Is there a way to permanalty delete documents and histories so they cannot ever be read again?

Question

I am selling my old computer since I just got a new one. How can I be sure that all of my past documents I have saved and past website histories I looked at cannot be brought back to life after I have allready deleted them?
I have been told people can still acess them from the computer even if you have deleted them.

Answer 1

Deleting to the recycle bin does NOT remove the file. It only removes the name of the file from one of two FAT's, (File Allocation Table) and places the disk space size back into the "available" category. The second FAT is for data integrity purposes, i.e., restore and is not changed. Dumping the recycle bin doesn't remove the file either, only the name. These files on your disk can still be found using low level disk scanning software and law enforcement uses this technique to find info.

Any web activity is obtained and archived by your ISP to include ID's of any information routed to or from a location or person.

I hope your not trying to sell the system with any OS software on the drive. If you do then your stuck. The most sure way is to low level format your drives. This changes the physical - logical association on the drive and removes everything. Then replace the modem. This will change your system ID or ISP URL. For more information on low level formatting:
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/L/LLF.html

Hopefully you still have your source CD's for your Operating System. P.S. - LLF is done at the BIOS level on most systems but some drive manufacturers use a downloaded s/w package. Depends on the drive manufacturer. Regarding Jim R.'s comment; Each modem like your cell phone has a unique ID that is included with each session. If you CHANGE the modem it cannot be linked to any of your previous net activities. Open control panel, click system, click hardware manager, click modems, click properties, click diagnostics, click query modem, read AT results in panel below. Within that group is a unique modem ID number. Thanks for asking. Source = Air Communications, Tech Support Mgr, KW Out. PS - Kinder doesn't mean nicer, its germanic for children. Guess what I do now.

Answer 2

Removing the modem changes your Internet Service Provider Universal Resource Locater? What the hell are you talking about KW?

Answer 3

when you delete stuff they to the recycle bin where you can actually delete them permeletly, for your websites if you have aol their is something on the bottom right hand corner called windows click on that and their will be somthing called clear foot prints

Answer 4

I think no matter what that information is still in the computer....that's how law enforcement catches pedafiles and such...otherwise they would just delete files when they are being investigated.

Answer 5

Use a program called Eraser - the software is free.

http://www.heidi.ie

The program comes with a utility which will completely wipe out your old HD.

Answer 6

dont be so ignorant

if you deleted them, no one is going to buy your new computer, do a proffessional diskscan on the deleted harddrive partitions, and then check on what sites you've been on

Answer 7

there is to ideas to interpret what you stated and certain to both. I understand what people are particularly asserting (now and again). and that i do not forget that once someone says study between the traces with 3 palms they are flipping me off.

Answer 8

i believe after you delete them they go in the recycle bin but I'm not positive

Answer 9

Best thing to do is to format your computer, which is basically reinstalling your Windows.

Answer 10

reformat your hard drive.. that's the only way to get rid of everything permanently