I have two WD Red 2 TB drives which came with an NAS I bought on a local classified. Not knowing what might have been on the drives, I want to completely and thoroughly erase them before re-purposing them again somewhere else.

There are many free options, of which these seem to be popular: DBAN, Format Command with the write zero option, and CBL Data Shredder.

CBL, for example, allows a number of options, including: DoD 5220.22-M, Gutmann, RMCP DSX, Schneier, and VSITR. I am not in a hurry. If it takes a while, I'm fine with that so long as nothing remains.

Thank you for your help.

Since it is a WD download WD Data Life Guard
Then check Write Zeros to whole drive, Note: it will take a few hours.

I have always used DBAN
DoD 5220.22-M

and on personal drives I'm sending to recycling I drill holes all the way through the platters then put them in a 5 gallon bucket of salt water for a week.


Since you are going to reuse the drives yourself I would use the fastest zero out option. Quick - Write Zero

DBAN

I had always been told this was the best option for a drive being disposed of. Have worked with several companies who use this, and I've used personally as well.

I think for one I was keeping myself, I'd be happy with CCleaner as well. Fast, easy interface and easy to use.

Gawd I've grown old. I use Bernzomatic. Its a fool proof system. Sometimes it requires a trip to Home Despot for a new cylinder.

I either use DBAN, or else boot into an Ubuntu live environment and run shred -vzn 3 /dev/<drive>

"Bleachbit" worked great for Hillary. Just sayin'

quote:

Originally posted by rburg:
Gawd I've grown old. I use Bernzomatic. Its a fool proof system. Sometimes it requires a trip to Home Despot for a new cylinder.

Sure, destroying one is easy, but leaving it working and available for (re)use is different.

I also encrypt the drive contents before I do a secure wipe. The idea is that even if someone could recover the data, the data should be unreadable.

Like I said use the WD tool, pretty easy.
I use it all the time on recertifying drives.
There are other tools I use for recovery but cleaning is a simple process.
However, there is not a lot of reason to completely zap the drive if you are going to use it, you could just format it and you will be fine.
....Unless you think the FBI is going to investigate you and blame you for what the other guy left.....

quote:

Originally posted by MWills:
"Bleachbit" worked great for Hillary. Just sayin'

There is nothing on any of my drives I would worry about. Even then, I wipe it with a cloth or something.

DBAN!

Or, a sledge hammer and sidewalk curb.

I yank all mine out then spray liberally with 5.56
If you want to try to recover anything after that, have at it.

DBAN

quote:

Originally posted by MWills:
"Bleachbit" worked great for Hillary. Just sayin'

There is no need whatsoever to introduce politics into this thread.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to give me suggestions. I appreciate your help.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: deepocean,