Can Anyone Help Me Use Gdisk By Norton

Astral Fridge Magnet · Sat Feb 25, 2006 8:22 am

Hello,

I am trying to wipe my drive by using GDisk by Norton. I have version 2003.

I have made a bootable floppy and copied the Gdisk file onto it, but the problem is related to the commands I type in DOS. I have to admit that working in DOS is a mystery to me. I have looked on the Symantec site and there is an explanation but I still get it wrong. I need someone to help me by typing exactly the commands I should be typing. It is not clear enough (for me) on the symantec site.

I want to wipe my drive using DODwipe. Here is a link to what I am trying to achieve and if you scroll down to the end of the article you will see what I am trying to achieve:

http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/gh ... 715304425/

I have typed the following command and various permutations:

GDisk:(space)GDisk(space)1(space)/del/dodwipe -by the way (space) means I have pressed the space bar.

The trouble is that I get error messages like invalid fixed disk number or unknown switch, or too many parameters.

As I said, I have tried various permutation, such as without spaces and a few more.

So if anyone out there can help me by typing the EXACT command line I should use and indicate if there are any spaces by using (space).

I will be eternally grateful if someone out there can help out. PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks in advance for your help

[ This Message was edited by: Astral Fridge Magnet on 2006-02-25 08:25 ]

darkrezin · Post by **darkrezin** » Sat Feb 25, 2006 8:38 am

Any reason why you're using DOS for this operation? I have used Gdisk in the past but it's all distant, THC-clouded memories now I'm afraid. I seem to remember it was an alternative to Microsoft's Fdisk.

However, with the Disk Management tools in Windows, I cannot think why you would want to use a DOS tool for this now? Do you need to format to FAT16 or something?

Astral Fridge Magnet · Sat Feb 25, 2006 9:26 am

On 2006-02-25 08:38, darkrezin wrote:
Any reason why you're using DOS for this operation?

Do you need to format to FAT16 or something?

No, I want to wipe my hard drive and reduce it to just zeros and make any data on there irretrievable. I should state, that I am doing this only because it is possible to do and I am determined to know how to. Plus in future, should I sell my PC, for the sake of security I don't want anyone to retrieve any sensitive data (like credit card details) to be accessed. As you are no doubt aware, a simple format won't get rid of data that was on your hard drive.

Thanks for your response

[ This Message was edited by: Astral Fridge Magnet on 2006-02-25 09:29 ]

darkrezin · Post by **darkrezin** » Sat Feb 25, 2006 9:40 am

OK I see now. Still can't help with Gdisk I'm afraid (no inclination to revisit DOS here). However maybe there are more user-friendly tools available now specialized for this purpose?

Post by **garyb** » Sat Feb 25, 2006 10:16 am

the windows xp install disk does this adequately, no?

[ This Message was edited by: garyb on 2006-02-25 10:17 ]

Astral Fridge Magnet · Sat Feb 25, 2006 11:18 am

On 2006-02-25 10:16, garyb wrote:
the windows xp install disk does this adequately, no?

[ This Message was edited by: garyb on 2006-02-25 10:17 ]

Apparently not. A format doesn't get rid of data. It still remains on your drive and can be got at.

symbiote · Post by **symbiote** » Sat Feb 25, 2006 5:35 pm

Just do a full actual format, and not a quick format, and it should be fine.

Post by **garyb** » Sat Feb 25, 2006 7:32 pm

the xp disk WILL repartition your disk. that and a full format will erase everything.