Need to wipe my computer

[The Big Yin]

Selling my computer and need to make sure it is cleared of anything that i have done can i just re-install the original software and be happy or should i be doing more - guide appreciated if i have to

tA

 

[Daz]

No, you need to wipe it properly, then reinstall the OS.
Formatting doesn't actually get rid of any data properly.

 

[bigmaddaz]

Windows XP disc in.. restart computer.. make sure in your BIOS that boot from CD ROM is first.. then go through the installation steps... one of first steps on process shows you your harddrives, says press L to delete partition or something like that. Make sure you delete everything then install it on a partition (if needed to be).

(english a bit bad.. drinks kicking in)

 

[gazzrenn]

A normal format will do, however if you're a spy and you have national secrets on your PC... Give this a shot...

http://www.soft32.com/download_188306.html

http://www.soft32.com/download/63-109620/datascrubber.exe

 

[FiDoDiDo]

You also have to consider the fact that people now get second hand computers that haven't been wiped and then get enough information for identity theft, think about how much information about you there is on there.

Programs like WipeDrive where you can wipe it several times are the best you will get really.

 

[Andy.]

Or just buy a cheap new hard disk and stick it in there. The old one can always be stuck in an external case and used as backup?

 

[Daz]

http://dban.sourceforge.net/

What is nice, this kind of feature is built into the OSX Tiger installation.. (As part of Disk Utility..)