C drive questions (hard drive...?)

[MURKY]

I will be chucking my computer away soon and I would like to know how to retrieve things (previously deleted) so i can save them to disk. Any of you know how to do this? Also how do I delete from my computer for good? I'd be scared if someone found my computer and wen't through all the deleted things.

[Potatoman]

google killdisk. This will zero your whole drive beyond recovery.

[QmunkE]

Physically destroy the hard disk - either by smashing it to pieces or burning it. Or, take it out and keep it.

PS - if by "chucking away" you mean actually throwing it in the bin, you might want to consider giving it away to charity or something. Even ancient computers can find a good home somewhere!

[MURKY]

But do you know how to retrieve deleted files also?

[mikeyp]

Retrieving deleted files is tricky. Often impossible. Hardisks work by storing information in sectors, then use some sectors to tell the computer what's in the others. When deleting a file, windows only deletes the index. Thus the files are still actually there. Problem is, if the index is deleted, windows will happily write over the other sectors with new information. So depending on how long ago you deleted the files, you may not be able to get them back. If you want to give it a go, try 'Restoration' or a similar program from www.download.com.

[Quicksilver]

A programme called WinUndelete Version 2.20 will recover ALL deleted files, the quality depending on how much has been overwritten - but the file names will remain.

You'll be surprised at what turns up!!!

[UmBongo]

all the hings you have dleted end up in the c:\recycler if you want to try a simple and effective method of stopping people looking at your old stuff, deleting the recycler will work, send it to the recycle bin and then clear it from there and because it then cant go any where but in to its self, it korrupts the PC, an experianced PC expert will know away around this though. or, go into CMD (start>run>cmd) type deltree (or del tree, i cant remember which, i dont tend to delete my PC's tree) and this will also corrupt the PC. enjoy!

[Thunderchild]

to effectively destroy the disk open it and smash the plates. however it is not a baf idea to give away. or try this go to www.find-a-drug.org and see what even a 486 is useful for mind u it may mean some effort on your part so it's up to u but i do it on my only pc. to run it on more than one a networkl is neccesary and u could learn about netting pcs by having two.

[Thunderchild]

ps u could do a low level format that will zero the drive to how it came out of the factory there will not even be a file system on it if it is a maxtor go to their website and download heir diagnose utility. it will probably work on other make drives as well