I have read some of the other posts about how to "clean" your computer before you sell it but the problem I am having is that it takes the laptop so long to do anything that it eventually times out. It was running so for a long time because I had so much on it. When I take off programs it runs a little faster but I want to return it back to factory settings before I sell it so to make sure it is working properly and if not I will just put it up "for parts or repair" on the listing. Any help would be greatly appreciated. It is a Dell Inspiron 8200.
2007-05-15 09:06:49 · 3 answers · asked by krussell77@ameritech.net 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Laptops & Notebooks
Formatting the hard drive won't completely erase the information on your hard disk. File recovery software will still be able to locate and restore files. What you'll want to do is look for a disk wipe utility that will completely overwrite the disk with zeros, ones, and then a random pattern. After that, you can use your system restore disk from the vendor and you should be pretty comfortable that whoever you sell it to won't find any personal information (login/passwords, emails, photos, credit card info, etc...) of yours.
A sample disk wipe utility is listed here (others exist so pick one that is appropriate for you)
2007-05-15 09:17:38 · answer #1 · answered by Jim Maryland 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
tap f10 repeatedly when you first turn it on, and that will start the dell os restore feature.
just follow the prompts from there.
you want the "volatile" restore.
2007-05-15 09:16:28 · answer #2 · answered by n0t4c|u3 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
just format your harddrive.
and make sure to put - No OS installed
when you are selling it.
2007-05-15 09:10:54 · answer #3 · answered by Air 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋