[mmckenna]

If I disconnect physically, my hard drive from my motherboard, then reconnect it, will the hard drive be wiped clean of everything including the operating system?

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No, if you are doing this with a XP computer still running you will probably get a error message and need to reboot the computer. You may not be able to get back into windows but i think it will reload. If you are doing this after you have shut off the computer nothing will happen at all.

SRX660

[SRX660]

No, if you are doing this with a XP computer still running you will probably get a error message and need to reboot the computer. You may not be able to get back into windows but i think it will reload. If you are doing this after you have shut off the computer nothing will happen at all.

SRX660

[mmckenna]

I have several computers with no recovery discs that I want to get rid of but want the hard drives wiped clean, how do I do this? I don't think XP was loaded on any of them. Window 95, 97 and 98 are on them. XP may have been put onto the one with 98 as an update - which probably caused some problem that lead to us just buying a new computer.

[Kemasa]

For a program to wipe the disk:

http://dban.sourceforge.net/

In order to wipe the disk you need to boot from a floppy or cd, since otherwise you can not wipe everything out.

Removing the disk from the systeem will have no effect unless you destroy it after you take it out.

If you reload the OS, the computers might be fine. Depending on the speed of the computer, you might consider donating them. Otherwise check out freecycle, an easy way to get rid of stuff and keep it out of the landfill. Computers are considered hazardous waste and can not be thrown away.

It is poor form to post multiple request for the same issue:

http://www.geekstogo...showtopic=96191

Edited by Kemasa, 04 February 2006 - 04:41 PM.