[TriLUG] OT: Linux Friendly Laptop Forsale

[Brian Daniels]

On Wed, Jun 09, 2004 at 01:15:58PM -0400, Brian Daniels wrote:
> On Wed, Jun 09, 2004 at 12:57:08PM -0400, Christopher L Merrill wrote:
> > Mike M wrote:
> > >FWIW, There was a article on /. this AM about wiping down HDD.  If you
> > >are paranoid there is a DoD wipedown process.
> > 
> 
> Boot from a Knoppix disc, and then dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/hda
> Let it run until it tells you no space left on device.
> 

And from the learn-something-new-every-day dept:

http://cmrr.ucsd.edu/hughes/eraseUtility.html

It looks like newer ATA-spec drives implement an internal secure erase 
command, even overwriting the spare-block areas that aren't normally 
user-accessible.  Many more details here:

http://www.tomcoughlin.com/Techpapers/Secure Erase Article for IDEMA, 042502.pdf
(needs to be on one line with a space after the comma)

--Brian


-- 
Question with boldness even the existence of a god;
because if there be one he must approve of the
homage of reason more than that of blindfolded fear.

--Thomas Jefferson, Aug. 10, 1787


Brian Daniels                  bitmage at bellsouth.net
      http://www.eviloverlord.net