How do I erase my hard drive when I am disposing of my computer?

Answer 1

open your computer get the hard drive. and threw it on the river. just joking, insert a boot disk then on command prompt, type format c:

Answer 2

There are a number of ways that you can go about doing this:

1. Boot from a windows CD, and delete the partition
2. Boot into DOS, using a bootable CD or floppy, and use the 'format C:' command
3. If this is NOT a drive you use to boot into an OS, then right click on my computer and click manage from the drop down menu, from here, click on storage in the right hand window pane, then select disk management.
Once inside disk management, pick the drive you want to format (it wont let you format your windows partition) right click on it and delete partion.

Deleting the partition is a far better way of disposing data, if the hard drive is to be sold on eBay for example, then the buyer may format it using whatever file system they desire.

4. Use a third party program, such a Partition magic, and boot using the programs' disk and format that way.

There is no wrong way of doing this, so take your pick my friend =]

Answer 3

Since there are so many ways to recover data, even from a formated disk, I would remove the hard drive completely from the computer.

Answer 4

Run the system restore disk that your coputer came with, it will erase pointers. Only law enforcement would be able to read itthen. Or donate the computer and not the HD.

Answer 5

The best way to do it is to write zeros over your hard drive. Doing it will not only delete your files, but it will overwrite it several times thus, making it impossible for others to grab your personal info.

I suggest you go to this site and download their free hard-drive erasing utility. It employs DoD 5220.22-M which is a standard for file security.

http://www.killdisk.com/features.htm

Answer 6

free
do this way
system restore
1- click start at bottom of screen
2 - then click choose all programs
3 - then click pc help tools or could be in accessory's
4 - then click on system restore
5 - then click on restore to an earlier date or factory settings
6 - choose a date when it was working - or factory settings
7 - let it run it may take a while - follow directions - if any
8 - if does not work - restart THEN CHECK STATUS
choose destructive recovery as last resort you will have to look hard to find this option
i don"t know your computers options etc
BUT that's what it took to restore mine to get settings i wanted etc
BACK UP IMPORTANT THINGS TO CD NO MATTER WHAT OPTION(S) YOU CHOOSE

add and remove programs
remove programs you are not using
click start bottom left on task bar
control panel
add and remove programs
find the program(s) you want to remove
choose remove
reinsall if needed
check status as you do it
be safe
don"t remove what you don"t what it is

Answer 7

Format your drive using low level format. This can be downloaded from Maxtor website.

Answer 8

Format it with a bootdisk or delete the partition with a windows install cd.

Answer 9

Boot to a floppy start up disk then type format C:
Say yes when it asks if you're sure.

Answer 10

hi if you are getting rid of the computer will you be willing to give it away i am looking for a computer for partS?? plese email me at [e-mail]