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Open Forum => Off-Topic => Topic started by: TheKarazyvicePresidentRR on July 26, 2010, 04:55:07 PM

Title: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: TheKarazyvicePresidentRR on July 26, 2010, 04:55:07 PM
How would this be done? I backed up my computer (its working but only barely) and I wanted to run my OS disk to erase all the stuff on my computer but that doesn't want to work. Are the any other ways to essentially reset my computer?
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: ACe on July 26, 2010, 05:28:57 PM
You could just do a factory reset to it. its in the setup menu when you press f12 i believe you should have a code on the bottom or on the side of your comp or laptop. you will need it to reinstall windows. doing this will erase everything and it will be like when you just bought it at the store.
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: Daniel TS RED on July 26, 2010, 05:41:28 PM
Is this a computer you made yourself with your own real Windows CD?  If so, then you'll have to use your Windows CD unless you made some sort of backup partition.  If it's one you purchased from a retail brand, you should be able to use the factory restore option stored on your hard drive.  Sometimes it's F8, i've seen control + f11 too. 

Daniel

 ;D
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: xCaLeBx on July 26, 2010, 08:56:35 PM
If you have a windows OS disk then you can reinstall the OS and thus erasing the old OS with all its parts, me and my dad actually did this to 8 laptops awhile back for a job. Now if you don't have a disk you go to thepiratebay. org and you download your OS you want (and it isn't stealing since you bought the OS but lost the disk) and you download it and mount it onto a DVD-R and run it like a OS disk
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: SomeKittens on July 26, 2010, 09:05:25 PM
A.) Which OS?
B.) Laptop/Desktop?
C.) Brand?
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: TheKarazyvicePresidentRR on July 26, 2010, 10:00:32 PM
A.) Which OS?
B.) Laptop/Desktop?
C.) Brand?
Windows XP
Lappy
Toshiba
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: SomeKittens on July 26, 2010, 10:14:09 PM
Reinstalling the OS (XP) should work, if you only want to reuse the hard drive.  If you want to go deeper, it'll require a little more.
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: TheKarazyvicePresidentRR on July 26, 2010, 10:33:36 PM
I pretty much want to reset it back to the way it was but the OS disk isn't reinstalling it.
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: Daniel TS RED on July 26, 2010, 11:01:21 PM
This might work.  Make sure you have EVERYTHING you need backed up on CDs or a zip drive or another harddrive.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_reset_toshiba_computer_to_factory_condition (http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_reset_toshiba_computer_to_factory_condition)

Doing this should get your computer reset back to the day you got it home, just like pulling it out of the box.

Let us know if this doesn't work.

Daniel

 ;D
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: Ironica on July 27, 2010, 12:00:54 AM
Is there a way to completely wipe out a hard drive that can't be placed into a pc due to viruses? I need to recycle them but would like to wipe them before then (the virus restarts the computer around every 5-20 seconds).
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: SomeKittens on July 27, 2010, 01:11:06 AM
DBAN (http://www.dban.org/) is your friend for total wipeout.
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: TheKarazyvicePresidentRR on July 27, 2010, 02:15:20 PM
This might work.  Make sure you have EVERYTHING you need backed up on CDs or a zip drive or another harddrive.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_reset_toshiba_computer_to_factory_condition (http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_reset_toshiba_computer_to_factory_condition)

Doing this should get your computer reset back to the day you got it home, just like pulling it out of the box.

Let us know if this doesn't work.

Daniel

 ;D


1. Insert the disc into the drive.
2. Restart the laptop and press F12 key when you see the Toshiba logo on the screen.
3. Select CD/DVD drive from the boot menu.
4. Press OK and wait until the laptop boot from the CD.
5. Select "Recovery to factory defaults" and press OK. It will take some time to reimage the hard dive.


I can't find 5, it just booted up to the normal screen.
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: SomeKittens on July 27, 2010, 02:46:50 PM
Did you set CD/DVD to first in the boot order in BIOS?
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: TheKarazyvicePresidentRR on July 27, 2010, 04:02:34 PM
Yeah it just boots it up normally :/
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: SomeKittens on July 27, 2010, 04:42:54 PM
If you're using the normal XP CD, there should be a "Press any key to boot from CD..."
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: TheKarazyvicePresidentRR on July 27, 2010, 05:53:12 PM
I saw that once, but not since :/
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: SomeKittens on July 27, 2010, 06:42:53 PM
Well, press that when you see it.  To find it, you must kill the brown dragon beyond the hills of Monzon.
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: xCaLeBx on July 27, 2010, 08:06:26 PM
and don't forget the troll on the bridge of death of whom you must answer these questions, 3 and then thou shalt pass.
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: Rawrlolsauce! on July 27, 2010, 08:08:39 PM
Use a lemon scented clorox desposible wipe.
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: Daniel TS RED on July 27, 2010, 08:12:15 PM
Did your laptop come with restore discs?  Not the real windows XP disc, but should say like Toshiba Restore Disc on it.  That's what you need I think.

Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: TheKarazyvicePresidentRR on July 28, 2010, 02:14:08 PM
I got the disc working and then..

STOP Error 0x0000006f Session3_initialization_failed
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: Daniel TS RED on July 28, 2010, 02:52:02 PM
http://forums.techarena.in/windows-xp-support/867056.htm (http://forums.techarena.in/windows-xp-support/867056.htm)

A lot of mixed stuff in here.  If you have access to another disc I would try to borrow one and try that first.  Could be a problem with the CD you're using.  When you're in the BIOS, you can also try to disable any preload virus scans that might be going on.  Try those 2 things first.  Btw, what exact Toshiba model is it, that might give us some more options.

Daniel
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: TheKarazyvicePresidentRR on July 28, 2010, 09:23:33 PM
I'll run malware bytes but I can't run it in safe mode, though I can in regular.
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: xCaLeBx on July 28, 2010, 10:30:12 PM
I'll run malware bytes but I can't run it in safe mode, though I can in regular.
Man you're computer must be pretty darn messed up to not let you run the disk.....try taking out the disk drive and putting it back in thus installing it again.


Also this sounds just as frustrating as 21 gb of music and 4 gbs of movies at 4am in the morning not cooperating (the story of last night lol)
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: SomeKittens on July 29, 2010, 01:06:18 AM
If you've got all the data backed up, try DBAN then XP boot
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: TheKarazyvicePresidentRR on July 29, 2010, 05:10:30 PM
DBAN?
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: sk on July 29, 2010, 05:32:28 PM
http://www.dban.org/ (http://www.dban.org/)
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: COUNTER_SNIPER on July 29, 2010, 06:39:02 PM
Now if you want to make it so no one ever uses your hard-drive again or steals information from your hard-drive...  Physically locate the hard drive and drill at least one good size hole into the part that looks like a disc.  Not even the best hacker in the world can steal your information then!!

-C_S
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: sk on July 29, 2010, 06:58:24 PM
I always keep a sledgehammer handy during computer repair.
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: TheKarazyvicePresidentRR on July 29, 2010, 09:15:57 PM
Sorry to sound paranoid but how many of you are 100% sure Dban will let my computer work? I don't want to kill it and then it not work due to my error...
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: YourMathTeacher on July 29, 2010, 09:17:45 PM
Josh, if you need computer access you can come over my house.
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: Daniel TS RED on July 29, 2010, 09:23:36 PM
Never heard of dban.  It might be good, just never heard of it.

Daniel
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: SomeKittens on July 29, 2010, 09:44:12 PM
DBAN will wipe everything.  If this is your only computer, I wouldn't recommend doing it
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: TheKarazyvicePresidentRR on July 29, 2010, 10:10:21 PM
DBAN will wipe everything.  If this is your only computer, I wouldn't recommend doing it
Which means my recovery disc won't work?
OS CD WINDOWS XP (https://www.cactusforums.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fz3pc.com%2F100_2379.JPG&hash=76e636bfec0f5e556322cce158c50f42bf015e83)< Disc
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: YourMathTeacher on July 29, 2010, 10:12:33 PM
I think those discs are CBN.
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: SomeKittens on July 29, 2010, 10:14:20 PM
If you've got a Toshiba, then why do you have HP/Compaq disks?
An XP install CD will work post DBAN.  All it does is securely delete the entire disk.
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: YourMathTeacher on July 29, 2010, 10:20:26 PM
The following came from HP's website:


Use the following steps to recover the computer from a set of recovery discs (either CDs or DVDs):
Before recovering, back up files from the My Documents folder and from other folders you may have created.
Disconnect all connected devices (such as the Personal Media Drive, USB drives, printer, and fax), remove media from drives, and remove any recently added internal hardware. Do not disconnect the monitor, keyboard, mouse, and power cord.
Turn on the computer and press the Esc key when the first logo screen appears.

Insert the first recovery disc into the top CD or DVD drive.
Use the Up Arrow and Down Arrow keys to select the CD or DVD drive containing the recovery disc, and press the Enter key to start.
If a screen displays Press R for recovery options , press the R key.
A screen with a list of options should appear: R, F, and Q. These options can change depending on the state of the hard drive. For example, if the hard drive is new, only R lists.
Select one of the following methods depending on the type of recovery method you want to perform:
Press R to perform a standard system recovery.
Press F to perform a destructive recovery. This will format the hard drive. If the hard drive is new or has had the recovery partition damaged, this option will also create new partitions and format the drive.
Press Q to quit recovery.

Read and respond to each window and screen that appears.
 NOTE:  When changing discs, do not press the OK button. Instead, wait for the drive to read the disc and automatically continue the recovery.

 NOTE:  If you are using a supplemental recovery disc (select models only), you must remove the supplemental disc before restarting the computer.

After the System Recovery is complete, the computer restarts and continues into Windows setup. Complete the setup screens and wait until the computer finishes the setup.
 NOTE:  It may take a long time to complete Windows setup. This time varies and may take over several hours. Recovery times are most affected by using recovery discs that were ordered from HP and/or the amount of files that were stored in the user account folders (Like My Documents and the Desktop).

Before using your computer, update and protect your computer. For more information, refer to Things To Do After Performing a System Recovery in Windows XP .
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: TheKarazyvicePresidentRR on July 29, 2010, 11:28:01 PM
If you've got a Toshiba, then why do you have HP/Compaq disks?
An XP install CD will work post DBAN.  All it does is securely delete the entire disk.
Holy fail. These are for my MOM's computer. No wonder they didn't work. I feel VERY stupid.
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: SomeKittens on July 29, 2010, 11:51:22 PM
Do you have the ones for yours?  If not, they probably can be downloaded from Toshiba's website.
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: TheKarazyvicePresidentRR on July 29, 2010, 11:57:43 PM
Do you have the ones for yours?  If not, they probably can be downloaded from Toshiba's website.
I should, I'll check the website though.

If anyone would like to help my model is a Satellite M105-S1021
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: Daniel TS RED on July 30, 2010, 09:55:29 AM
I don't see a lot of instructions when searching for your model #.  Seems like you can just put in the restore disks and follow the instructions.  Should be pretty straight forward.

Daniel

 ;D
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: TheKarazyvicePresidentRR on August 02, 2010, 02:18:31 PM
Okay, so I got it to work and I am now installing all the updates but my sound isn't working and neither is my built in wireless card, both of which are very important. Any idea how to fix this? (Currently dling Service pack 3)

Edit: Well it got my speakers working but the wireless card didn't seem to work. Help, Please and my video card isn't registering...
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: Alex_Olijar on August 02, 2010, 02:20:09 PM
If you've got a Toshiba, then why do you have HP/Compaq disks?
An XP install CD will work post DBAN.  All it does is securely delete the entire disk.
Holy fail.

Holy fail, Batman


Fixed.
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: SomeKittens on August 02, 2010, 03:20:28 PM
Wireless is a tricky thing.  Are you running the native OS?
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: TheKarazyvicePresidentRR on August 03, 2010, 12:12:38 AM
Wireless is a tricky thing.  Are you running the native OS?
Yeah windows XP, idk if this is the disc it came with though.
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: SomeKittens on August 03, 2010, 11:18:39 AM
Do you know the exact model number of your wireless card?
Did it work before, and if so, what changed?
If you go to Windows Update, are there drivers?
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: TheKarazyvicePresidentRR on August 03, 2010, 01:58:55 PM
Do you know the exact model number of your wireless card?
Did it work before, and if so, what changed?
If you go to Windows Update, are there drivers?
No idea on numbers.
Yes, I reinstalled my OS which erased my drivers.
Yes I did and I didn't get any drivers for it.
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: SomeKittens on August 03, 2010, 05:45:11 PM
Could you post a photo of all the stickers on it?  (i.e., system specs, Processor brand, etc)
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: YourMathTeacher on August 03, 2010, 05:47:00 PM
Could you post a photo of all the stickers on it?  (i.e., system specs, Processor brand, etc)

..... Windows serial numbers....
Title: Re: Wiping a computer hard drive?
Post by: SomeKittens on August 03, 2010, 06:31:43 PM
and if you could edge in your social security card, even better.  That will really help me steal your identity fix your computer.
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