Thinkpads Forum

I recently ordered a larger hd for my T60 - you can see info on it in another thread I started here:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=50694

I'd like to completely and securely erase the contents of my factory drive, and then do a fresh install on the new drive using recovery media I got from Lenovo.

Can anyone tell me how to do this? The big thing I need help with is erasing the current drive. I eventually want to sell the drive as I won't need it anymore, and thus want it completely blank.

Second, is installing the new drive a simple matter of physically installing it and then putting in the recovery DVD? Do I need to change any BIOS settings? Anything else I need to be aware of? Thanks!

I found this program after a bit of googleling

http://www.killdisk.com/

And it sound like it should do what you want, but you should remember that the data almost alwas leave some kind of inprint which can be hard to erase.

As for the installing of the new drive, it's a very simple job, no bios settings need to be changed.

Any disk erase utility will be fine. I'd at least do three write passes though (which is either NSA, or DoD compliant). You could also use a custom algorithm or Gutman (or whatever 35 passes is).

Awesome. Thanks for the link. I will definitely go for the most secure erase option available in killdisk (within reason - wouldn't 35 passes take like days to complete?)

And as I mentioned in my last post about this, I will likely be selling the original hard drive soon after I get settled and everything checks out with the new one, so if anyone's interested in a 100GB drive, feel free to send me a PM.

Sheridan Thinkpad wrote:Awesome. Thanks for the link. I will definitely go for the most secure erase option available in killdisk (within reason - wouldn't 35 passes take like days to complete?)

Our enterprise clients go through a single pass at disposal. Personally, I find that's unacceptable (for me, not for the enterprise hardware).

A single pass on a 60GB disk takes about an hour, so you're probably talking more than one day, maybe several!

Here is a link to DBAN an excellent (and free) disk wipe utility approved and used by a number of multi national financial institutions.

http://dban.sourceforge.net/

Sheridan, you can post a sale in the forum Marketplace for your drive.

Sheridan Thinkpad wrote:I recently ordered a larger hd for my T60 - I eventually want to sell the drive as I won't need it anymore, and thus want it completely blank.

Have you considered just keeping the old drive as a spare (or for experimenting is Linux or something)?

Just an idea from and old disk drive hoarder....

What would I do with an extra notebook drive? Do they make usb external enclosures for them like they do for 3.5" drives? I don't really feel like swapping it back and forth with the new one in my notebook.

Then again, maybe it would be a good idea to have it just in case for whatever reason my primary one fails. Something to think about I guess.

You can both get an external usb enclosure, but you can also get an ultrabay adapter.

steveg47 wrote:Here is a link to DBAN an excellent (and free) disk wipe utility approved and used by a number of multi national financial institutions.

http://dban.sourceforge.net/

Yes! Boot and Nuke! I have the floppy right here. I just totally forgot the name. Webroot's Window Washer also has a decent disk destroyer program.

Webroot != freeware though.