Format an Old Computer

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Guest

I have an old computer that runs Windows 98. I want to give it away, but was
told
that "formatting" will not clean all files and I should do a "low-level
format".

What is the best course of action, to clean this hard drive so I can
reinstall Windows 98 and give computer away without any of my personal info
still being available.

Thanks for help
 
You can try a product like http://www.killdisk.com/

In all honesty though unless you are giving it away to someone who has
experience in recovering a formatted drive I think the formatting in Windows
should be fine.
 
Hello,


gkw44 said:
I have an old computer that runs Windows 98. I want to give it away, but
was
told
that "formatting" will not clean all files and I should do a "low-level
format".
Click to expand...

You could write off your hard-drive if you do that.
What is the best course of action, to clean this hard drive so I can
reinstall Windows 98 and give computer away without any of my personal
info
still being available.
Click to expand...

Delete all personal data, defrag the hard-drive and hope that whoever
buys the PC doesn't work for NASA :o)

Philip
 
gkw44 said:
I have an old computer that runs Windows 98. I want to give it away, but was
told
that "formatting" will not clean all files and I should do a "low-level
format".

What is the best course of action, to clean this hard drive so I can
reinstall Windows 98 and give computer away without any of my personal info
still being available.

Thanks for help
Click to expand...


To protect your personal information and data from any future users
of average skills, you should, at the very least, format the hard drive
and reinstall the OS and any applications that are being sold along with
the computer. If you wish to do a more thorough job of protecting your
friend's personal data, WipeDrive
(http://www.whitecanyon.com/wipedrive-erase-hard-drive.php) meets U.S.
DoD standards for securely cleaning surplus unclassified hard drives,
and could be used before formatting and reinstalling the OS and
applications. A quick Google search should also lead you to several
other similar products.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin
 
Use fdisk and delete the partition, then recreate it and format.
Click to expand...

FDISK does not do a low-level format.

You have to find out the type of HD -- manufacturer and model -- then
check their website to see if they have a low-level format program for
that drive.
 
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