From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Received: from pigeon.gentoo.org ([208.92.234.80] helo=lists.gentoo.org) by finch.gentoo.org with esmtp (Exim 4.60) (envelope-from ) id 1NLoUp-0006ZK-Kp for garchives@archives.gentoo.org; Sat, 19 Dec 2009 01:52:39 +0000 Received: from pigeon.gentoo.org (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by pigeon.gentoo.org (Postfix) with SMTP id C0C74E06A1; Sat, 19 Dec 2009 01:51:47 +0000 (UTC) Received: from eastrmmtao102.cox.net (eastrmmtao102.cox.net [68.230.240.8]) by pigeon.gentoo.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 9192AE06A1 for ; Sat, 19 Dec 2009 01:51:47 +0000 (UTC) Received: from eastrmimpo02.cox.net ([68.1.16.120]) by eastrmmtao102.cox.net (InterMail vM.8.00.01.00 201-2244-105-20090324) with ESMTP id <20091219015147.GRLK13474.eastrmmtao102.cox.net@eastrmimpo02.cox.net> for ; Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:51:47 -0500 Received: from [192.168.1.100] ([68.226.67.252]) by eastrmimpo02.cox.net with bizsmtp id Jprn1d0035Sa0uU02prnJp; Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:51:47 -0500 X-VR-Score: -120.00 X-Authority-Analysis: v=1.1 cv=463f1N2YpqHLOamhbp4wF7Njg/30QkdnTZ27hYvsP6Y= c=1 sm=1 a=6hKO7bgv8RoA:10 a=w8vW1BtY9Kn2S3BlLC7G9Q==:17 a=xO2Gt1DLAUwhHkv0-x0A:9 a=Wwgfyoh1Dvqq-tI1uqkZgF8SPAMA:4 a=w8vW1BtY9Kn2S3BlLC7G9Q==:117 X-CM-Score: 0.00 Message-ID: <4B2C3187.7060701@cox.net> Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:51:03 -0500 From: Marcus Wanner User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.9.1.5) Gecko/20091204 Thunderbird/3.0 Precedence: bulk List-Post: List-Help: List-Unsubscribe: List-Subscribe: List-Id: Gentoo Linux mail X-BeenThere: gentoo-user@lists.gentoo.org Reply-to: gentoo-user@lists.gentoo.org MIME-Version: 1.0 To: gentoo-user@lists.gentoo.org Subject: Re: [gentoo-user] {OT} Preparing a laptop for sale References: <49bf44f10912161049v3768a3f8m60dddbae4b8777b@mail.gmail.com> <15719e8b0912161154o6f634c9bk6b1f9e3f9204ac20@mail.gmail.com> <49bf44f10912180908x6fa39920k7048c718a16a018b@mail.gmail.com> <49bf44f10912181505h7993994h4bf342380654dbf6@mail.gmail.com> In-Reply-To: <49bf44f10912181505h7993994h4bf342380654dbf6@mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Archives-Salt: bad91f3f-4d9d-404d-a7fa-00be3b40f048 X-Archives-Hash: 2f2f2f71f7a5d605093dc181b92e6244 On 12/18/2009 6:05 PM, Grant wrote: >>>> dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sda (or what ever) >>>> >>> After reading over all the info here, I think I'm going to go with dd >>> since the data isn't too sensitive. >>> >>> I created a "9.1_Live_x64" USB key with unetbootin, but the laptop >>> won't boot to it. I have another 512MB USB key that it boots to just >>> fine. Could my 8GB key be non-bootable? The laptop's CD drive isn't >>> working so I need another way to install an easy copy of Linux after I >>> dd. >>> >>> - Grant >>> >> I've dealt with many systems that flatly refuse to boot from *some* >> usb keys but not from others.. and some even vary based on what's >> being booted into on those usb keys. >> > I used unetbootin to install Damn Small Linux on the 512MB bootable > USB key, and I'm booted into it. /dev/sda is my HD, and I'm running: > > dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sda > > The USB LED is blinking rapidly, but the HD LED is showing no > activity. Is there any way to tell if the HD is being wiped? > The hdd IS being wiped, if you have the right device (which you do, don't worry!). However, I would recommend running with if=/dev/urandom as that will overwrite it with random bits instead of just zero. However, since it's already being done with zeros and a hard drive would usually be sold with all bits set to zero, I think what you are doing will be fine. Marcus