Anyone have any recommendations for a Windows XP-compatible program that can delete files, entire folders and maybe even wipe the contents of a hard disk to the point of where the data is virtually unrecoverable?

McAfee used to make Quick Clean but that seems to have been discontinued.

Suggestions appreciated.

http://dban.sourceforge.net/

http://www.killdisk.com/ works great

http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/

+1.

If the intent is to dispose of the disk, just get a small screwdriver set, open it, and take a file to the platters. It's not very hard. Just remember that at least one of the screws will be covered by a sticker (tamper proff for warranty purposes) so you need to get that one off as well

Steve

If the intent is to dispose of the disk, a sixteen pound sledge works pretty well also. But I dont think that is what the OP was asking about.

I second this suggestion... great utility

Let me clarify my post from earlier:

If day-to-day erasing and secure movement of files and directories is what you are looking for, then eraser is what you are looking for.

To literally nuke an entire disk, DBAN is a good choice. The only gotcha is that the open-source DBAN does not have any of the certifications that many regulatory bodies are looking for (there exists an enterprise version that you pay for that does come with these certifications.

So, eraser=moving/securely wiping files on a running OS.

DBAN=remove all traces of everything (including the OS) from a particular disk.

I like eraser.
I also used DBAN on the same drive.

I performed a few of the different erasing options, repeatedly, and randomly.

Later, a forensic expert wasn't able to pull anything off the drive.

+1 on KillDisk.

You download it as a CD Image (iso) and burn it as a disc image. You stick it in your CD Drive, set the BIOS to boot to the CD-Rom drive first. It will start its own program. Once you identify the drive you want to erase you start it and it performs a low-level format wipes every last bit to a 0. Takes a couple hours depending on drive size.

This is much better than the old FDisk and Format C: from DOS days. All that does is rewrite the boot sector on the HD and rewrite the partition tables. The data is still there.

I've used it more than once and it works wonderfully. Just make sure you have your OS disk to reinstall before you start wiping.

Definitely a CD to keep in your computer repair discs along with a Knoppix-Live Linux DVD.

I saw an IT "consultant" demonstrate how to neuter a drive (before selling or donating the system or after killing your wife) on TV.

She took a 1/4" drill and made several holes in the circuit board on the bottom of the drive.

I called her, and suggested that the board could be replaced in under two minutes and, with the disk platters intact, the whole of the data would be accessible.

She replied, "Well, most thieves wouldn't think of that."

No, but your business rival might.

Thanks for all the answers. To clarify my question, I need to both delete files and wipe disks.

Recently I have been advised that before sending a notebook in for repair, in addition to making a backup, it's a good idea to delete sensitive data. I want to find the best way of doing this.

If it's REALLY sensitive data, I don't think there's any alternative to wiping the disc. When Windows "deletes" a file, all that happens is that it is de-indexed (the pointer to the data gets moved to the "Recycle" directory). You can delete the directory entry from the bin, but the data will still be there - somewhere. Where IRS, CIA, DIA, FBI, and maybe even state/local LE can find it.

I would recommed buying a small, cheap drive and swap it in. If the computer works at all, you might even be able to initialize the drive with your Backup Discs.

That's why post #4 is getting another +1. Because you can do both with it. It's free. And you can wipe clean whatever you just deleted into the Recycle Bin too.