How do I delete all the personal and private information on my laptop without messing with the Operation System, so the new owner can enter his own information?
2006-12-18 14:59:45 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Laptops & Notebooks
format and reinstall with the windows cd given when you bought it. (simple 2 hrs operation)
if you do not like the idea, just delete all your personal documents, files, videos, pictures etc. Then the cookies, the history of internet and delete yourself as a user and only leacve the admin user.
2006-12-18 15:03:23 · answer #1 · answered by DonGiovanni 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You can download software that will allow you to select the files you want to remove, then it will "securely" delete the files. While deleting a file doesn't really delete the file. The reference to the file is deleted, so Windows can't find the file any more. The file still exists on the hard drive. As you continue to use the computer, the file eventually gets overwritten by other files and eventually it is gone forever.
A good utility, or "hacker", and recover deleted files, even if they have been overwritten once or twice. To truely delete a file, it should be overwritten several times to override the magnetic memory of the media.
If you know what files you need to delete, a utility can delete the files to make sure they can never be recovered.
If you don't know what files you want deleted, or if they are too numerous or scattered to find them all, you can reformat the entire drive. But you still need to securely delete all the files before you reinstall Windows.
See the example link for an example of the type program you require.
2006-12-18 15:10:06 · answer #2 · answered by Troy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Reloading and reformatting will not do it. they only alter file extensions. You have to do a " Government Clean Sweep" What that does is writes all "0" and then repeats by writing all"1s"
Norton system works will do this as well as other software manufacturers. For the most part you are safe in just using the recovery disks or reformatting However that process only modifies or removes file extensions as I said. And they can be recovered using software and other techniques.
2006-12-18 15:21:24 · answer #3 · answered by Psycmixer 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hi.... if u want u r operating system as fresh owner first uninstall all u r softwares in ur OS. then u remove the users if it is not a administrator user. then use other third party softwares like system mechanic for clean the entire system.
2006-12-18 15:25:06 · answer #4 · answered by hemanth b 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most laptop has a Restore Disk if not, It's on the Hard Drive.
Just retore it back to factory state and you will be ok.
Dont use any Windows XP CD to restore it because it will wipe out everything and when it's done their are no Driver installed.
2006-12-18 15:06:17 · answer #5 · answered by Dr.Tech_Ph.D. 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If u have the operating system disk just format the harddrive and reload the operating system. Its the quickest way.... Theres no need to keep the operating system as it is if ur giving it away.
2006-12-18 15:02:37 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
just go through all the files and delete it all 1 by 1. thats all I can think of. but, i know a great place you can sell your laptop.
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/
or if you pefer "ebay"
2006-12-18 15:05:37 · answer #7 · answered by gotjkg 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Take it to a computer repair shop & they can "clean it" the
hard-drive for you. Call first and find out what they charge,
its about 20.00 for a desk-top hardrive if you remove it and
take it to them.
2006-12-18 15:04:20 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
formate c the re load windows
2006-12-18 15:01:41 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
just re-install windows or the os.
2006-12-18 15:01:34 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋