a non-DOS partition. Try using the option to delete a non-DOS partition in FDISK. After entering the volume label, press ENTER.
- You are prompted if it should delete the partition. Press Y for Yes, and then press ENTER.
- The screen changes to show only the total disk space and a line near the bottom that prompts that the primary DOS partition has been deleted. Press the ESC key to return to the main menu.
Use FDisk to create a primary partition on the USB Flash Drive. The drive letter will be C:, since all other hard drives were disabled in step 2.
- In FDisk, press 1 to Create DOS partition or Logical DOS drive.
- Press 1 to Create a Primary DOS Partition.
- The next screen prompts if the maximum hard disk size should be made into one partition. Press the Y key, and then press ENTER.
- The next screen prompts that the computer will now reboot. Press ENTER to continue.
Exit FDisk and restart the computer.
Start the computer from the bootable floppy disk or CD with the USB Flash Drive still connected.
At the command prompt, run Format by typing the following command: Format c: /s. Press ENTER.
At the command prompt, run FDisk by typing following command: Fdisk /mbr. Press ENTER.
Restart the computer without the bootable floppy disk or CD, and attempt to boot to the USB Flash Drive. If it works, it should go to a C:\> command prompt.
Change the settings made in step 2 back so that the computer operates normally again.

on Mar 31, 2010 • Computers & Internet

0helpful

2answers

When I am starting my Lenovo G550,Model Name-20023 it restart with blue scrren. I am trying to start it in safe mode but same problems appears. Then I am trying to format the system with windows XP-2 but...

If you get a blue screen then you have a piece of hardware loose inside your lappy or could be a loose cable on the hard drive or cd/dvd rom, since lappy's are very hard to take apart it's best to take it to a shop to get fixed sorry.

Jul 08, 2011 • Computers & Internet

1helpful

3answers

I want to remove my patition

Perform the following steps which dddriver mentioned
But deleting partition means that your data will be lost from that volume.Its better take the backup of data otherwise your data get lost. To retrieved your data from deleted partition with the help of partition recovery tools. These tools are absolutely safe on the data in the drive and their only concern is to get back the lost data without altering the format.

Jun 13, 2011 • Computers & Internet

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1answer

How to partition in two or three logical parts ?

you can create and delete partitions on a drive using Disk Management, which you can open by right-clicking on My Computer and selecting Manage. Disk Management will be toward the bottom. Just right-click on the USB drive in Disk Management to delete/create partitions on it

Feb 28, 2011 • Imation : Apollo Portable USB 2.0, 320GB...

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1answer

Tried to partition drive using disk mgr in windows xp sp2, won't allow a right click to partition into 2 (1) one tb partitions

Delete any existing partition on the drive.
Be careful! This will delete any "data" files on the disk-drive!

Then, you should be able to create an "extended" partition, with two "logical" drives inside that "extended" partition.

Oct 21, 2010 • Fantom Drives FD GForce MegaDisk 2TB ...

2helpful

1answer

Failed to overwrite all data bizhub 250

the overwrite data function is supposed to take about 35 hours but the ones that i have done took about 20 hours and ounce the process is started you should never interupt it this function overwrites all the data on the hard drive HD-504 you could try formatting the hard drive first then overwrite again
1touch the utility/counter button then details
2 press stop,0,0,stop,01
3 enter 00000000 touch end
4 touch tech rep mode
5 touch function
6 touch hard disk format
7 touch yes
8 touch enter when the message the hard disk format completed.result:ng appears touch ok
9 touch hard disk format
10 touch yes
11 touch enter this starts the formatting procedure
12 when the message "the hard disk format completed. result:OK appears touch OK
13 press the reset key
14 touch exit on the tech rep screen
if the format fails replace the hard drive the format process takes about 30 minutes if you need further instructions on how to replace the hard drive post it

Dec 04, 2009 • Konica Minolta Office Equipment & Supplies

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1answer

T30 2366 not recovering from original recovery disk

The 2 gig partition is probably your recovery partition that allows you to restore your computer from the hard drive instead of the Operating System discs that came with the unit. You don't really want to mess with your partitions (you may accidently delete all your data). I'd recommend using Acronis True Image and backing your data to an external hard drive first, you can copy individual folders or the entire hard drive. Then you can just destructive restore your entire hard drive back to factory settings.

May 06, 2008 • IBM ThinkPad T30 2366 Notebook

Question 2

Mark Schmit

Toshiba Master 1,915 Answers
Posted on Jan 24, 2015

Mark Schmit

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Joined: Nov 04, 2010

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It depends on what you are trying to do. If you want to wipe the harddrive before selling, overwrite all partitions. This will cause everything on the drive to disappear. BE AWARE that with the correct software, that information is still there. If you are having problems booting, run startup repair. Refresh should fix corrupted files, system restore will return unit to new condition, all data lost in this case as well.

Testimonial: "excellent, thank you so mmuch"

1 more comment
Ariane Lenshoek Jan 24, 2015

Will windows reinstall in either case? THAT was my worry
Ariane Lenshoek Jan 24, 2015

dont care about the data dont care about the data
Mark Schmit Jan 24, 2015

A system restore will set the system back to out of box which would be with Windows installed.

×

Answer 2 · 10/21/2008 12:00:00 AM

Steve Allison

5569 Answers
Posted on Oct 21, 2008

SOURCE: windows xp home edition startup problem

One of these; Esc & F10, will give you access to the BIOS settings that are stored in a bit of memory (CMOS) that the system reads at turn-on.
You will get a text-only screen with a number of function selections which can vary widely so look at them all without making any changes (arrow keys and Enter selects) to see if the feature that is causing you to choose at every boot is a BIOS setting.
All BIOS seem to offer a 'Save and exit' or a 'Exit without saving changes' type of choice so if you find none that logically could be altered to avoid going through those menus each time, you can return to your undesired condition without messing up anything.
Also typically present in BIOS is a choice that read something like 'Return to factory defaults' which will automatically change the setup to something safe and that which most users want. If you choose that one, then you need to choose the 'Save and exit' selection.
The reason for those steps is to allow those who use a Unix-based (or other) alternative operating system for some tasks to choose different boot modes.

Anonymous

157 Answers
Posted on Jan 05, 2009

SOURCE: Can't 'Launch Startup Repair' when Vista boots on Evesham Laptop

when you restart try to press F11 while booting..check

GFXTech

73 Answers
Posted on Jul 25, 2009

SOURCE: Set my Toshiba Satellite Laptop PSA60U-01W015 to it Factory Sett?

some of these systems have the factory restore option on post boot before the OS kicks in. From a cold boot look for the hit DEL or Fx key and do that - you may have to boot a few times to catch it, and possibly hold the defined key down in anticipation of the option to appear on what looks like a DOS screen. You may need the recovery discs that came wit the system if the image is not in a hidden partition of your drive. Good luck.

Anonymous

214 Answers
Posted on Aug 03, 2011

SOURCE: Hi I have a fujitsu amilo pi 1536 laptop and wish

OK
You have Vista

EASY

In CONTROL PANEL select RECOVERY

Then "Advanced Recovery Settings"

Then "Return your computer to factory settings".

Be AWARE you will loose all of your files and after market downloads.

May want to BACK-UP!

Anonymous

2574 Answers
Posted on Aug 13, 2011

SOURCE: Came back to house and

Download and burn your Windows 7 Recovery Disc..The Windows 7 Recovery Disc can be used to access a system recovery menu, giving you options of using System Restore, Complete PC Backup, automated system repair, and a command-line prompt for manual advanced recovery.
Instructions >>>
Windows 7 32 bit Repair Disk Windows 7 64-bit Repair Disc
1.Download the appropriate .torrent file from above that corresponds to the version of Windows 7 you have installed.
2.Download and run µTorrent.
3.Open the .torrent file you downloaded with µTorrent. (File -> Add Torrent)
4.Select where you want µTorrent to save the 7 Recovery Disc.
5.Wait for it to download.
6.Burn the .iso file that µTorrent downloaded to a CD using these instructions.
When you want to use the recovery center, put the CD in your drive and boot from it. This is usually done by pressing F8 at startup, or changing the boot drive order in the BIOS.Repair Windows 7 using Startup Repair Tool.

Answer 3 · 10/21/2008 12:00:00 AM

Steve Allison

5569 Answers
Posted on Oct 21, 2008

SOURCE: windows xp home edition startup problem

One of these; Esc & F10, will give you access to the BIOS settings that are stored in a bit of memory (CMOS) that the system reads at turn-on.
You will get a text-only screen with a number of function selections which can vary widely so look at them all without making any changes (arrow keys and Enter selects) to see if the feature that is causing you to choose at every boot is a BIOS setting.
All BIOS seem to offer a 'Save and exit' or a 'Exit without saving changes' type of choice so if you find none that logically could be altered to avoid going through those menus each time, you can return to your undesired condition without messing up anything.
Also typically present in BIOS is a choice that read something like 'Return to factory defaults' which will automatically change the setup to something safe and that which most users want. If you choose that one, then you need to choose the 'Save and exit' selection.
The reason for those steps is to allow those who use a Unix-based (or other) alternative operating system for some tasks to choose different boot modes.

Answer 4 · 1/5/2009 12:00:00 AM

Anonymous

157 Answers
Posted on Jan 05, 2009

SOURCE: Can't 'Launch Startup Repair' when Vista boots on Evesham Laptop

when you restart try to press F11 while booting..check

Answer 5 · 7/25/2009 12:00:00 AM

GFXTech

73 Answers
Posted on Jul 25, 2009

SOURCE: Set my Toshiba Satellite Laptop PSA60U-01W015 to it Factory Sett?

some of these systems have the factory restore option on post boot before the OS kicks in. From a cold boot look for the hit DEL or Fx key and do that - you may have to boot a few times to catch it, and possibly hold the defined key down in anticipation of the option to appear on what looks like a DOS screen. You may need the recovery discs that came wit the system if the image is not in a hidden partition of your drive. Good luck.

Answer 6 · 8/3/2011 12:00:00 AM

Anonymous

214 Answers
Posted on Aug 03, 2011

SOURCE: Hi I have a fujitsu amilo pi 1536 laptop and wish

OK
You have Vista

EASY

In CONTROL PANEL select RECOVERY

Then "Advanced Recovery Settings"

Then "Return your computer to factory settings".

Be AWARE you will loose all of your files and after market downloads.

May want to BACK-UP!

Answer 7 · 8/13/2011 12:00:00 AM

Anonymous

2574 Answers
Posted on Aug 13, 2011

SOURCE: Came back to house and

Download and burn your Windows 7 Recovery Disc..The Windows 7 Recovery Disc can be used to access a system recovery menu, giving you options of using System Restore, Complete PC Backup, automated system repair, and a command-line prompt for manual advanced recovery.
Instructions >>>
Windows 7 32 bit Repair Disk Windows 7 64-bit Repair Disc
1.Download the appropriate .torrent file from above that corresponds to the version of Windows 7 you have installed.
2.Download and run µTorrent.
3.Open the .torrent file you downloaded with µTorrent. (File -> Add Torrent)
4.Select where you want µTorrent to save the 7 Recovery Disc.
5.Wait for it to download.
6.Burn the .iso file that µTorrent downloaded to a CD using these instructions.
When you want to use the recovery center, put the CD in your drive and boot from it. This is usually done by pressing F8 at startup, or changing the boot drive order in the BIOS.Repair Windows 7 using Startup Repair Tool.

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Now that I have "erase hard disk" on my screen, should i 1)DELETE ALL DATA AND PARTITIONS FROM HARD DISK or 2)DELETE ALL PARTITIONS AND OVERWRITE ALL SECTORS ON THE HARD DISK ******* I want to RE

1 Answer

Mark Schmit

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Steve Allison

Anonymous

GFXTech

Anonymous

Anonymous

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Attachments: Added items

Related Questions:

How do you erase hard drive

Creating a bootable flash drive

Creating Bootable USB Flash Drive.

When I am starting my Lenovo G550,Model Name-20023 it restart with blue scrren. I am trying to start it in safe mode but same problems appears. Then I am trying to format the system with windows XP-2 but...

I want to remove my patition

How to partition in two or three logical parts ?

Tried to partition drive using disk mgr in windows xp sp2, won't allow a right click to partition into 2 (1) one tb partitions

Failed to overwrite all data bizhub 250

T30 2366 not recovering from original recovery disk

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Now that I have "erase hard disk" on my screen, should i 1)DELETE ALL DATA AND PARTITIONS FROM HARD DISK or 2)DELETE ALL PARTITIONS AND OVERWRITE ALL SECTORS ON THE HARD DISK ******* I want to RE

1 Answer

Mark Schmit

5 Related Answers

Steve Allison

Anonymous

GFXTech

Anonymous

Anonymous

Add Your Answer

Attachments: Added items

Related Questions:

How do you erase hard drive

Creating a bootable flash drive

Creating Bootable USB Flash Drive.

When I am starting my Lenovo G550,Model Name-20023 it restart with blue scrren. I am trying to start it in safe mode but same problems appears. Then I am trying to format the system with windows XP-2 but...

I want to remove my patition

How to partition in two or three logical parts ?

Tried to partition drive using disk mgr in windows xp sp2, won't allow a right click to partition into 2 (1) one tb partitions

Failed to overwrite all data bizhub 250

T30 2366 not recovering from original recovery disk

Not finding what you are looking for?

Computers & Internet

How do you erase hard drive

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