Will inserting my recovery disc enough to...delete previous data?

Question

i will sell my PC.how do i permanently erase all sensitive data from the hard disk, leaving no readable trace?

Answer 1

when you use your recovery disk, you should have an option to format your computer and get rid of all data. have a go and see!

Answer 2

Unless you have state secrets on your computer, a low level format of the drive should really be enough. Make a boot disk in Windows and boot to DOS with that.

Then run FDISK and delete any active partitions. Reboot with the boot disk in, and do an unconditional format.

a:\> format c: /u

then run your recovery disks.

This will get rid of any info you have and make it very difficult for most people to EVER recover any data. (Most people being: not computer geeks with a ton of time, or people in the IT industry.)

If you are REALLY worried about data try this:

http://dban.sourceforge.net/

Answer 3

First copy all your important data and files to a CD (by burning) then format or delete all your data/files. Sell your computer only with the operating system. If you don't have cd writer, you have to take it to a computer stores to do it.

Answer 4

The above, and also be sure to delete system restore files, as they will hold protected files that software may overlook.
Good luck!
~Because sometimes it is rocket science.~

Answer 5

You need to use a security software package that will delete all files with no chance of recovery.

A free software http://www.analogx.com/contents/download/system/shred.htm
will make sure that no one can recover your sensitive data.