"cleaning" a computer HDD before selling it

[kjr2]

My friend is selling a computer and want to wipe it clean of all first. Leaving only the OS.

How is this done? Format and re-install OS? Or an easier way???

 

[mcfig]

Two choices:

1. Go through and manually delete any data files and then go into the Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel and uninstall any programs you don't want.

2. Format the hard drive and reload the OS.

Why not just format the hard drive and sell the computer with the software. Let the end user deal with the load.

 

[william g]

if he wants to be sure you really need to format and reload. That wouldn't stop say a data recovery program but that's not what normally goes on.

I have gone through and cleaned a registry and all the other spots but it still isn't a guarentee you've got it all.

format and reload if he wants to be sure

 

[hunter306]

Use Dban... It's really the only way to be sure the files are gone.

You can run 3-5 or 7 pass DOD wipe on the drive... it'll take a while though.

 

[offroadford4x4]

really big magnets? lol




I have no idea really

 

[joe]

format and reload if he wants to be sure

yup.

(tEh internet pr0n tends to hang around!)

 

[mcfig]

Use Dban... It's really the only way to be sure the files are gone.

You can run 3-5 or 7 pass DOD wipe on the drive... it'll take a while though.

This is the same thing as doing a low level format 7 times. That is actually the standard for the FBI and CIA.

The reason being is the 1's and 0's, machine language. The easiest way to explain it is to think of a flat line as a 0 (-) and a vertical line as a 1 (|). So when you delete some thing or format, it may not make that line completly flat. The computer will read it as a 0 even though it may be slanted like this / So, by formatting 7 times it verifies that all bytes are set to a "flat" 0.

Data recovery programs look for those slanted bytes and tries to recreate what the file was. That is why if you have ever used one of these programs you may get part of a file or you were able to get the file, but can't open it, etc