How do I clean up my hard disk before passing on my lap top to someone else?

Answer 1

You think you are passing your laptop to someone you know now but eventually (after that person give to someone else and so on), it may get to someone (stolen or ebay collector that want to connect personal data) that want to steal data.

To truly erase data, you need to write over it. Simply deleting files or reformatting the drive won't do. Luckily, plenty of free and inexpensive wipe programs (also known as shredders) can cover the data with zeroes or random patterns, making it unreadable by data-restoration software.

Some machines can recover data that's been written over only one or two times, however. That's where secure delete standards, such as the Department of Defense 5220.22-M, come in. According to this specification, overwriting the drive sectors three times with specific, different characters constitutes one pass. Many experts recommend seven such passes to render the data completely unrecoverable. But reading data that has been overwritten by even the simplest shredders requires expensive hardware, so unless you're worried about professional sleuths, such thorough overwriting probably isn't necessary.

Keep in mind that deleting just the sensitive files may not protect you fully. Unidentified copies of those files could exist in "unused" parts of your hard drive, or in your swap file, among other possible locations. It's a good idea to wipe these areas of your drive as well--or go the surefire route and wipe your entire hard drive.

You can download a 'Heavy Scrub' from here. Remember over the disk three times or more.
Hard Disk Scrub (in the other files section)
http://www.summitcn.com/download.html

To wipe the entire drive, I recommend LSoft Technologies' free Active@ KillDisk
Download the free version here
http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,22920-order,1-page,1-c,alldownloads/description.html#
This program conforms to US Department of Defense's standards (5220.22-M) for clearing and sanitizing standard sensitive information.

Answer 2

Best option would be to format it.

Alternatively you should:

- Remove all applications you don't want to keep
- Remove all your personal files and files saved by applications (the might not necessarily be in the My Documents folder)
- Reset options in your applications so that any data / information relating to your use is not available (eg. browsing history in Internet Explorer)
- Run anti-virus and anti-spyware software to ensure your system is clean and healthy
- Empty your re-cycle bin

There are utilities (some are free) that do most of the above for you, but you're better off formatting your HD.

Also, bear in mind that there are programs that can 'undelete' files. Again, you can download programs that ensure that this will not be possible.

Answer 3

You can mess with all the programs you want. As for me, when I dump or sell my PC, the hard drive will be literally, physically destroyed. The buyer shouldn't mind because a new one doesn't cost that much. I could also make an allowance for this in the sale price. It will be worth my peace of mind.

Answer 4

Is it the Bios password or the OS password? If it asks for a bypass proper once you turn it on, then it really is the bios password. If it asks for a bypass after it has booted up and is in living house windows (or w/e OS you've) then it really is the OS password. you could reset the bios password by skill of disposing of the CMOS battery and letting the potential deplete. Google a thanks to attempt this. If it really is the OS password, attempt only urgent enter (often times you will get right into a default account) or you would prefer to reinstall the OS thoroughly if the computing device is secure by skill of a password you do not have.

Answer 5

before doing the below...backup /copy out all the stuff you need...then.
1. find your restore cd...win xp disk etc which came with the laptop-put that aside first
2. format your harddisk
3. if you are extra kiasu ..download some low level format ...utilities which will ensure data destruction...Eraser is a s/w you can d/l from download.com
4. put in you quick restore cd and bring back your laptop from the dead..just like when you first got it from the store or install win xp from scratch

Answer 6

Uninstall everything using your default Add/Remove service for your OS. Then backup and delete any personal files you have on the hard drive. Do not forget to give the OS disc that came with the laptop to the person you are giving it to.

Answer 7

Siempre he comprado en los sitios web hard disks de buena calidad, y siempre acabo llenándolas así que al final me he decidido compra un hard disk con una gran cantidad de almacenamiento, de una marca que ya conozco muy bien he encontrado un hard disk bastante grande a un precio sin rival, la compra ha valido la pena porque aunque es grande tiene una excelente velocidad de respuesta, una excelente compra.

Answer 8

Nowadays people remove the hard drive and destroy it. Either you can buy a new hard drive before passing it on or have the person buy one.

Answer 9

For data obliteration, try Eraser, free from:
http://www.heidi.ie/

Answer 10

c:\format c: