Crosswords3 mins ago
how to clear a computer
10 Answers
I have recently bought a laptop, and am now selling my desktop pc,
is there an easy way of clearing everything off, apart from windows, so it turns on just like when i bought it?
Thanks in advance : )
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Best Answer
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.If you still have the Windows installation disks (or can get hold of some), you could just reformat the hard disk (which wipes it completely, as far as I understand it) and then reinstall Windows. The reformat is fairly quick and straightforward and installing Windows only takes perhaps an hour, so it's quick and it'll cost you nothing.
I agree that it would be too hard and time consuming to remove your personal data from the hard drive by deleteing each individual file/folder. A disk wiper as mentioned above, would certainly wipe all data from your hard drive but at 29.95 it is not cheap. I also consider it to be totally unnecessary unless you have top secret high security data on your computer. If you do have such top secret material on your computer, I suggest you remove the hard drive and incinerate it. For those of us who do not have to worry about top secret data being recovered from the hard drive I suggest the drive be re-partitioned (Fdisk - delete all partitions etc.,create new partition) and re-install the operating system. The installation process will require you to format the disk before installation commences. If you do this, it would require a IT genius with real powerful software to recover any data from the hard drive. Persons with these atributes would be few and far between and most likely be employed by the CIA or Mi6.
Whilst it's unlikely that a potential buyer might run a data recovery program, it may be possible to retrieve (say) credit card data or enough information to aid in identity theft.
I think http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/download.php is still a free download (though donations are accepted!). The version I have was free and performs a DoD wipe.
I think http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/download.php is still a free download (though donations are accepted!). The version I have was free and performs a DoD wipe.
I have a spare hard disk with corrupted Windows XP and am happy to completely lose everything on it. I tried the Microsoft official cd which I own to reformat but my disc does not show any way I can ask for a reformat. So do I buy a program or take it to my local shop although I prefer to do it muself.