How to erase/scrub a hard drive?

[icetagz]

Hey, I'm building a new pc and i want to use my old hard drive as a backup, and i don't know how to delete/erase it? Any tips or programs i can use?

 

[USAFRet]

Hey, I'm building a new pc and i want to use my old hard drive as a backup, and i don't know how to delete/erase it? Any tips or programs i can use?

Once the new machine is up and running, connect this old drive.
Disk Management, and DELETE all existing partitions on it.

 

[The Paladin]

if you are trying to remove all data to sell the drive use DBAN 2.3.0 is free
if you trying to remove old info on a drive to reuse, then delete partitions and reformat it