Help Wiping Out XP Partition

[Mean Daddy]

I have an old Windows XP machine that I want to do a low level format to wipe out all the data. Downloaded Disk Wipe, but everytime I run it, it states the partition is in use.

My assumption is I need to create a bootable USB with the application but haven't had any luck.

Any and all insight is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[ought-six]

Sh!tcan your machine and get something that does not run Windows.

[smokingfrog]

http://www.ehow.com/how_6026_format-hard-drive.html

[TomGuy]

If you are going to install a newer version of Windows from disk, it can format the entire drive.

Also, there are numerous ‘free’ tools. Google ‘freeware remove partition’.

[Paladin2]

Take it to the range.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

How to Use the Fdisk Tool and the Format Tool to Partition or Repartition a Hard Disk

[KoRn]

I’d boot to a ‘Live CD’ of some kind. There are many to choose from. List the partitions, delete the ones you want gone, and just format the disk. It’s not a total ‘wipe’, but unless you have some sort of super sensitive data, who cares. (if that was the case, I’d physically destroy the drive unless I intended to reuse it)

[kjam22]

I bought a new Dell laptop with Windows 8 on it for $240. (don’t listen to the windows 8 haters... its okay). You’ll be way ahead to replace the old machine. You can’t beat the price.

[e_castillo]

If you want to erase all your data thouroughly then you need to boot from another deivce. If you want to install another OS on the same system then the boot disk of the new OS should have the utility for the deletion/creation of partitions.

[dhs12345]

Like a machine that runs windows and install linux on it. :)

[Calvin Locke]

My guess is that something is using the swap file on it, or a temporary file.

Go with the Live CD, Windows Boot/Install, or if your have another PC that can handle it, move over and format it there.

If you have any friends that might loan you a Rosewill adapter...

[dhs12345]

It is possible that he wants to delete all data, too. Fill the disk with zeros.

Even though a partition is deleted, the data still exists. You need an app that fills as if formats.

Does a regular windows or linux format do this? An old version of PC tools that I had did this.

[kjam22]

Its an old xp machine. Buy some new windows machine that fits your need. Spend $30 bucks on an enclosure and install the old hard drive from the old machine in the enclosure. Your new machine will be able to usb and read all of the files on your old machine like it was an external hard drive bought for that purpose. Put the enclosure in a safe place for safe keeping... and then enjoy the new machine. You’ll be way ahead.

[kdot]

I agree - the win haters are unusually vocal these days. I sold an iPad and a Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 to buy my Lenovo Yoga. SSD disk so it starts up (almost) instantly. Tablet when I want it. PC/Keyboard to do real work. No complaints - no crashes - no frustration. Everything just works. Battery lasts like a tablet.

[FredZarguna]

The best thing to do is this. Download YUMI, or some other USB multi-boot utility. The thing I like about YUMI is that it will automatically put whatever bootable OS's you want on a USB stick, has links to a huge number of distros, will install many of them on the stick for you automatically, and YUMI itself doesn't require an installer. You can just run YUMI whenever you want to add another OS to your USB. With most USB's these days you can have quite a few Linux, FreeDOS and other standalone distros on one stick. YUMI will create a menu that allows you to soft-boot the one you one after the hard-boot.

You can get that here: http://www.pendrivelinux.com/yumi-multiboot-usb-creator.

I would recommend at the very least that you put

• FreeDOS
• GParted (Partition Tools)
• Memtest86+ (Memory Testing Tool)
• System Rescue CD

on the USB. All of them are dead useful; YUMI has entries for all of these, just pick 'em on the distro menu and YUMI will do the heavy listing of putting them on the stick.

You can cleanup the partition after booting the stick with gpartd. If your USB is 16GB or greater, you can also add your Windows installation CD to the USB stick, and do your Windows installation from it as well. It will be much faster than installing from the CD.

Good Luck.

[publius911]

Sh!tcan your machine and get something that does not run Windows.

I see brain-dead people...
They're everywhere...!

[Mean Daddy]

Thanks everyone. My goal is to wipe out the hard drive and throw it away. I don’t want there to be a chance that someone could retrieve anything off of it.

[e_castillo]

I would assume he only wants to erase all the data “thoroughly” but he just doesn't say it. A format or deletion of the partition will not prevent someone from reading the old contents of that hard drive.

Newer versions of windows format do allow multi pass/write zero formats. You need to know the command line switches.

Diskwipe does need a bootable usb drive which would allow exclusive access to the hard drive partion but the PC must have the USB boot capability enabled in the BIOS. Does he have a bootable partition installed on a USB device?

[taildragger]

Thanks everyone. My goal is to wipe out the hard drive and throw it away. I don’t want there to be a chance that someone could retrieve anything off of it.

Can you take it to the range and make permanent design modifications with lead and a 9mm? :-)...

[TomServo]

in that case, plug it with a couple of .45 rounds...serious