Wipe hard drive from BIOS?

kookooshortman55 · 06-30-2009, 03:17 AM

I was wondering if there was any way to wipe a hard drive without actually logging on and booting the OS. Both are IDE drives, about 6 year old computers. One's my Dad's, OS won't boot because of virus problems. The other computer I found in my local school district junkyard. Still works and everything, but on startup it asks for the network login credentials. I want to just wipe the hard drives and reinstall the operating systems, the only problem is I can't get in them. Any suggestions?

PohTayToez · 06-30-2009, 03:26 AM

Well, you typically reformat the hard drive whenever you install a fresh OS. No reason to wipe it and then wipe it again when you install.

Although there are various programs you can boot from CD/USB to wipe/partition a hard drive. GParted is a good one.

StrangleHold · 06-30-2009, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kookooshortman55

I was wondering if there was any way to wipe a hard drive without actually logging on and booting the OS. Both are IDE drives, about 6 year old computers. One's my Dad's, OS won't boot because of virus problems. The other computer I found in my local school district junkyard. Still works and everything, but on startup it asks for the network login credentials. I want to just wipe the hard drives and reinstall the operating systems, the only problem is I can't get in them. Any suggestions?

You cant be booted into Windows and format it anyway. You boot to your OS CD/DVD. If its just one partition on each drive, just format the partition and install.

lawson_jl · 06-30-2009, 04:44 AM

A second for GParted.

kookooshortman55 · 06-30-2009, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PohTayToez

Well, you typically reformat the hard drive whenever you install a fresh OS. No reason to wipe it and then wipe it again when you install.

What do you mean by that? I only plan on wiping the drives once to let me use them. It's just that my Dad's hard drive is completely useless now and I want to just reformat it and start fresh on it. The school computers are locked, so I figured it would be best to just wipe those too.

Midnight_fox1 · 06-30-2009, 05:48 AM

When you install an OS, you get a choice whether you want to use one of the partition or if you want to reformat.

kookooshortman55 · 06-30-2009, 07:14 AM

Did not know that. I have yet to do a complete build, so I've never had to install an OS before. I have a couple XP restore disks that came with the computers. I suppose those would work just as well? If not, now I have 2 options.

**johnb35** · 06-30-2009, 10:50 PM

Those restore disks will only work and would only be legal on the computers they came with.

06-30-2009, 03:17 AM	#1 (permalink)
kookooshortman55 Diamond Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: California/Arizona Age: 19 Posts: 1,546	Wipe hard drive from BIOS? I was wondering if there was any way to wipe a hard drive without actually logging on and booting the OS. Both are IDE drives, about 6 year old computers. One's my Dad's, OS won't boot because of virus problems. The other computer I found in my local school district junkyard. Still works and everything, but on startup it asks for the network login credentials. I want to just wipe the hard drives and reinstall the operating systems, the only problem is I can't get in them. Any suggestions? __________________ CPU: AMD Athlon 64 x2 5200+ @ 2.6GHz GPU: Zotac 8800GT AMP! w/ Akimbo 740/1800/2000 PSU: 450W Corsair VX450 Monitor: Acer 22" X223W Memory: 4GB DDR2 PC2-5300 HDD: 320GB HDD Speakers: Logitech 5.1 X-540 3DMark06: 9521 3DMarks

06-30-2009, 04:44 AM	#4 (permalink)
lawson_jl Platinum Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Illinois Age: 30 Posts: 579	A second for GParted. __________________ Any answears I give are free and without warrently. I answear questions from the point of view of a working computer tech because that what I am.

06-30-2009, 05:48 AM	#6 (permalink)
Midnight_fox1 Platinum Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Age: 17 Posts: 854	When you install an OS, you get a choice whether you want to use one of the partition or if you want to reformat. __________________ [Mobo]:XFX 780i Tri-SLI [CPU]:Intel Core 2 Quad @3.6Ghz[GPU]:EVGA GTX 285 [HDD's]:WD Caviar Green 500 GB+Seagate 250 GB[RAM]:OCZ Platinum 3 GB[OS]:Windows 7 64-Bit/WindowsXP 32-Bit[Sound]:Diamond 5.1 Soundcard+Logitech X-540 Speakers[Drive]:Pioneer Lightscribe 8x[Case]:Antec 1200[Display]:Gateway 23"[Extra's]:Logitech G11+G5 FOLDING FOR THE GOOD OF MANKIND :F@H Team 44358 Folding@home Username=w4rl0ck7

06-30-2009, 07:14 AM	#7 (permalink)
kookooshortman55 Diamond Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: California/Arizona Age: 19 Posts: 1,546	Did not know that. I have yet to do a complete build, so I've never had to install an OS before. I have a couple XP restore disks that came with the computers. I suppose those would work just as well? If not, now I have 2 options. __________________ CPU: AMD Athlon 64 x2 5200+ @ 2.6GHz GPU: Zotac 8800GT AMP! w/ Akimbo 740/1800/2000 PSU: 450W Corsair VX450 Monitor: Acer 22" X223W Memory: 4GB DDR2 PC2-5300 HDD: 320GB HDD Speakers: Logitech 5.1 X-540 3DMark06: 9521 3DMarks

06-30-2009, 10:50 PM	#8 (permalink)
johnb35 Moderator Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Near Joliet Illinois Age: 39 Posts: 3,474	Those restore disks will only work and would only be legal on the computers they came with. __________________ Motherboard - Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R CPU - E8400 Memory - 2GB Corsair XMS2 (2x 1gb) Graphics - ATI HD3870 Hard Drives - 250GB Seagate DVD Drive - Lite-On DVD Burner - Lite-On Power Supply - Rosewill RP600V2-S-SL 600W 22" Acer widescreen AL2216WBD

06-30-2009, 03:26 AM	#2 (permalink)
PohTayToez Diamond Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Illinois Age: 20 Posts: 3,335	Well, you typically reformat the hard drive whenever you install a fresh OS. No reason to wipe it and then wipe it again when you install. Although there are various programs you can boot from CD/USB to wipe/partition a hard drive. GParted is a good one.

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