A hard drive wipe refers to a secure deletion procedure that leaves no traces of the data that used to be stored on the wiped hard drive. This is usually performed using specialized software programs designed for this purpose. It should be noted that a hard drive wipe is different from and much more secure than simply deleting all the files that are on a hard drive.
This is because when a file is deleted, it is not really entirely removed from the hard disk. What actually happens is that the file is simply marked as having been deleted, and the hard disk space that it occupies is marked as being ready for use. So the file is no longer listed in its directories. Also, the space in which a deleted file is contained may in fact be overwritten by new data being put into the hard disk.
For many applications and users, this file deletion may be sufficient. A more thorough deletion would just be a waste of system resources, and thus is usually not implemented. However, there are certain cases in which the more secure deletion that a hard drive wipe affords becomes desirable.
For instance, computers that handle critical information might eventually be reassigned, or replaced. In this case, it might be desirable to ensure that the important information could not be recovered afterwards, in case malicious acts may be done with this data in hand. For instance, financial information such as credit card numbers, account numbers, and balances may be recovered from hard drives that are recycled but not wiped clean.
Similarly, even personal computers might benefit from a hard drive wipe, for instance when they are being resold or given away. The simple precaution of doing a hard drive wipe may prevent or at least lessen the risk of identity theft and the acquisition of any other critical personal information.
One of the easiest ways to perform a hard drive wipe is to acquire a copy of a hard drive wipe program which can automatically run from a CD or other removable storage device. In most cases, the hard drive wipe process then just consists of plugging the storage device containing the appropriate program into the computer to be wiped clean.
A hard drive wipe works by overwriting the existing data with random data, often multiple times. This has the effect of covering the previously existing data and making it almost impossible to recover. The standard number of overwrites ranges from seven all the way up to thirty five layers of overwriting data.
Hard drive wiping also helps by being a more environmentally-friendly alternative to physical destruction of the hard drive. When disposing of a hard drive containing confidential information, the user might want to opt to have the drive physically rendered unusable. However, recycling facilities exist that would repurpose the hard drive. To do this, they are required by law to wipe the hard drives so as to make any previous data unrecoverable.
The hard drive wipe is a useful procedure that is becoming more and more necessary in this information age.
Hard drive rebuild, in the general sense of the term, can mean a simple operation of replacing the firmware (controller card) and reprogramming it using specialist software. Or it can mean replacing the drive's precision components like its read/write head, done in Class 100 clean rooms by specialist data recovery technicians.
Hard Drives Are Susceptible to Failure
Hard drives are electro-mechanical devices that are spinning even when the computer is idle. Typical spin rates vary from 4000 to 15000 rotations per minute. They are thus susceptible to failure as are CD, DVD or tape.
A hard drive rebuild can become necessary owing to mechanical failure of the disk but a logical recovery of the file system may still be needed to make the data readable. The logical file system can get corrupted with errors during the failure of the drive.
Failures can occur through a variety of causes:- power surges, causing physical damage like a drive head crash, a natural disaster like fire or flood, dropping a laptop or external drive, or damage caused by faulty design of the drive or its firmware programming, even a virus attack or malicious intent could be an issue.
Hard Drive Recovery
Data recovery from a hard drive can be simple or complex.
For example, if the data was lost owing to accidental deletion of files, you might be able to recover them yourself by running a data recovery software.
On the other hand, if the read/write head has crashed and the drive is clicking or the motor has seized, you will have to entrust your drive to a specialist professionals. They will have a dust free clean room where they will open the drive and replace the damaged heads, and the necessary resources and experience with a range of drive problems to help you in your hour of need.
Data recovery professionals typically start by copying the existing image on the damaged disk to a backup location. They will work on a copy trying to recover the data using specialized tools. Only after they have succeeded are they likely to transfer the recovered data to a replacement drive or give you secure access to their servers so you can check the data is intact and download it directly.
Simply replacing a damaged part like the printed circuit board of the drive cannot put things right; it will require some reprogramming to ensure it is correctly matched.
Does Your Recovery Company Have Hard Drive Rebuild Experience?
Hard drives have come a long way since a 5MB RAMAC, weighing a ton, was introduced in 1956 by IBM. Today's drives can be a tiny box in comparison offering many Terabytes (each terabyte is a 1000 GB and each GB is a thousand MB).
Today, there are many storage drive makers each offering models with different features. The drive can be a single drive or a RAID system with multiple physical drives with their own cut down operating systems and hot swap features.
The drive interfaces to the computer can differ. For example, it can be IDE, EIDE, SATA, SCSI, Lan, etc.
Data losses can be caused by many different factors, requiring different kinds of approaches to any recovery.
Only an experienced hard drive repairer can identify just the right remedy that is both effective and economical
Once you have decided on a hard drive rebuild, check that the company you select is experienced and has the resources in house, or is a reseller of a reputable established company who ensures any recovered data is managed securely for your protection and does not broadcast your company's loss of information on their website without your permission.
Conclusion
A hard drive rebuild becomes necessary when you are unable to boot with the drive or to read the data you have stored on it. You will also be better off if you approach a data recovery specialist if your drive is making strange noises (that you have not heard before) or data seems to be disappearing, or your system is spewing error messages.
Considering the numerous makes and models of hard drives in the market, each with differing features, you should approach only an experienced data recovery company with a track record of success but beware of the varying costs and just like any purchase expensive does not mean it is the best.
Both Sam Miller & Andy Butler are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Sam Miller has sinced written about articles on various topics from Debts Loans, Computers and The Internet and Customer Service. If you are interested in , check this web-site to learn more about wipe hard disk.. Sam Miller's top article generates over 550000 views. to your Favourites.
Andy Butler has sinced written about articles on various topics from Legal Matters, Data Recovery and Software. About Author:Andy Butler from ABC Data Recovery writes about visit. Andy Butler's top article generates over 1900 views. to your Favourites.