I sold my computer but I need to erase the hard disk before I ship it. I don't have any of the system recovery CDs or the Windows XP reinstall CD, so don't want to use Kill Disk or something, because I won't be able to reinstall Windows.
I have two questions: If I DO use Kill Disk, am I not able to then use Ctrl+F (I have a Dell) to restore the comp. back to its factory state? Or does Kill Disk even wipe out that option?
Second question: Someone on Yahoo said that the best way to erase my hard disk without using Kill Disk is to delete all of my personal files, do a disk defrag., then to repeatedly copy a large file (like music or a movie) until it takes up all the disk space.
Apparently, recopying the larger file would overwrite everything else on the hard disk, thus "deleting" it. Can someone tell me whether or not this will work?
2007-12-18 07:13:42 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Computers & Internet ➔ Other - Computers
Obviously, after recopying the large file to overwrite the hard drive, I'd go back and delete it all.
2007-12-18 07:34:58 · update #1
since no1 said this, ill say this. its a dell right?
restart the computer.
keep pressing F8 during boot up
it should trigger the reformat, dell doesn't come with discs. its built in like the other person said. F8.
2007-12-18 07:40:50 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah using kill will delete the dell hidden recovery partition...
and i beleive that was me that said to do the file copy to ensure data is erased....
the info on that is that when you delete your files the data for where they are on the disk is deleted but the actual data will remain and someone using an undelete can recover your data....
using the drgrag will move data around thus using the supposedly empty space....and also using a large movie file will also do the same if done a few times to fill the disk (not too full or the pc will have problems trying to run....)
you should be safe from any data recovery that way...if they are able to scan the drive for data they;ll only get peices of that movie file....
2007-12-18 07:21:19 · answer #2 · answered by newton3010 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
G'day. Your only option is to go through and delete all your personal files on the computer. Don't try and fill the HDD with music or anything else because then the next person has to do what you are doing to delete them and get space back. If you sold the PC with XP then you have to keep away from Kill Disk or Disk Scrubber to retain XP in it's entirety. So just start deleting and then do a defrag.
2007-12-18 07:33:07 · answer #3 · answered by Rowen 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
answer to one question:
Well, you cannot restore it after you use killdisk:
"...allows you to destroy all data on hard and floppy drives completely, excluding any possibility of future recovery of deleted files and folders"
once you use killdisk, your harddrive will be blank. Sure, the Dell screen that shows up first will still show up, but there will be no operating system.
Answer to second question:
This works, partially.. hard drives keep records of what files have been on it, and keeps sort of like a copy. It is possible to recover the files, unless you over write some other file so that you can only recover that file. You can delete a file and its record if it is over-written repeatedly.
2007-12-18 07:24:19 · answer #4 · answered by krazed_nun 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to system restore and choose to restore your computer to factory settings. This should wipe everything clean and have everything running smoothly once restarted. I would highly recommend backing up your files to a disc / usb pen etc. before this.
2007-12-18 07:30:13 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As broadcast and printed in the media over and over, the only true sure reliable way is to remove the hard drive and play Captain Destructo.
2007-12-18 07:19:50 · answer #6 · answered by fjpoblam 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
FDisk, delete the partitions... then re-set the partition and then format the drive.
2007-12-18 07:22:24 · answer #7 · answered by Kathryn P 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋