external hdd usb doc

**TheRecycleGuy** · 12-31-2014, 12:51 PM

I see about 10 not so bad or badly priced external 2.5 3.5 sata docs to dod disc whipe. Any hints on a favorite?. Sata only or one that has ide and sata slots.

**matador** · 12-31-2014, 01:02 PM

I use Parted Magic. It'll wipe, and do a whole lot more.

I'd recommend having a separate machine to do wiping- I'm a little afraid of wiping over my own drive. That would stink!

Any machine with 1GB of RAM or more will work fine. I use an old eMachines with a Celeron, and it does just fine.

It'll work with your external reader, or internal drives.

For the $15, I think it's well worth it.

**TheRecycleGuy** · 12-31-2014, 01:53 PM

cool. i have the program and extra computer but wanted an external reader.

**RichMann** · 12-31-2014, 02:00 PM

This is the one I use:

eSATA USB to SATA HDD Docking Station | HDD Docking Stations | StarTech.com

I love it.

**foobar** · 12-31-2014, 06:49 PM

When using a usb adaptor for hard drives, whar do you use to test the drives? the software I normally use requires internal drives. Another question, do the hotswap disk adaptors treat the disks like internal disks?

**bcrepurposing** · 12-31-2014, 09:57 PM

boot a live linux distro on working machine with out drive with that. use that to test and format. no worrys about viruses then as when you power off nothings stored and it will let you see drive contents even if windows or other os install is broken. also no worrys about wrong drive being formatted.

ubuntu is slower and requires 512mb ram but is more newbie friendly. otherwise dsl or puppy load in 30 seconds on p2 with 64-128mb ram. format speeds vary by specs and drive size.

**matador** · 01-03-2015, 06:12 PM

I'd stick with a Ubuntu-based distribution for the sake of package availability. Puppy is nice and light, but a little harder for me to work with.

Xubuntu is what I like. All the Ubuntu packages, and it'll run just fine on a Pentium 4 machine.

**TheRecycleGuy** · 01-03-2015, 07:02 PM

thanks for the advice on products. im running dbans boot n nuke. dod short works. using an extra pc small form dell with side open for now

**PartTimeScrapper** · 01-04-2015, 12:00 PM

I use this 4-Bay Hard Drive Docking Station - USB 3.0 | eSATA | StarTech.com And media tools wipe. I can do up to 18 drives at a time with that program.

**bcrepurposing** · 01-04-2015, 01:07 PM

Originally Posted by matador

I'd stick with a Ubuntu-based distribution for the sake of package availability. Puppy is nice and light, but a little harder for me to work with.

Xubuntu is what I like. All the Ubuntu packages, and it'll run just fine on a Pentium 4 machine.

Agreed on *buntu being friendlier. I preffer xubuntu over other *buntu flavors as well. Faster more stable and no frills you dont need. Also has more administration tools.Plus more secure as it is intended more as server than home user. Though you can harden any of them to the same by installing proper packages

For old stuff i use **** small linux (dsl) and it provides all admin and testing tools required. Can be harder to get driver packages for oddball parts though. Will boot on anything though definately has very little frills. I use it for speed and light requirements. I can be done testing by the time *buntu loads to usable in many cases with an older nachine.