how to get rid of old info on an old computer u no longer want?

Answer 1

the best thing to do is to take out your hard disk out.

Answer 2

*Select software to wipe your hard drive clean
Is it impossible to retrieve your information afterwards? Not 100 percent, but Lum says that unless the CIA is after you, you should be in the clear after using one of these disk-erasing tools that are available for download online:

• Active@ Kill Disk: This free hard-drive eraser overwrites data using zeros. You can upgrade to the professional version that conforms to the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) standards.

• Eraser: Eraser is a free download that boasts a simple user interface and top reviews from a number of popular computing Web sites and magazines.

• Softpedia/DP Wiper: IT consultant Daniel Gresser recommends freeware programs from Softpedia, like DP Wiper, which overwrites in from one to 35 passes and has DOD-compliant wiping.

• WipeDrive: For U.S.$39.95, WipeDrive overwrites your data as many times as you like and runs a verification test.

• SuperScrubber: Mac users can try SuperScrubber for U.S.$29 to $49, which also boasts DOD compliance and an intuitive interface.


"Always keep a record of where all important files are stored," says Gresser, who recommends deleting each file by dropping it into DP Wiper and selecting the kind of wipe required.

Unless you take the hard drive out and keep it, to get a PC ready for sale, Gresser suggests that PC users delete the following using DP Wipe or a similar program:

• Everything in the My Documents folder.

• All temporary Internet files.

• All cookies.

• All files relating to personal and financial matters that may have been stored in folders other than My Documents.

• All e-mail: Outlook Express users need to search for and delete .dbx files and Outlook users need to search for and delete .pst files. This will send them to the recycle bin for secure deletion. Also, remember to remove all e-mail account settings and passwords.


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Reinstall your operating system to overwrite files
Your operating system's installation CD should allow you to simultaneously reinstall and clear your hard drive. Lum says this should be enough to prevent the average person from obtaining personal information from your hard drive. However, he says he's managed to salvage data from computers using third-party software even after an operating system was reinstalled.

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Protect information on your work computer
You'll also want to think about personal information on your work computer when it's time to move on to a new job. You can't wipe the hard drive since the computer isn't your property, but you can make it somewhat harder to find sensitive information by deleting personal e-mails, clearing your Web browser's cache and history, deleting any personal files on your hard drive, and emptying your trash or recycle bin.

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Playing it safe
Still concerned? Don't dispose of your hard drive. "The bottom line is, if you're really concerned about identity theft, then don't give away your hard drive," says Lum.

Gresser also recommends taking some preventative measures when you set up your new computer. "One thing people can do to make disposing of PCs with sensitive data easier down the road is to encrypt their data as soon as they get a new PC or hard disk," he says. "If strong encryption is used, then you can format the drive and dispose of it with the computer. Someone who wanted to retrieve the data would first have to undelete the data and then try to break the encryption, which is not going to happen." He suggests using BestCrypt from Jetico to encrypt your documents.

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Article written by Alyson Munroe and adapted from an original piece from Microsoft Home Magazine. *

Answer 3

i would advise getting something like drive scrubber that will delete data making it totally unrecoverable.
http://www.iolo.com/ds/
for the download.

Answer 4

format using eraser

Answer 5

simple hit delete

Answer 6

Simply reformat it.

Answer 7

format it, format it, format it