Suitably decent and free hard drive wiping software?

[GREED]

Think the title says it all really.

 

I'm selling my NAS, so will get more with the HDDs (I have no use for them). But an not ignorant to the abilities to recover data unless suitably wiped... if there is such a thing?

[ChrisH]

Dariks boot and nuke http://www.dban.org Edited August 12, 2013 by ChrisH

[GREED]

Will it allow me to choose the HDDs to wipe? They are not installed into a PC are on a NAS.

[plexer]

Only works for locally attached drives as far as I am aware as it's a bootable disc.

 

Ben

[ChrisH]

Have you looked in the NAS settings then it may have a zero disk option. I think you will end up connecting them to a PC though as Ben says.

[GREED]

Thanks guys. I will have a look at the NAS and if not I will remove and destroy the drives. Won't take the risk.

[Arthur]

If you want to be sure everything has been erased, use the HDDs own Secure Erase feature. The easiest way to do this with PartEd Magic (Download Link).

 

It differs from other file deletion programs such as Darik's Boot and Nuke which attempt to erase data using block writes which cannot access certain portions of the hard drive. The internal firmware Secure Erase command can access data that is no longer accessible through software, such as bad blocks. (Source)

 

http://i.imgur.com/ztin7BQ.png

Edited August 12, 2013 by Arthur

[rich_tech]

Search for diskwipe, it's freeware and does all manner of erasing standards

[plexer]

All of these bootable solutions would need the disks attached to the local machine though I'm guessing?

 

Ben

[psydii]

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315672

 

Might or might not work on remote disks.

Edited August 12, 2013 by psydii

[Arthur]

All of these bootable solutions would need the disks attached to the local machine though I'm guessing?

Correct, but if you want to do it properly I don't see that as a problem.

[CESIL]

+1 for secure erase...

 

...and thanks @Arthur for the tip about using parted magic...I had never noticed that secure erase was available so was using a boot cd...

[AMLinington]

+1 for Dariks Boot and Nuke - I've used it before and it was pretty good.