Glary Utilities (freeware version) has a wipe/file shredder feature under the ‘Privacy & Security’ tab.
Find out what brand the hard drive is and go to the manufacturer’s web site. They should have a freely available tool for performing a low level format. That is a bit-by-bit erasure and 0 wipe of the drive. The drive must then be partitioned and formatted. Performing those steps would erase the drive so well that all but the most savvy computer geek in the NSA or some other area like that would be at a loss to find anything of use on it afterward. Otherwise there are several tools you can download like live CDs (I believe BartPE includes several LLF utilities). Most manufacturer’s LLF utilities will include a partitioning and formatting tool as well as the LLF tool and are generally bootable images (iso files you can burn to a CD or DVD with readily available freeware like IMGBurn).
I agree with those that state purchase a new hard drive and let him keep/destroy his hard drive. It is fairly simple to replace one.
Just make sure he provides you with the operating system so you can re-install the software!
What ever happened to good old wipedisk from the DOS days?
there is a freeware/shareware program called CC Cleaner that will do a high-level scrub of the drive (though not to NSA standards), and after you re-install Windows and add your own programs and data, it should be secure.
You can download the program here:
www.piriform.com/ccleaner
NB: I have no association with the software developer but I do use the program on my computers.
Before you wipe it, make sure you have the CD to reinstall your operating system (or install a new one).
Also, a program like Driver Magician (http://www.drivermagician.com/) can archive all your device drivers to a CD or USB stick, letting you restore them after you’ve wiped the OS and reinstalled. (If your machine contains any components NOT covered by your OS’s default driver library, or if your OS install can’t recognize some component, this can save you a lot of guess-and-error after a reinstall.)
The Belarc Advisor (http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html) is also useful to generate an inventory of all your hardware. Print out the list before wiping and it will guide you in putting Humpty Dumpty back together again.
Another vote for DBAN. Download the ISO, burn it to CD, and boot the computer from it. If you run the standard DoD wipe, the data will be GONE. Even the CIA/FBI/NSA can’t recover it (this is the same wipe the military uses when disposing of old hardware). It’s one of the few options that civilians have for full drive wipes that actually works, and may be the only one that’s free.
Be aware that DBAN is sloooow though. I’ve used it many times when disposing of old hardware, and it seems to run about 5-10 minutes per gigabyte. Wiping a modern, high capacity drive can take DAYS. I usually just stick the computer in a corner, fire it up with DBAN, and check it every few hours to see if it’s done.
Get a rare earth magnet and run it over the hard drive for a few minutes.
I guarentee there will be nothing left on that drive.
I bought a new laptop at WallyWorld for $300. It had a 160gig HD in it. I wanted more so I bought a 500 gig on Ebay with a larger cache and a faster spin speed,( 7200rpm vs 5400) for $49. You remove 1 or 2 screws and remove drive and hand it to him and say thanks. Ask him for the restoral disks if he has them for the drivers or if you don’t own an operating system disk. If he is willing to give it away, I can almost assure you that the disk will be smaller than what most people use today. The whole deal would cost $50. Not bad.
Darik’s Boot And Nuke works every time full instructions at the website.
Sorry I just noticed this video it will take you thru this step by step!
http://www.irongeek.com/i.php?page=videos/using-dban-to-wipe-a-drive
A different suggestion:
1. Investigate Linux, search terms for popular distributions:
Ubuntu
Mint
2. Download (for free) onto a CD (not DVD); CDs are cheaper; the operating system itself is free per a public license. The various distributions have many programs that are also free and mimic what you are used to on Windows.
3. Run the operating drive as a test from the CD/DVD player. It is a free version. See if you like it. You don’t have to install it but you can if you wish.
4. Give the donor back his hard drive, the ultimate security action.
5. Install a new hard drive of your own and format.
6. If you want a cheap, cheap version of a solid state hard drive (electronic, NOT a rotational disk) let me know and I will give instructions for a simple, cheap solid state drive.
You would be surprised how well it all works and how cheaply it can be accomplished. But it takes a few hours, but not more than that.
Good Luck.
Most laptops come with recovery cds or have a recovery option during bootup that allow you to return the laptop to its factory restored state.
Does your friend have those cd’s? If so, you can have all of his stuff off of it and have a laptop that runs exactly the way it did when he purchased it within about 30 minutes for no additional cost.
Here, you can have this one.
Remington Wingmaster.
Hire a nephew or a drunken neighbor (for more fun) to chuck ‘em into the sky when you yell PULL.
Another option is Knoppix. Boot it up on the CD, open a terminal, and run the "wipe" command on the main drive. It'll wipe it enough that most people won't even try to recover any data.
Barring those two options, I'd suggest taking a Windows disc to the computer and your friend, and re-installing Windows on top of what you have. The install program should take care of everything for you.