Reformat Hard Drive

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  • blackcat4866
    Master Of The Obvious

    Site Contributor
    10,000+ Posts
    • Jul 2007
    • 22959
    #1

    Reformat Hard Drive

    I've been asked to assist with some end-of-lease Ricoh's that need to be returned to the leasing company with hard drives wiped.

    Models are: MP-C4500, MP-3500, AF3260, MP-161.
    I'm hoping this is a simple a an SP mode.
    What will it take? Will the machine still be usable?
    I need to quote labor time. Any rough idea?

    Thanks in advance. =^..^=
    If you'd like a serious answer to your request:
    1) demonstrate that you've read the manual
    2) demonstrate that you made some attempt to fix it.
    3) if you're going to ask about jams include the jam code.
    4) if you're going to ask about an error code include the error code.
    5) You are the person onsite. Only you can make observations.

    blackcat: Master Of The Obvious =^..^=
    Tags: 161, 350, 500, c450, c4500, company, pointers, pulled, ricoh, sp mode, time, usb
    • KenB
      Geek Extraordinaire

      2,500+ Posts
      • Dec 2007
      • 3945
      #2
      It all depends what you mean by "wiped".

      There is an HDD format SP mode, SP5832 that will simply erase the pointers, if that's good enough. If not, you'll need to remove the drives and wipe them with the utility of your choice.

      Of the machines you mentioned, there is a mix of 2.5" and 3.5" drives, all are IDE.

      In all probability, the MP161s won't have drives in them, but the 3260s have four of the little suckers, all 3.5". All can potentially contain data. (We checked this out some time ago.)

      Empty HDDs will not effect the machines' basic performance at all, so nothing would need to be reloaded to make them once again functional.

      Please feel free to PM if you need assistance.

      Thanks.
      “I think you should treat good friends like a fine wine. That’s why I keep mine locked up in the basement.” - Tim Hawkins

        Comment

        • rthonpm
          Field Supervisor

          2,500+ Posts
          • Aug 2007
          • 2847
          #3
          Generally what I've done is load the drives into a PC or laptop and boot to a CD image for BC Wipe. After a three pass wipe of the drive any data that's left deserves to be recovered.

            Comment

            • jonhiker
              Senior Tech

              500+ Posts
              • Apr 2010
              • 661
              #4
              if the machines that have hard dives don't have DOSS installed, then we have done the same as rthonpm. when the hard drives are re-installed, the machines have worked perfect.

                Comment

                • teebee1234
                  Service Manager

                  Site Contributor
                  1,000+ Posts
                  • Jul 2008
                  • 1670
                  #5
                  It sounds like these mfp's are already in your possesion, but if an mfp is still at an account and the customer is really concerned about it, you can just charge them for a replacement HDD(s) and remove and hand over before before the machine is picked up. We do this for quite a few accounts (mostly banks), fill out a HDD surrender form with HDD serial number/size, have them sign it and hand over the drive. Generally cost them a couple hundred bucks.

                    Comment

                    • blackcat4866
                      Master Of The Obvious

                      Site Contributor
                      10,000+ Posts
                      • Jul 2007
                      • 22959
                      #6
                      OK. So far, so good. I found BC Wipe 5.0, http://www.jetico.com/wiping-bcwipe/
                      What kind of interface do I need for the laptop (Dell, XP Prof.)? I've got an open card port (sorry, don't know the type).
                      Any idea about the time factor? How long, per drive?

                      Again, thanks for the quick answers. =^..^=
                      If you'd like a serious answer to your request:
                      1) demonstrate that you've read the manual
                      2) demonstrate that you made some attempt to fix it.
                      3) if you're going to ask about jams include the jam code.
                      4) if you're going to ask about an error code include the error code.
                      5) You are the person onsite. Only you can make observations.

                      blackcat: Master Of The Obvious =^..^=

                        Comment

                        • KenB
                          Geek Extraordinaire

                          2,500+ Posts
                          • Dec 2007
                          • 3945
                          #7
                          I use a USB to IDE adapter, which gives me the connectors for both the 2.5" and 3.5" drives.

                          Not exactly a Radio Shack item (at least i don't think), but you can usually get a good one online or at a well stocked computer store for $20 - $30.

                          As for how long it will take, that is purely a function of the size of the drive (normally 40GB), but way more importantly, the method which you choose to do the wiping.

                          Some methods may take 20 minutes, while others may need to run overnight (literally!)
                          “I think you should treat good friends like a fine wine. That’s why I keep mine locked up in the basement.” - Tim Hawkins

                            Comment

                            • blackcat4866
                              Master Of The Obvious

                              Site Contributor
                              10,000+ Posts
                              • Jul 2007
                              • 22959
                              #8
                              Thanks Ken. It appears that rthonpm is recommending the 3-pass method. I'm assuming that this means the utility overwrites the drive randomly three times. I guess I won't know until I try the first one.

                              The machines are all in a storage area at the customers location. there's only one AF3260, that's 4, + seven of the drives... Let's say 11 drives. Possibly a day's work? I can have the next drive pulled and ready to wipe in the 30 minutes ... I would think.
                              If you'd like a serious answer to your request:
                              1) demonstrate that you've read the manual
                              2) demonstrate that you made some attempt to fix it.
                              3) if you're going to ask about jams include the jam code.
                              4) if you're going to ask about an error code include the error code.
                              5) You are the person onsite. Only you can make observations.

                              blackcat: Master Of The Obvious =^..^=

                                Comment

                                • KenB
                                  Geek Extraordinaire

                                  2,500+ Posts
                                  • Dec 2007
                                  • 3945
                                  #9
                                  You're quite welcome.

                                  One day may be wishful thinking, though.

                                  Here's some food for thought: I've been buying refurbed 3.5" IDE 40GB drives for $14.99 each. The notebook size (2.5") drives are about $50 for an 80 GB. (The 20GB 3.5" ones are $7.99 each.)

                                  I normally wouldn't put a refurbed drive in a customer machine, but if it's only going back to the leasing company, it really wouldn't matter.
                                  “I think you should treat good friends like a fine wine. That’s why I keep mine locked up in the basement.” - Tim Hawkins

                                    Comment

                                    • teebee1234
                                      Service Manager

                                      Site Contributor
                                      1,000+ Posts
                                      • Jul 2008
                                      • 1670
                                      #10
                                      Here's one source for the USB to IDE/SATA adapters. I personally got the Rosewill brand, but there are a lot of choices.

                                      Newegg

                                      Rosewill adapter

                                      There are many free hdd wiping utilities out there, here is one... HDD Guru

                                      I'm with Ken on having a seed stock of pre-wiped drives on hand if you expect to do more in the future. Swap them out at your site and wipe the pulled ones at your leisure.
                                      Last edited by teebee1234; 06-04-2011, 04:20 AM.

                                        Comment

                                        • CT Copier Repair
                                          Trusted Tech

                                          250+ Posts
                                          • Mar 2010
                                          • 304
                                          #11
                                          Pulling them can be a problem if there is HIPPA or DOD or other HIGH PROFILE contents
                                          I wipe them at the customers site and show them they are clear. Also have them sign off that they are clean and have been WIPED
                                          Just your luck that confidential info gets passed ( at the watercooler) and you took the drive with you.
                                          I repalce the drive and destroy it ( a hammer owrks well and I got to add one to my toolcase) or let the customer do it ( they get a kick out of it usually) and then reinstall
                                          I charge my rate for my time. Its the same as a service call.

                                          PS BC
                                          the 8030 was the front door interlock you the man

                                          B

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