I am performing a Gutmann Wipe.

[MilesColtrane]

Sending my Dad's PC to that great recycling bin in the sky, (well, Massachusetts actually) and having read the importance of deleting any sensitive data on the drive, I started erasing and overwriting it.

I opted for the most secure deletion algorithm offered by the software I had which was the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gutmann_method">Gutmann wipe.

Fine and dandy.

Except that I started this 5 hours ago and it's only 40% complete.
Should have read beforehand that it takes 35 complete passes to finish. Not only that, now Wiki tells me that it may just be overkill that does nothing.

Maybe I should have just ripped out the drive, covered it in molten Velveeta than taken it to the firing range to frag.

[rug]

1. No bodily function threads.

Thank you.

[crimsonblue]

2. he best method

is a powerful handrill or drill press.

[MilesColtrane]

4. That's certainly more fun than standing around with my thumb up my....

[GoddessOfGuinness]

3. Sounds like some sort of chemically treated surgical gauze

[MilesColtrane]

5. Yeah, it does make for a bad visual.

Sounds like something my Mom would have used back when she worked for a dermatologist.

[bluesbassman]

6. Isn't that what they teach you after shoulder surgery?

:)

[Kutjara]

7. I usually take the platters out of the drive...

...and smash them to atoms with a hammer. Quicker and much more fun. :)