[SOLVED] How to properly erase data on a HDD

[KingCarling]

So I am selling my laptop on eBay and this includes my old HDD, I know all data is never really "erased" but what is the best way to make sure no personal data or photos can be retrieved?

I dont want to find personal pictures of me and my wife online in the next coming months if you know what I mean haha

Whats the most effective way of a good clean?


Thanks, KC (edit: accidentally put this on the wrong thread)

 

[USAFRet]

Commandline diskpart, and the clean command.

https://www.tomshardware.com/news/format-hard-drive-command-prompt,37632.html

How to Diskpart Erase/Clean a Drive Through the Command Prompt | Seagate US

This article explains the Microsoft Diskpart Erase utility. The command that erases the drive during this process is "Clean". In this article "Clean" and erase are used interchangeably. Cleaning or erasing a storage device removes all data and partitions from the drive.

www.seagate.com

https://searchwindowsserver.techtar...t-to-create-extend-or-delete-a-disk-partition

 

[KingCarling]

Commandline diskpart, and the clean command.

https://www.tomshardware.com/news/format-hard-drive-command-prompt,37632.html

How to Diskpart Erase/Clean a Drive Through the Command Prompt | Seagate US

This article explains the Microsoft Diskpart Erase utility. The command that erases the drive during this process is "Clean". In this article "Clean" and erase are used interchangeably. Cleaning or erasing a storage device removes all data and partitions from the drive.

www.seagate.com

https://searchwindowsserver.techtar...t-to-create-extend-or-delete-a-disk-partition

Sweet man thanks for the help

 

[SamirD]

The best way is to use the 'ata secure erase' function built into each drive. The problem is trying access that outside of some linux utility. 🙁