I am looking at selling my computer , but i want to make sure that i get all information off it so no one can steal my idenity. I would like to do this without buying and software. Someone told me to just crash my computer but i'm not sure if that will work or not and i don't know how to do that.
any ideas?
2007-01-29 08:26:22 · 7 answers · asked by Bob J 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Other - Computers
format your hard drive
2007-01-29 08:34:37 · answer #1 · answered by Barry 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depending on how securely you want to get rid of the data.
The best way is to use a program that will randomly write over all sectors of the hard drive several times
Something like Darik's Boot and Nuke from: http://dban.sourceforge.net/
This will destroy ALL information on the hard drive including the Operating System. If you want to sell it without an operating system this is the way to go.
If you want to sell an operating computer, you can then re-install windows and be safe.
An easier way but not quite as safe is to use the recovery CD or Windows Install CD and do a format before reinstalling the Operating System. After it is installed do a defrag. This will leave the buyer with on operating computer, and your data will be gone for all practical purposes.
2007-01-29 09:03:15 · answer #2 · answered by Jerry 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would help if you describe the operating system.Is it Windows 98,ME or XP? In 98 and ME you can do it through DOS with great success but in XP...Anyway you can Format the hard drives but still a very experient user can retrieve some data.For more safety make a fresh install of Windows XP (not upgrade) using the boot cd rom,use a fake name and after the installation delete all unwanted folders and fill the disk -completely- with innocent files like movies games etc then do again a fresh install and it must be ok.Final solution and more secure,replace the hard drive(s) with another...
2007-01-29 09:17:05 · answer #3 · answered by Sport Man 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, I definitely do not recommend crashing your computer. What you need to do is clean the hard drive, meaning, erasing everything on it so there is no information there. And putting Windows XP, or whatever computer program you run your computer on (95/200/ME/98). To clean your hard drive, you will have to have software like Max Blast or something else that will clean your hard drive. It's the only way to make sure everything is off.
2007-01-29 08:34:38 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wipe out all the data from the hard drive & re-format. The link below gives you furthur information.
2007-01-29 08:45:15 · answer #5 · answered by ohsugarsnaps 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A nice low lever format should do the trick
http://hddguru.com/content/en/software/2006.04.12-HDD-Low-Level-Format-Tool/
2007-01-29 08:39:50 · answer #6 · answered by Belron 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
load with DOS and format
or you could buy a new hard drive and smash your old one with a hammer.
Not reccomended
2007-01-29 08:47:53 · answer #7 · answered by ceilingfan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋