Can any one suggest a tool to erase everything off the hard drive I am replacing?

Low level format (aka writing zeros) the drive using the utility from the hard drive sites.

If it's a Maxtor hard drive then use there tool to low level format and if it's western digital then use there utilities, etc.

Using a 3rd party utility or using Maxtors utility on Western digital hard drive will void the warranty and could damage the hard drive.

You might want to take a look at this too, depending on how thorough you want the "erase" it ;)

*http://www.geocities.com/thestarman3/asm/mbr/WIPE.html

Got some good links there ;)

Hope this helps some :)

/JD

I have ereased one two weeks ago before returning it with the Maxtor drive utility ;)

Thanks guys- I think I've got it sussed out now

Acronis for me, just did the German standard clean last week, lovely piece of softy......infact I am starting to use more of there stuff, now use there True image delux version, again marvellous......and you wont hear me say that very often ;)