how do I erase everything on my computer?
2007-09-07 12:36:43 · 11 answers · asked by The cool kid 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Desktops
If it is an hp hit f11 as it is starting up, then choose destructive reboot, this will erase everything and reload all the old programs.
2007-09-07 12:44:55 · answer #1 · answered by jedd c 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you want to be 100% sure that everything from your hard drive is GONE, simply smash it, give it a salt-water bath, or burn it. If you don't want to damage your drive, there's a several options available. My first option is to boot a live linux distro and run the shred command on the HDD. I do about 3 or 4 random passes on the drive then do a blank write. There's a couple other ways to do it like using the built in feature "Secure Erase." This article has some of those apps:
http://blogs.zdnet.com/storage/?p=129
You can get knoppix here: http://www.knoppix.org/ :)
2007-09-07 12:52:00 · answer #2 · answered by akp913 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
JUST FORMATING IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH!!! Because if you were only formating you would have to format at least minimum 11 times before you store anything back in the computer to be certain that your computer would run fast and clean!!! So what i recommend that you do is DELETE THE PARTITION(S) (DRIVE C: and/or any other drives you might have) and install your computer as any one of these two websites below advices you to!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6u_DHseKdu0
http://computersguide.blogspot.com/2007/01/install-computers.html
2007-09-07 12:46:20 · answer #3 · answered by dabedatiludlisi 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it is the "I can't let the government see me with whatever I had on my computer" type stuff, it would be best to smash it and buy a new one. Hard drives are so cheap now-a-days.
However, if you don't mind that someone *might* be able to recover some data, if they ever needed to, then I would just use one of the aforementioned solutions.
-Adam
2007-09-07 12:55:57 · answer #4 · answered by aadamszc 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The simple answer is format the disk.
For the truly paranoid, use Darik's Boot and Nuke first.
http://dban.sourceforge.net/
If you are going to reinstall from a restore disk or a windows CD, it will format the disk for you and lay down the operating system, which is generally good enough.
2007-09-07 12:45:25 · answer #5 · answered by Computer Guy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Format using a boot Disk
2007-09-07 12:41:13 · answer #6 · answered by JT, The Coolest One.... 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
take out the hard drive, then proceed to smash it up in every way you can think of. then, destroy it completely somehow, like burning it in a really hot fire, and make some smores while you are at it.
2007-09-07 18:40:19 · answer #7 · answered by watch out for those noobacabras 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can format it or 0 it. Which I wouldn't advise.
If you do back your files up.
2007-09-07 12:49:00 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
SMASH IT WITH A HAMMAH!!!
2007-09-07 12:43:49 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
crash it
2007-09-07 12:44:48 · answer #10 · answered by tzballin12 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋