What is a better way to delete all your files on your HDD?

Let’s say I have a reason to format my pc; it can be whichever reason. What is a better method to make sure everything is 100% erased: erase disk and install Ubuntu Mate or delete the partitions and recreate them? What is the difference?

Thanks

Deleting everything either way won’t erase the data as such. I mean, it’ll delete the files, but won’t physically erase the disk, it’ll just mark the sectors as free for writing to in future. If you are talking about a secure way of deleting all data (say, you’re a spy and you don’t want the information falling into the wrong hands) you would want to overwrite the entire disk with 0s or random bits before repartitioning the drive.

When you run the OS installer it will offer to repartition the disk as part of the install process.

Does the erase disk option wipe the hard drive as DBAN(Darik’s boot and nuke) does?

Hi @vr_anticipator,

well all I know is that it erases the entire disk disk, I assume it wipes all the data but how secure that is I really cannot say?. :smiley:

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Hallo vr_anticipator

If the HDD was already encrypted with a strong password you can go ahead and erase the disk once and install.

If the HDD is not encrypted and you are very paranoid then completely overwrite the disk with 0s FIVE TIMES. Be warned, that will probably take days to accomplish.

If you really want a definitive answer, contact a data recovery firm and ask them what they can’t recover data from. After all, they are the experts.

A secret is something only one person knows

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A few suggestions here:

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Disks can do the job.

Click the red square to unmount the partition.

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Haha. I am not a spy; I’m just curious. But thanks anyway.

I need not to wipe the HDD five times. I think a format will be enough. Thanks