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Okay, so I'm getting myself a new laptop and want to give away my PC. How do I delete everything off the computer? People(like Net :rolleyes:) have said that after you put an item in your 'recycle bin' and delete it, your files aren't really deleted. So how do I completely get rid of it?
use a third party deletion program like File Shredder to permanent remove file traces (http://www.snapfiles.com/Freeware/security/fwerase.html)
and/or low level format your hard drive a few times:
- in windows explorer right click on a drive you want to format.
- choose the format option
Thanks I'll try it when I get home. :bow:Quote:
Originally Posted by NetDriftr
wait if you intend to give the PC to someone in working order, make sure you reinstall windows if you format the system drive... otherwise just use the File Shredder program to delete the files.Quote:
Originally Posted by GuGu
And how do I r'einstall windows'? Do I sound like someone capable of that? :crying: Hopefully the person whose getting the PC knows how to do it. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by NetDriftr
Its the original boot cd or disk that came along with your computer. Yeah the one, that people don't use and put on the side too collect dust; until your comp crashes like crazy.
the way it works is this:
A harddrive writes stuff and it takes up some space, when you delete something, it tells the drive that the "space" can be written over (it's written over, not delete). Formatting a couple time will not work, data can be recover, and formating at low level is just telling it "these space can be write over"....
The safer way that i know is that they have softare that zero out the drives,
they basically write 0 (binary 1 and 0, but just 0 in this case) to the whole drive, you do that about 10 times i don't think anyone can recover your data anymore.
About 10 times? :eek: So, Net's ideas won't really delete my files?Quote:
Originally Posted by warlock110
I have a few home videos and a lot of personal information on that PC. :( I might as well smash the thing and throw it away just to be on the safe side. :( But the freaken PC is like brand new! I just got it like 2-3 years ago. :(
Okay, Warlock, can you write what you just wrote in step by step instructions? Be very detailed. And what program to use exactly.
Here u go: (a few links that talks/has intruction on this)Quote:
Originally Posted by GuGu
http://www.lehigh.edu/security/gwscan/gwscan.htm
http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/15/h...ld-hard-disks/
http://www.usbman.com/Guides/Clean%2...%20Windows.htm
i'm pretty sure formating won't delete data (as i've recovered data from my own formated drive)... but that should work (i've never tried it but i'm pretty sure it works, from other people that have tried it) there's a computer community on the net that tends to trade/sell used HDD, and this is what they normally do (being that all of them are geeks that has potential to recover data, it's got to be safe when they're selling their drive with their info)
I'm not sure if you wanna go through all the trouble, i'm pretty sure the people you're giving the computer to will probably not want to screw you over by trying to get your personal stuff. It also depends on how you've been using the drive, information that can be recover at best is a few layer after being deleted, personally my media drive is being written over so many times, sometimes i can't even recover some of the stuff i accidently deleted (someone BD for example, man i sweat my *** trying to find that, would not want to do it again lol)
Thank you so much for your help and for everyone's help. :bow:
if you read the program description, File Shredder does exactly what warlock described.. it deletes and writes 'junk data' at the disk sector where the file is deleted up to 7 times. once u delete the files, u can format the hard drive which rewrites the master boot sector of the disk.Quote:
Originally Posted by GuGu
unless you have national security data stored on your hard drive - no one is going to try recover the data bit by bit, and reconstruct the bits into meaning data. the way the FBI dispose of old hard disks is a little more drastic.. after they wipes the disk clean, they fire bullets into the disk platter of the drive - thats the extreme data deletion method ;)
yeah, i doubt about people digging through old HDD, chances of finding a CC # or anything personal related is pretty slim, even if they do there's always chances of getting sue.Quote:
Originally Posted by NetDriftr
Once I also deleted everything from computer and also from this WhatsApp Plus Apk which i am using on PC via emulator and then I searched a lot and found dr.fone software which help me to restore my all data.
Thanks a lot I needed thisQuote:
Originally Posted by dustine79
Hi guysQuote:
Originally Posted by GuGu
Congratulations on getting a new laptop! When giving away your PC, it's crucial to ensure your data is completely erased to protect your privacy. Simply emptying the recycle bin won't suffice. Consider using specialized data erasure software, like DBAN or CCleaner, to securely wipe the entire hard drive.
Taking the plunge and deleting everything on my computer was both terrifying and liberating! It's amazing how much unnecessary clutter accumulates over time. Now I've got a clean slate to work with and it feels like a fresh start. 💻🧹 #DigitalDeclutter #NewBeginnings
Deleting everything on your computer is a serious task that requires caution and consideration. While services like https://pdfguru.com/delete-pdf-pages can help manage PDF files, they're not designed for wiping entire systems. For comprehensive data erasure, it's essential to use specialized software or seek professional assistance. Before initiating any deletion process, ensure you have backups of important files and understand the potential consequences. Always double-check what you're deleting to avoid accidental data loss. Remember, when it comes to wiping your computer clean, it's better to be safe than sorry.