Selling pc - clearing info, advice needed

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Amanda

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Hi

I have a Compaq mv720 (yes a bit of a fossil). I am about to try and sell it but wondered if anyone had any advice on clearing off all my personal information. I know I can delete files but is this all I need to do? Any advice would be welcome.

thanks
Amanda
 
Even if you delete files, there are always bits left behind (such as passwords etc...). The best way would be to totally format your PC and re-install windows on it.

If you got a recovery disk or Windows CD with your PC, use those and you should be able to get it nice and fresh :)
 
Amanda said:
Hi

I have a Compaq mv720 (yes a bit of a fossil). I am about to try and sell it but wondered if anyone had any advice on clearing off all my personal information. I know I can delete files but is this all I need to do? Any advice would be welcome.

thanks
Amanda
Click to expand...

There are peeps who look for second hand drives at cheap prices, just to run recovery programs to see what they can find. Ian's right that it's best to reformat and re-install windows on it, but even that isn't secure from someone who has the right recovery software.

If your selling to someone you know and trust, then do what ian suggested. If you're selling on eBay, or in the open market, then I'd reformat the drive several times (not 'Quick' format) and reinstall the operating system between each format.
 
Ian Cunningham said:
Even if you delete files, there are always bits left behind (such as passwords etc...). The best way would be to totally format your PC and re-install windows on it.

If you got a recovery disk or Windows CD with your PC, use those and you should be able to get it nice and fresh :)
Click to expand...


Agreed. Formatting and re-installing a fresh copy of windows is the best solution here.
 
overite confidential files with a file shredder then format and fresh install or you could take it out and release any anger on it with a nice big hammer :D
 
Run Spybot file shedder on your personal data

Hi
I have used programs that recover files from re formatted and re windowes discs.
Run something like Spybot's file shredding program on your data files first.
It writes into the space formally occupied by the files.

Then reformat and reinstall windows.

good luck
 
I use this method...

- Overwrite any confidential files that you haven't already deleted with a file shredder
- Format C:\
- Reinstall Windows
- Totally fill up the C:\ driove with junk data (large music/wave files are good for this) so that all fragments of data left behind are overwritten (as when the Recycle Bin is emptied the files don't actually get overwritten). Then delete all the wave files and all anyone will find if they search your HD is the wave files.
 
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