I am trying to sell my laptop, but I have heard that even if you delete things, people can still get information that is hidden and use it. I wanted to know what do I have to do, is there a way to clean everything out and have it the same way I bought it-just blank with the welcome screen??? I would really appreciate your responses. Thank You so much.
Lori.
2007-05-29 04:32:32 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Computers & Internet ➔ Computer Networking
There are some programs that are capable to retrieve lost or erased information from hard disk even if you have formatted it. But the best choice is to format your laptop hard disk, you can do it twice to be sure, because most of that programs can't recover files when you have formatted the disk more than once. I have to tell you that not all of those programs work as well as you think, most of the time they recover just the file name but they are not capable to open them, because they are a little damaged. Then, if you want, you can reinstall your Operative System and sell it. Or just sell the computer in blank, but you have to be honest with the buyer, and be conscious that if you sell it in blank it will cost a little bit less.
2007-05-29 04:41:47 · answer #1 · answered by luzna0 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You could take a look at the following links and pick one that works for you.
The first link is to a tool provided by Microsoft (originally a SysInternals product but MS bought the company).
Another option is to do a search for "disk wipe" in your favorite search engine and see what comes back. The second link is for one result that looked pretty good by the description (haven't used it personally though).
As for the other responses that indicated just formatting a disk to clear the contents, this does not work. I did a format (not the quick format) and a reinstall of my OS before my wife realized we were missing an email that she needed (backups were done a week prior to the reinstall so we had some file changes). I was able to find multiple copies of the MS Outlook PST file using Recover My Files recovery program. The format did nothing to erase the underlying data and the OS files fortunately didn't overwrite the file I was looking for. A determined computer user can fairly easily find files on an old hard drive.
2007-05-29 05:16:51 · answer #2 · answered by Jim Maryland 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Make sure you have the Windows Operating Disk(e.g. Windows XP Professional). It cannot be an urgrade disk. Go Start > Run > Type in "Format C:/" and follow the instructions on the screen. After the computer deletes EVERY SINGLE FILE on the computer even the Windows Operating System, when you boot the computer it will tell you to put in the Windows Setup Disk. Put it in an follow the instructions on the screen. Even though you do this, files can still be recovered but you would need a very very professional Recovery machine to do so.
2007-05-29 04:40:27 · answer #3 · answered by ReignOfComputer 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
When we sold ours, upon the advice of several webmaster forums of which I am a member, I removed the hard drive and played "Captain Destructo".
(Description for entertainment only...) Actually, it was kind of fun! I took it out to the garage, placed it in the vise, grabbed it with pliers, hit it with a sledge lots, twisted, pounded, grabbed, pounded some more, until it was thoroughly broken into several pieces, then disposed in several different places. For no matter how hard one tries, as we've seen on TV, we're paranoid to believe it's possible to dredge up some of our many instances of Personally Identifiable Information from the hard drive...and "just because yer paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to getcha"
2007-05-29 05:08:40 · answer #4 · answered by fjpoblam 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Do a re-install of windows. In the process you will have to reformat the hard drive and erase all your data.
Although it is true that even erased files can be recovered from a hard drive. It requires actually taking the drive apart and treating the discs inside so that the layers of info can be read. A timeley and expensive process. If you reinstall windows from the start and reformat the hard drive that will be the only way to get any of your info off the hard drive.
2007-05-29 04:37:50 · answer #5 · answered by jimapalooza 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Option 1. buy a new hard drive and theres no way they could get to it.
Option 2. format the drive, but some people may still be able to get to the data.
Option 3. Look into something like this http://www.killdisk.com/
it will format and erase your disk 100times over to no data can be recovered.
2007-05-29 04:36:31 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
keep your laptop and stay faraway from dropping money to purchase a PS3. The PS3 is predicted to get a $one hundred value drop sometime this 3 hundred and sixty 5 days. Then in case you inspite of the shown fact that pick a private laptop laptop, sell your laptop and get it.
2016-11-23 14:20:11 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can always- Buy a brand new Hard drive and reinstall the operating system on there-
or format the one you have in there now.-
But i recommend the first - as the safest
2007-05-29 04:37:38 · answer #8 · answered by decoyname4t 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your best bet is to take it to somewhere professinal to have it cleaned out and certified
2007-05-29 04:40:08 · answer #9 · answered by becca9892003 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋