If you need more storage capacity for your files and data, you may want to make use of your hard disk drive. Commonly called as hard drive, it is one of the storage devices that has a greater capacity in storing digitally encoded data and has a faster way of transmitting them. It consists of a spindle in which rotating platters are seen where data is recorded. It has a magnetic surface as well. As compared to a floppy disk, the hard disk is definitely one of the storage devices that has the capacity to store big amount of files essential to those in fields of video recording, digital audio recording, movie making and the like.
With the presence of many data recovery programs that are readily available in the market, the issue on how to permanently erase files in the hard disk is still a question to a lot of people. As we all know that removed files can still be retrieved even if we empty our Recycle Bin. It is because even if we emptied our Recycle Bin to get rid of those deleted files, we can still access or restore back those files deleted with the data recovery program that we have in the computer. Only the shortcuts of these files are deleted but they are actually kept in the hard drive. That is why, with the use of data recovery programs; we can still restore back those data files that we deleted in our Recycle Bin.
Those computer specialists could still recover the files or data before the hard drive gets reformatted. One way to fully erase the files or data from the hard drive is simply formatting it. Many people consider it as an effective way for deleting files making it hard to be recovered. Yes, reformatting the hard disk is like setting the hard drive like it's brand new without any files stored in it.
A new method or technique called Disk Wiping getting more popular these days. It is the new secure method and ensures that files or data, including those licensed softwares that are installed in the computer and storage devices is irrecoverably deleted before it is put in the Recycle Bin. Disk wiping is an improved method than erasing files or formatting the hard drive. This method basically overwrites the entire hard disk with data several times and once the hard drive is reformatted, it will be impossible to get the data back which is found on the drive before it is overwritten.
There are free programs that can be bought in the market and can be downloaded online about erasing data on hard disk. We will feature two known applications that will fully erase the entire data contents of the hard drive. Though disk wiping application made by various companies may vary in their algorithms but it usually overwrites the entire hard disk with a number. It could either be one or zero. It is then suggested to reformat the hard driver once everything has been set. The following are the applications one could use in erasing data contents in their hard disk:
Darik's Boot and Nuke: This application can be installed on a bootable floppy or CD Rom. Boot and Nuke has several techniques to erase the data on your drive to make it fully unrecoverable. It has the facility to erase the contents of any hard disk that it detects and makes this application a perfect utility for urgent cases of data destruction.
Eraser: This cleans the hard drive as it removes that magnetic and solid state memory of the disk. It has an advance program of erasing data files in the hard disk making it impossible for you to retrieve it back. It is very popular today as it used by many.
Having those erase hard disk application is essential in keeping your private data and personal information safe right after you reformat the hard drive after you deleted the data. Security is guaranteed that it can no longer be accessed once it is erased. Furthermore, the erase software tools are user-friendly. You may try to have a file deletion management system if you think you are uncertain that those unwanted files are still there.