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5 Easy Steps to Ensure Your Hard Drive Is Completely Wiped Before Giving IT Away

Are you planning to donate your old computer or hard drive to a charitable organization or a friend? Before you do, it’s crucial to ensure that your personal data is completely wiped from the hard drive. This blog post will guide you through five easy steps to ensure your hard drive is securely and thoroughly wiped, giving you peace of mind and protecting your sensitive information so here is 5 Easy Steps to Ensure Your Hard Drive Is Completely Wiped.

5 Easy Steps to Ensure Your Hard Drive Is Completely Wiped Before Giving IT Away

Are you planning to donate your old computer or hard drive to a charitable organization or a friend? Before you do, it’s crucial to ensure that your personal data is completely wiped from the hard drive. This blog post will guide you through five easy steps to ensure your hard drive is securely and thoroughly wiped, giving you peace of mind and protecting your sensitive information so here is 5 Easy Steps to Ensure Your Hard Drive Is Completely Wiped

Introduction

Step 1 - Backup Your Data

Step 2 - Choose The Right Data Wiping Method

Step 3 - Use Data Wiping Software

Step 4 - Verify the Success of the Wiping Process

Step 5 - Physically Destroy The Data Media(Only if step 4 was un-successful)

Conclusion

Introduction

Step 1 - Backup Your Data

Step 2 - Choose The Right Data Wiping Method

Step 3 - Use Data Wiping Software

Step 4 - Verify the Success of the Wiping Process

Step 5 - Physically Destroy The Data Media(Only if step 4 was un-successful)

Conclusion

Introduction

Are you planning to donate your old computer or hard drive to a charitable organization or a friend?
While your act of generosity and commitment to the environment is commendable, it’s essential to prioritize the security of your personal data before parting ways with your device. Donating a hard drive without properly wiping it poses significant risks, including the potential exposure of sensitive information.

In this blog post, we will guide you through five easy steps to ensure your hard drive is completely wiped, providing you with the peace of mind that your personal data remains confidential and protected. By following these steps, you can confidently donate your computer, knowing that your privacy is intact and your contribution will make a positive impact to the envionment.

Step 1 - Backup your Data

Before starting the data wiping process, it’s important to back up any important files or documents you want to keep. This ensures that you won’t lose valuable information during the data erasure process. Use an external hard drive, cloud storage, or another computer to make a secure backup of your files.

Data-Overwite-Secure-Data-Destruction

Step 2 - Choose The Right Data Wiping Method

There are several methods available for wiping a hard drive. Select the most suitable method based on your needs and the level of security you desire. Common options include software-based wiping, degaussing, or physical destruction. Research and determine which method aligns with your preferences and requirements. 

There are different levels of hard drive wiping, with some being more thorough than others. The most basic level of hard drive wiping involves simply deleting the files on the hard drive or reformatting the hard drive. However, this level of wiping is not secure and can be easily undone using data recovery tools.

The next level of hard drive wiping involves overwriting the entire hard drive once with random data. This level of wiping is more secure than basic wiping, but it may still be possible to recover some of the original data using advanced data recovery tools.

The most secure level of hard drive wiping involves overwriting the entire hard drive multiple times with random data. This level of wiping is known as DoD 5220.22-M or NIST 800-88, and it is used by government agencies and businesses to ensure that all data is completely removed from the hard drive.

This is why it’s important to work with a reputable IT recycling and disposal company that offers data destruction services and follows industry standards for data wiping.

Chaps IT Recycling works closely with Blancco providing a certificate for each data-bearing asset which has been wiped via software. This means each asset will have a guarantee not only backed by us but also by Blancco that this method of data destruction has been carried out on the device. 

Click here for more information on our secure data destruction solutions which we offer free of charge to all businesses & organisations.

We also have an in-depth article advising of the different types of Data Destruction available. 

Does hard drive wiping completely remove data?


Step 3 -  Use Data Wiping Software

If you opt for software-based wiping, download a reputable data wiping tool. There are various free and paid software options available, such as

The easiest way to software wipe a device is to leave the hard drive in situ in the device, in some cases, it is not possible to remove the storage. If the device is faulty and cannot power on to run the wiping software please see our previous blog post.
How to Safely Get Rid of a Computer That No Longer Works While Protecting Data Privacy

We would always recommend using a paid solution to software wipe any hard drive as you will get the additional guarantee from the company however here is a list of Free & Paid Software.

Free
Mini Tool Partition Wizard
DBAN (Dariks Boot and Nuke)
PC Disk Eraser.
Some Manufacturers will also provide software free of charge especially with SSDs to wipe them correctly. 

Paid
Blancco Drive Eraser – Used by us across all collected data-bearing assets
Active Killdisk – Provides Certificates for assets


items-we-recycle-data-hard drive-ssd-nvme

Please be advised that erasing the hard drive will not only remove your data but also the operating system which will need to be re-installed in order for the device to function. We also are not affiliated with the above-listed software/tools these are however tools which have good customer reviews. We cannot provide support or any guarantees for the above software. 

Some software will offer the functionality to in-place erase your data securely via a software wipe, however, this feature was removed from a lot of software once SSDs became mainstream due to the way in which an SSD will store data. The only true way in which to erase an SSD is to software wipe the full hard drive including the operating system.

 

Step 4 - Verify the Success of the Wiping Process

After completing the data wiping process, it’s important to verify that all data has been successfully erased. You can use data recovery software to scan the wiped hard drive and check if any recoverable data remains. If the scan comes up empty, it means your data has been successfully wiped. Double-checking ensures that no traces of personal information are left behind. Lots of free software or trial software can be found with a simple google search.

At Chaps IT Recycling, we use Blancco which has a verified guarantee and certificate that a specific method of data destruction has been carried out on all data media. 

In some instances, if the hard drive wiping has not been successful or the data recovery software has recovered files from the software wiped hard drive the best method may be to physically destroy the data media. Which can be found in step 5. 

How to Safely Get Rid of a Computer That No Longer Works While Protecting Data Privacy


items-we-recycle-data-hard drive-ssd-nvme

Step 5 - Physically Destroy The Data Media(Only if step 4 was un-successful)

Sometimes the simplest and easiest method is to physically destroy the data media to ensure the data cannot be recovered. 

If your device is fully working this is sometimes not the best option, as depending on the way in which the data media is present in the device may make it in-operable after the data media is destroyed. Larger devices will usually have data media which is removable. For example, a desktop PC will usually have a removable NVME, M.2, SSD or Mechanical Hard drive.

Whereas most of the latest Mac computers have solid soldered-on storage meaning they cannot be removed without specialist tools or making the device inoperable. 

This information can be found online or in software that will scan your computer to advise the data media type in your device. 

You can find more information on the types of data media and how to destroy the data on a device which is not working from the following link : 
How to Safely Get Rid of a Computer That No Longer Works While Protecting Data Privacy

Step 4 above will always be the preferred method of data destruction, ensuring complete data destruction whilst making sure your device is still operable. 

Conclusion

Donating your old hard drive is a generous act, but it’s vital to take steps to protect your privacy and ensure the security of your personal data. By following these five easy steps, you can confidently wipe your hard drive before donating it, safeguarding your sensitive information from falling into the wrong hands. Remember, thorough data wiping is a crucial aspect of responsible and secure donation. Take the necessary precautions, and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that your hard drive is completely wiped, ready for its new purpose. We hope you have enjoyed and found our complete guide of 5 Easy Steps to Ensure Your Hard Drive Is Completely Wiped.

Conclusion

Donating your old hard drive is a generous act, but it’s vital to take steps to protect your privacy and ensure the security of your personal data. By following these five easy steps, you can confidently wipe your hard drive before donating it, safeguarding your sensitive information from falling into the wrong hands. Remember, thorough data wiping is a crucial aspect of responsible and secure donation. Take the necessary precautions, and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that your hard drive is completely wiped, ready for its new purpose.
We hope you have enjoyed and found our complete guide of 5 Easy Steps to Ensure Your Hard Drive Is Completely Wiped.

Our IT recycling services are free of charge to all businesses & organisations Why choose us ?

Secure Fast Collection

Typically, we can retrieve the collection within 24 to 72 hours of the initial enquiry, and we offer the flexibility to schedule the pickup during regular business hours or outside of them. Our fleet is equipped with full tracking capabilities, ensuring a thorough and audited solution.

Items We Recycle
Secure Data Destruction

Once collected, all items will undergo an inspection, and necessary measures will be taken to eliminate any sensitive or confidential data. In cases where secure wiping is not possible, the item will be physically destroyed.

Learn More
Asset Report & Certificate

After processing your items, a report will be sent to you, outlining all relevant information about the collected assets and the method in which data destruction was carried out.
The report will also contain a certificate of secure data destruction, confirming that all necessary obligations to the Environmental Agency, GDPR, and the Data Protection Act have been successfully fulfilled.

Example Report
Fully Insured & Compliant

We have been inspected by the environmental agency who have confirmed we are following the strict practices they enforce for all WEEE recycling companies. Ensuring waste is collected and treated in the correct way.
Furthermore, we maintain ISO 9001 and 27001 compliance systems, and we undergo annual audits to ensure their proper implementation.

Contact Us For More Information
Chaps IT Recycling Van
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Frequently Asked Questions

  • How much does it cost?

    93% of our collections have been carried out completely free of charge.

    When you recycle IT assets with us, we strive to resell or recycle anything possible, using those proceeds to offset the disposal costs of other IT assets you recycle. Once we assess your assets, we will inform you whether a rebate, cash, or other financial arrangements are available.

    More information on chargeable items can be found on our Items we recycle Page

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