Re: Removing computer data

[Guest guest]

It depends on how determined they want to be in recovering the data.

Data can be recovered even from a freshly reformatted drive.

The most reasonable thing to do is download one of those bootable cds

that allow you to wipe the drive by writing 00s to every sector. But

that means someone has to reinstall the operating system.

One of the easiest things to do is just remove the hard drive and they

can install a new hard drive.

> Anyone know how to make sure all the medical records/data

> can be completely removed from my computer before I

> give it to a patient? It's my old laptop that I used first few

> years of my practice.

>

> Thanks in advance.

>

> Pamela

>

>

--

Graham Chiu

http://www.synapsedirect.com

Synapse - the use from anywhere EMR.

[Guest guest]

Norton utilities had a " wipe disk " program, try a Google search for some free alternativesPedro Ballester, M.D.Warren, OH

[Guest guest]

I would format the whole drive and reinstall from the original installation

disk, there are too many little corners with info to be found. If you want to

risk it you can create a new Administrator user and erase all the info on the

old one and any other user you have created.

JB

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of Pamela Wible

Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2009 1:55 AM

To:

Subject: Removing computer data

Anyone know how to make sure all the medical

records/data

can be completely removed from my computer before I

give it to a patient? It's my old laptop that I used first few

years of my practice.

Thanks in advance.

Pamela

[Guest guest]

According to this and other sites, reformatting a drive isn't enough if you have sensitive data that you don't want others to recover. You need to use some kind of "disk wiping" program:http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Computer_Science/2007/completely_erase_harddrive.aspHere is a list of disk wiping programs, some of which are free:http://www.howtowipeyourdrive.com/HowToWipeYourHardDrive.aspx SetoSouth Pasadena, CA I would format the whole drive and reinstall from the original installation disk, there are too many little corners with info to be found. If you want to risk it you can create a new Administrator user and erase all the info on the old one and any other user you have created.JB From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Pamela Wible Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2009 1:55 AM To: Subject: Removing computer data Anyone know how to make sure all the medical records/data can be completely removed from my computer before I give it to a patient? It's my old laptop that I used first few years of my practice. Thanks in advance. Pamela

[Guest guest]

Seto wrote:

According to this and other sites, reformatting a drive isn't

enough if you have sensitive data that you don't want others to

recover. You need to use some kind of "disk wiping" program:

Here is a list of disk wiping programs, some of which are free:

http://www.howtowipeyourdrive.com/HowToWipeYourHardDrive.aspx

Seto

South Pasadena, CA

I volunteer with a group which recycles donated computers

for non-profit organizations. We remove ALL data with

this free program. It boots itself from the CD. It doesn't matter

what operating system the PC has.

http://www.dban.org/about. Just download and burn to CD.

Jim in KC

[Guest guest]

It is true, you need to format for real all sectors to “00”,

takes a longer time and not a regular format.  If you format all sectors (the

whole disk) to “00” you really don’t have to rewrite over as you

may have to do with a partition.

After a “00” format you would need to boot from a “bootable”

disk.

José

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of Seto

Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2009 11:00 AM

To:

Subject: Re: Removing computer data

According to this and other sites, reformatting a drive isn't enough if you

have sensitive data that you don't want others to recover. You need to use some

kind of " disk wiping " program:

http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Computer_Science/2007/completely_erase_harddrive.asp

Here is a list of disk wiping programs, some of which are

free:

http://www.howtowipeyourdrive.com/HowToWipeYourHardDrive.aspx

Seto

South Pasadena, CA

I would format

the whole drive and reinstall from the original installation disk, there are

too many little corners with info to be found. If you want to risk it you can

create a new Administrator user and erase all the info on the old one and any

other user you have created.

JB

From: [mailto: ] On

Behalf Of Pamela Wible

Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2009 1:55 AM

To:

Subject: Removing computer data

Anyone know how to make sure all the medical

records/data

can be completely removed from my computer before I

give it to a patient? It's my old laptop that I used first few

years of my practice.

Thanks in advance.

Pamela

[Guest guest]

THANKS soooo much! You guys are awesome!

Pamela

And welcome Stew!!!

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> I would format the whole drive and reinstall from the original installation

> disk, there are too many little corners with info to be found. If you want

> to risk it you can create a new Administrator user and erase all the info on

> the old one and any other user you have created.

>

> JB

>

>

>

> From:

> [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Pamela Wible

> Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2009 1:55 AM

> To:

> Subject: Removing computer data

>

>

>

> Anyone know how to make sure all the medical records/data

> can be completely removed from my computer before I

> give it to a patient? It's my old laptop that I used first few

> years of my practice.

>

> Thanks in advance.

>

> Pamela

>