Hard Drive utility that writes zeros

Hi,,,,,,,,,,,,Does anyone know the name of the utility that wipes out all the info and overwrites 0's to the Hard Drive so I can start fresh and where can I find this utility to download and use on my other broke down computer?

 

The name of the utility you are looking for varies with each HD manufacturer. You'll need to go the website of the HD manufacturer to get the right one for you.
If you have a Western Digital drive, go here.

 

Hi Markp62m
I have a Hitachi Hard Drive. I guess I'll try Hitachi. Thanks

 

You are going to find out that is one hard thing to find. However, I found it for someone else on another thread.
http://www.hgst.com/hdd/support/download.htm

 

Hi,
Thank you for the link. What is the name of the utility that writes zero's. I went to the site and attempted to download a file but it was too large for a floppy> I am trying to get a fix I can download on a floppy to transfer to my broke computer. How can I do this?

What does it mean when all of asudden I can't boot up because the msgsrvr32 is giving an error and eliminates any further progress? I have tried reinstalling windows but it only gets so far and still won't boot. Do I have a virus???

 

If you got the Drive Fitness Test download and I believe that is one you want, the low level format included erases the disk completely.
A quote from the Hitachi webpage.
This download creates a self-booting DOS diskette to run the DFT utility.
Free F-Prot AV scan for dos

 

Hi Mark,
I tried to download the Drive Fitness Test to a floppy and it was too big for the floppy. I am trying to get it over to another computer that is goofed up.

 

I downloaded the file, and I now have a bootable Hitachi drive utility diskette, with 128 kb free. You need to double click the downloaded file [dft32_v350.exe] with a floppy in the drive, and then let it create the floppy for you, and then boot the ailing computer with it.

 

Mark,
I went to the site you linked me to and tried to download the DFT file on a floppy. The file is 2.14 MB large. I used a new floppy but could not get it to download the whole file. My floppies are IBM formatted 2SHD 1.44 MB

 

Hi blakston6286

I think you misunderstood markp62.
Download the 2.14mb DFT to your desktop.
Then put a floppy in the drive and double click the
DFT icon on your desktop.

 

Here's one that I have used a lot to wright zeros to a drive. "GWSCAN "

Although it is for gateway drives, I have used it on
Western Digital, Maxtor, and Quantum drives with no problems.

Boot the computer with the gwscan floppy and at the
A:\> prompt type gwscan and hit Enter

 

Picard got it right, the file wasn't meant to be copied onto the floppy as it is. The file creates the floppy for you. Then you take the created floppy and put it into the bad computer and boot the computer with it.

 

I donot understand what you mean by create a diskette.
I downloaded the file onto my wife's laptop. But how do I get it onto my computer? The file is much to big for my floppy.

 

Does your wife's laptop have a floppy disk drive.

 

Step by step instructions.

1. Put a floppy in the drive.
2. Double click the file.
3. It will appear as though it is a InstallShield program setup when running, this is normal and is how it should be.
4. Click on Next when prompted, will be needed to do this about three times.
5. Kick yourself when you see how easy it really is.
6. When done, take out floppy and take it to your computer and put it into the drive.
7. Turn on computer.
8. Wait while floppy boots the computer.
9. You will have a menu appear, choose ATA support using arrow keys.
10. DFT utility will then be loaded along with mouse support, allowing you to choose Erase Disk [write zero's].

 

Thank you for the step by step instructions.
You're right,,,,,,,,,it is simple but it is something I had never done before. I had no idea what this type of download was, I have always either downloaded straight to my machine or onto a floppy to use later on another machine. I did not know this function existed till now. I thought if I opened the download it would start running a process on my wife's laptop and I would mess up her computer and be left with nothing.
Thanks again for the utility.

 

I hope all turns well with the drive. I do understand the apprehension that you had.