What's the best way to erase all your personal data from an old PC before you donate it or recycle it?

Answer 1

Use Secure Harddisk Eraser to complete erase a harddrive. Read the primer below:

When selling your old computer you rarely want the buyer to get access to your old data. Even if you format your harddisk it is often possible to recover data. Most erasure utilites will only erase the directory information, so the actual data is still on the harddisk.

To erase the harddisk you can just overwrite the whole harddisk with zeroes. But even this is not enough: With some special hardware it is possible to determine what was written before.

So what you need to do is overwrite the whole harddisk several times with different patterns. Peter Gutmann recomends 35 passes with different patterns. The DoD 5220.22-M NISPOM recomends 3 passes.

Secure Harddisk Eraser implements these 35 or 3 passes on a single floppy. Just boot from the floppy, wait 60 seconds and the harddisk will start to erase. When the erasure is done the computer will beep every second. This makes it possible to erase computers without having a monitor attached. To make sure the erasure is succesful you should try rebooting the machine.

Get the software in the How to get started section http://www.linux-kurser.dk/secure_harddisk_eraser.html

Answer 2

Destroying the hard drive is the safest way. Reformatting does not erase the information, only the addresses where it's stored. Someone who knows how to retrieve the data can still do so.

Once you remove the hard drive you can run a strong magnet over it.

Answer 3

You need to remove and destroy or keep the hard disk drive. Anything else leaves data traces on the hard disk that can be read if someone is determined enough. The hard disk is the only part of the computer that stores such information, so removing it makes the computer completely safe to pass on. A new disk drive is quite inexpensive for the new owner to install.

Answer 4

download and burn the .iso document to a CD for a software referred to as Dban and boot the computer. it is a secure puzzling pressure erase and wipe software. once finished you'll want to format the pressure and installation the abode windows decrease back on the computer. utilising the generating facility Default restore will go back the computer decrease back to the way it became once to procure it and must be very well. typical pc consumers do not have the comprehend-how or skills to get guidance decrease back,so this must be particularly secure. I artwork on pcs, I have classes human beings don't have and some that would want to not be down loaded any more effective.

Answer 5

Three things come to mind
1 - Dynomite (A little expensive and messy)
2 - A sledge hammer (Very exhausting but theraputic)
3 - Drill holes in the hard drive (Guaranteed way)

Answer 6

Reformat the hard drive. Use the system disks you got with your computer to delete & reinstall the operating system. this will wipe all of your data from the hard drive. be sure to save to disk anything you will need for your new computer!

Answer 7

I agree with selfrob in his answer. I have always removed the hard drive before getting rid of any computer. I put it in a fire first before pitching it.

Answer 8

I always smash the hard drive. It is the only absolute sure way to make sure all the info is gone.

Answer 9

find a fairly strong magnet and attach or rub it across your hard drive, reboot to make sure it erased everything, if not, cremation is another option.

Answer 10

Remove harddrive, smash harddrive with hammer into little pieces.
That would be the safest way.