The tool I have actually goes sector by sector and re-writes them with 1's or 0's. (depending on the level of wipe you choose) .. it's pretty cool </font>[/QUOTE]What program is that? </font>[/QUOTE]Thbe program ZAP.EXE from IBM works quite well.

http://www.digitalissues.co.uk/html/...-wipe-zap.html &lt;&lt; gives info on it

 

it wouldn't, from my memory, only thing a full format does over a quick is scan for bad sectors on the disc.

 

Hrm.. I don't mean any offence, but you must not have done it properly.

Oh... and **** can still be recovered from a full format

I've got a special tool at work that completely over writes everything.

All that formatting does is reset all the sectors to say that they are writable/usable again. The data is still there, just waiting to be written over.

The tool I have actually goes sector by sector and re-writes them with 1's or 0's. (depending on the level of wipe you choose) .. it's pretty cool </font>[/QUOTE]Cant really screw up a format lol, all I member was it wouldnt accept my xp key no matter how many times I tried it which my original issue to begin with it basically dropped my xp key always wanting me to enter it then wouldn't let me do anything. After the full format for some screwy reason everything started working fine accepted my xp key which is legit came with my Dell system so not sure why it worked with teh Full over the quick but it did.. now granted I prefer quick format cause it takes forever to full format a 120 gig drive... I've done low level formats before and there damn slow!

 

Isn't low level format essentially the same thing?

 

Bah ah well my stupid problems I ran into make me look like a foo lol.....

 

Thanks guys.

I installed/ran the programs you suggested and I guess they helped, but didn't solve the problem. Now apparently I have about 8 malicious scripts that I need to stop every time I start the computer and every now and then I keep getting a "windows file protection box" that comes up, says that some files have been replaced and I need to put in my xp cd. I do that and it doesn't do anything, just takes me to where it would if I just put the cd in normally.

Looks like a virus(s) is my problem. I have Norton, lotta good that did apparently. For instance, my home page is now changed, I can change it back, but after I exit and try again it goes back to this new page. There are continually a bunch of **** sites added to my bookmarks as well.

I don't really have anything I care about backing up. A few music files, but I have those on cd anyways. I haven't checked out those tutorial sites yet, but I will tomorrow hopefully. I do have my xp cd and a cd with Outlook and Explorer (which is all I really use except winamp), so I guess I'm gonna try formatting after I read through those sites. Can I backup my "favourites" list somehow, or do I have to just write down the URL's for later?

 

yep.. If ur using I.E 6 click on FILE, the import/export and select ur favorites.. then format the bitch that will clean it up.

 

Low level format just writes them all over with 0's.

This program does 3 steps. All 0's, all 1's, all 0's again.

AFAIK people can STILL get info off of a drive that has been low-level formatted. I doubt they'd do it for a personal PC. But for goverment stuff. (like tax payers info) we can't even have that .00001% chance [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]

 

well I don't think I can get my hands on a rcmp program lol

 

Stupid question.. what is AFAIK? lol