Format old IDE drive with OS on it?

[BobbyLou]

I can't format it in windows since there is an OS on it and none of my other motherboards have IDE ports on them.

What can I do?

[Shadowmeph]

What are you asking? if you are trying to format a hard drive you cannot formate a harddrive with a OS that you are currently using . there are a couple of ways to do this one is to use a Linux live cd and boot into that then format the hard drive or if you have say a Windows OS disk boot into that then go through the procedure like you are going to install the OS but just format the rive and when the drive is formated then just cancel the OS install and exit.

[BobbyLou]

This computer is old as hell and not sure if it even works. Im talking like single core ddr memory. My friend just wants the drive wiped. (don't ask)

Maybe an IDE to Sata converter or something could work so I connect it to another mobo?

[BeaverBender]

Use this:

nGear USB2.0 to SATA/IDE Drive Adapter 2.5/3.5/5.25IN Drives w/ Power Adapter

[sswilson]

Along with dban and you're golden. Or, If he just wants to ensure the data can't be accessed, and doesn't intend to use the drive again, an electric drill through the HDD case near the spindle is fairly effective as well. :)

[Shadowmeph]

Originally Posted by sswilson

Along with dban and you're golden. Or, If he just wants to ensure the data can't be accessed, and doesn't intend to use the drive again, an electric drill through the HDD case near the spindle is fairly effective as well. :)

I never heard of that one I am going to have to check it out

[sswilson]

IIRC using a drill was standard practice as the final step on secure HDDs that the military was decommisioning after they'd run the military standard wipes. Unless you're talking about state secrets, or something you absolutely cannot have the government getting their hands on, anything that physically damages the platter is going to put retrieval of the information on the platter well beyond any method that would be economically feasable to hackers/fraudsters.

[BobbyLou]

He wants to keep the drive for some reason...

What is dban?

[enaberif]

Originally Posted by BobbyLou

He wants to keep the drive for some reason...

What is dban?

Darins Nuke works well too altho VERY not needed.

Just do a normal format and call it a day.. His pron collection will be gone

[frontier204]

DBAN (Darik's Boot and Nuke) is available on the UBCD under "Drive Wiping":
Ultimate Boot CD - Overview (assuming you have an optical drive and blank CD)

I wiped two IDE drives the other day with it.