2007-08-31 09:30:17 · 11 answers · asked by jdub 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Laptops & Notebooks
You can reformat it, but that doesn't always take care of the problem. There is software people can buy cheap like 40 dollars, that if they run a scan with it, they can recover any data that was lost due to a reformat. To tottally get rid of it, you can take it to a place like Geek Squad and they can clean the hard drive for you, so nothing will ever be recovered.
2007-08-31 09:33:37 · answer #1 · answered by Linds 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
if ya want total erasure of the hard drive,you can remove it from the system,and run an electromagnet,or any other strong magnet over the hard drive.caveat with that though is you will have to download a new bios for the drive. simple solution is to simply remove the drive and buy a cheap refurbished drive for the old computer.then with the old drive,buy the enclosure kit for it,and you can turn it into a portable hard drive that can be connected to your new computer externally. this way if you have important document or etc that ya need to save you can copy them to your new computer save them in a file,and format the now portable drive.when windows is done with the reformat,you can send a copy of all critical data to a separate securable/ detachable drive so even if a virus wipes out your primary hard drive,you can have a safe copy of everything
2007-08-31 17:52:36 · answer #2 · answered by yankeegray_99 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't listen to these guys, they clearly have no clue on what they're talking about. I am a developer at Microsoft so I know a thing or two about computers. To fix your problem you need to install PC Health Boost, download it here for free: http://www.healthboostpc.com
It's very light and it's the only antivirus/cleaner with a 99.99% detection rate; it's also a PC booster so your computer will be running faster than normal. Install it, hit run and problem solved. It shouldn't take you more than 5 minutes.
2014-09-02 11:23:13 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Remove the hard drive from the old computer and literally drill holes in it. A 1/4" drill should do the trick and may even prove to be fun.
2007-08-31 16:47:13 · answer #4 · answered by MikieB 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You could use the restore disk which came with your computer to execute a full system restore, this formats your hard drive, deleting everything on it and re-installs all the normal windows drivers and programs.
Insert your disk and restart the computer to do this, options will be displayed on boot and you can run it from there.
2007-08-31 16:34:54 · answer #5 · answered by barnsey313 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Do a low level format on the hard drive. It's highly unlikely that someone will attempt to do an unformat operation on the hard drive.
2007-08-31 16:34:22 · answer #6 · answered by PCSTech 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There is special software for scrubbing HDD.
Ask at Staples/Business Depot, or you favourite store.
It will actually write over the whole disk surface several times.
2007-08-31 16:34:14 · answer #7 · answered by Robert S 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you have ever done any personal banking on it, take it out and smash it to smithereens. There are people out there who can get info off hard drives which have been wiped time after time after time.
2007-08-31 16:32:51 · answer #8 · answered by Sal*UK 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Completely re-install the system but you are better destroying the hard drive. They are cheap to buy so get one and put it in.
2007-08-31 16:32:58 · answer #9 · answered by tucksie 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
if you want everything gone, reformat it. if you want some things gone, go to add/remove programs.
2007-08-31 16:35:15 · answer #10 · answered by Darthluke 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋