The myth of a DOS FORMAT C:/ command...
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Hopefully to help rather than confuse the erase data talk just done.
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Data on 3 inch floppies that held personal data are rarely obtained
by others that obtain a used pc, but if they did, and you deleted
the personal files using a delete command or even a re- FORMAT'ing
of the floppy and then put onto the floppy non personal programs
to stay with the pc to be given to another person, then it is as
PMS Witch, gottfried, thecow and others have mentioned, access to the data
may still be recoverable and read eventhought one cannot actually
read it using everyday simple methods we all use.
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For example, i could make an exact bit-by-bit copy of the floppie
and if only simple deletes or a quick format was done,
i could recover old data.
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It all depends if those magnetic bits that can be either a one or zero
are changed by the FORMAT command, as sometimes as PMS Witch mentioned,
only the address to where the data is stored is changed, and programs
are available to read the floppie's data without using those addresses
which were knowed by you as directory and file names.
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I have a question:
I don't have the latest pc and have not used a CD except in reading.
Can a read-write CD be re-formatted like old floppies?
If so then i'am guessing the same observations made are applicable.
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Below are the DOS 5.0 commands, and i hacked them up just to demo them.
For those that use them a reading of the DOS/Windows User Manual
is time well spent to glance at the few pages they are discussed.
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Note that the FDISK command is a different beast, and dangerous,
but it does allows running patterns on your hard drive that will
physically overwrite your data. I'am guessing that some of the
programs mentioned as freeware or shareware will do this without
a shutdown of your Windows and DOS, and just allow you to identify
certain directories and files to really-really be erased, this way
your harddrive can still be bootable with Windows running for the
next person to obtain your pc, like your children or parents.
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Hopefully i'am correct about the FDISK usage as ok to erase
the harddrive completely to allow strangers to obtain it,
but if not then it time for me to learn something.
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If one wanted to give your pc to another and have Windows running,
then if you have the Windows setup on disks and are willing to
reinstall it, or have the other person, then i'am thinking that
the FDISK done will be a safe method for a transfer of the pc.
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FORMAT - Formats a disk for use with MS-DOS.
-- Without any switches
/Q Performs a quick format.
/U Performs an unconditional format.
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RECOVER - Recovers information from a bad or defective disk.
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UNFORMAT - Restores a disk erased by the FORMAT command
or restructured by the RECOVER command.
/TEST Displays information but does not write changes to disk.
/PARTN Restores disk partition tables.
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FDISK - Configures a hard disk for use with MS-DOS
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D:oug |
