[CentOS] How to remove a Trash folder from a mounted ntfs partition

[John R Pierce]

On 10/21/11 8:24 AM, James B. Byrne wrote:
> I have a HDD from a laptop that is being returned for
> repair replacement.  I wish to remove certain files before
> sending the laptop back with the HDD.

boot a Linux rescue USB or CD to a shell prompt

   dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sda bs=65536

this will as quickly as possible zero the entire disk, effectively 
erasing all files.   with modern disks, a single pass of zeros is about 
as good as it gets, the old multipass secure "DOD" erasure was designed 
for antique disks that had bits the size of sand grains.   even this 
fast single pass of zeros will take an hour or so to wipe 300gb.

or, if you've connected this disk to a linux PC with a USB adapter or 
whatever, do the same command, replacing sda with the correct physical 
drive (no partition numbers)



-- 
john r pierce                            N 37, W 122
santa cruz ca                         mid-left coast