>>You could always format your hard drive, then re-install the OS.
Make sure you have drivers on hand if needed.
Nope, reformatting doesn't necessarily do it either (not
even full reformat). Writing zeros to the disk does.
Full security validation requires writing zeros multiple
times, which I admit I've often though was fairly silly,
but I guess it depends on how sure you have to be.
I haven't kept up with this stuff lately, but earlier answers
are correct (to my knowledge). Norton will do it; various
disk-wipe utilities will do it. Seems to me that DOS used
to do it, though that's very vague in my head (lots of things
are vague in my head <g>).
I would also check the
drive manufacturers web page(s) and/or call their tech
support numbers and ask. It is definitely possible to
recover data from hard disks if it has not been overwritten,
almost no matter what else you do. There are companies
which do it for their major revenues, and they are VERY
good at it (expensive, but good at it).
Writing files till the disk is full isn't a guarantee
either, though it would probably be effective except
for the most sensitive data. Chances are little would
be left, but probably some would, here and there.
Conceivably large amounts in certain circumstances.
(Example: You delete file; OS claims file for swap
space but doesn't write in it. File space is allocated
but not deleted. Writing new files will not overwrite.
This is ONLY an example; there are many other
possibilites.)
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