HDD Sector Software

[CraigS2S]

Hi guys & girls,

New here so apologize in advance if this has been posted elsewhere and I haven't yet found it...

I am looking for a piece of software that will be able to check the HDD sectors and make sure they have been wiped, I am currently using CESG approved data erasure software which guarantees the wipes on the drives that pass.

Something I am looking at doing is randomly spot checking drives after erasure.

I can use software to view the sectors but unsure on anything that will quickly show if it is wiped or not. It also has to be able to print/export the information it provides.

Kind Regards

Craig

[MattM]

This may be something you are interested in.

http://destructdata.com/validator-verif ... -tool.html

[Dmitri]

I am looking for a piece of software that will be able to check the HDD sectors and make sure they have been wiped, I am currently using CESG approved data erasure software which guarantees the wipes on the drives that pass.

A lot depends on what pattern has been used to overwrite the data.

The most basic approach appears to me as follows:

1. If that's some flat pattern, like FFs or zeros, then install WinHex, open the hex search tool and enter e.g. !00 for zeros.

2. If drives are being filled with random data, then download some credible data recovery software like UFS Explorer and perform a scan.

To speed the things up you can define regions to search/scan.

[CraigS2S]

@ MattM, I have had a look at the validator previously, Im looking for something that I can export and keep on my database for CESG guidlines.

@ Dmitri, The software writes 2 random letters, the same 2 to every sector such as "AD" "BA".....so on and so forth. I will have a look at WinHex tomorrow.

Another quick question, I have a spare laptop with an eSata port, I have a cable to directly connect a 2.5" sata drive data and power which is fine, would this work for a 3.5" or would I need another power source?

Thank you for all the replies.

[MattM]

Validator logs all certifications and you can then obtain them via USB.

If you are asking if the power connection for 2.5" and 3.5" SATA is different, then no, they are not.

[CraigS2S]

I know the connector is the same I was wondering if the current draw would change, and if the eSata port would support it.

[ici_lemmy]

I would find an external power with a sata output (or molex output with sata/molex adapter) and only use the data part of eSata.

[Dmitri]

The software writes 2 random letters, the same 2 to every sector such as "AD" "BA".....so on and so forth. I will have a look at WinHex tomorrow.

The idea with WH above will not work "as is" then, it's suitable for completely flat pattern only, e.g. 00 00 00 ... everywhere.

So probably UFS Explorer will be a better idea, though if you know that software does not fill sectors with zeros, then you can search with WinHex for 00 instead.