I'm selling my PC to my friend, but I want to make sure that all the files and pictures I saved on it is completely gone. How do I do that?
Also, should I run a virus software on it first before I sell it?How do I clear out the hardrive on my desktop computer?
You can go to Maxtor.com and download
PowMax4.23 to a floppy disc. Insert the floppy
disc into the pc and re-boot it. Follow the instructions and it will erase your entire hard drive.
Then you should be able to install Windows and then use your Recovery disc to bring back what you had before you lost it.
WARNING: This will erase everything on your hard drive!! But, it will reformat it and you will be able to install Windows and then use your Recovery disc.
Good Luck,
EDHow do I clear out the hardrive on my desktop computer?
If you have a backup copy of your operating system. The best bet would be to reformat the hard drive. This would destroy all information on the hard drive. You must re-install the operating syatem after reformating the drive. This is the only sure fire way to delete files.
If you have material on your computer which might get you into any legal trouble then I suggest that you don't sell it at all; better safe than sorry.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
I want to sell my computer, how can I clear my hard drive?
Someone once recomended me to ';wipe free space'; with a file shredder and defragment. What does that mean exactly?I want to sell my computer, how can I clear my hard drive?
Physically shred it.I want to sell my computer, how can I clear my hard drive?
If this is a Dell try whats below
If not sorry for wasting your time
Using Dell PC Restore by Symantec
NOTICE: Using Dell PC Restore permanently deletes all data on the hard drive and removes any applications or
drivers installed after you received your computer. If possible, back up the data before using PC Restore. Use PC
Restore only if System Restore did not resolve your operating system problem.
NOTE: Dell PC Restore by Symantec is not available in all countries or on all computers.
Use Dell PC Restore by Symantec only as the last method to restore your operating system.
PC Restore restores your hard drive to the operating state it was in when you purchased the computer.
Any programs or files added since you received your computer鈥攊ncluding data files鈥攁re permanently
deleted from the hard drive. Data files include documents, spreadsheets, e-mail messages, digital photos,
music files, and so on. If possible, back up all data before using PC Restore.
To use PC Restore:
1 Turn on the computer.
During the boot process, a blue bar with www.dell.com appears at the top of the screen.
2 Immediately upon seeing the blue bar, press %26lt;Ctrl%26gt;%26lt;F11%26gt;.
IF YOU DO NOT PRESS %26lt;CTRL%26gt;%26lt;F11%26gt; IN TIME, LET THE COMPUTER FINISH STARTING, AND THEN RESTART THE
COMPUTER AGAIN.
NOTICE: If you do not want to proceed with PC Restore, click Reboot in the following step.
3 On the next screen that appears, click Restore.
4 On the next screen, click Confirm.
The restore process takes approximately 6鈥?0 minutes to complete.
56 Troubleshooting Tools
5 When prompted, click Finish to reboot the computer.
NOTE: Do not manually shut down the computer. Click Finish and let the computer completely reboot.
6 When prompted, click Yes.
The computer restarts. Because the computer is restored to its original operating state, the screens that
appear, such as the End User License Agreement, are the same ones that appeared the first time the
computer was turned on.
7 Click Next.
The System Restore screen appears and the computer restarts.
8 After the computer restarts, click OK.
Go to Microsoft Updates as you now will be WAY out of date.
Hmmm...some of the advice you have gotten is not quite right.
Reformatting your hard drive will NOT erase completely the tracks of what now is on it. Forensic disk reading software -- even some simple file recovery software -- will find and be able to retrieve some of those files.
Whomever told you to wipe free space and use a shredder was right. If you are selling just the hardware--not an operational computer with Windows (or any other OS installed)--then you can and should reformat the hard drive after you have wiped it AND when you are sure you are completely ready to end its useful-to-you life.
You can get a decent (not great, but for this purpose it will do) file shredder for free. Go to download.com, search file shredder and look for File Shredder 2. Read about it and the CNet editors' review.
You can choose the algorithm to use for erasing those files you want to erase AND to shred free space. Do it. I suggest using the Guttman method (35 passes)--and then reshred free space (yes, again) using one of the DOD-standard methods.
Obviously, you must identify the files you wish to shred and be sure to get all those you want to get without impairing your computer's ability to continue to function while you shred (and later, reformat, if you are going to do that).
And I once read advice about cleaning your hard drive before you dispose of your computer from a high-level security expert: wipe it at least 50 times (my advice above won't get you to 50, but it will be pretty darn thorough)--and then drive a stake through the drive. (The last part is not a good idea if you intend to sell a working computer.)
Good luck!
formating once is not enough. If you quick format it will just erase the file allcoation tables if your using fat32 or the MFT if your using ntfs. When you delete a file in windows the file is just marked as delted. The file is still in its sector on the disc. when you format a disk it erases everything on the disc. When you format with windows it just puts 0s and 1s on the hard disk. 0 and 1s are how a computer reads stuff. you have to format the drive more than once. I recommend 3 times the minum. I use this program to format my disc. It is call dban nuke disc it is a free program that boots from a floppy or cd. check out the site http://dban.sourceforge.net/
Google windowswasher, it gives you the ability to format your pc if you want to get rid of sensitive data you don't want others to see. Best of all, it's a 30 free day trial with lots of options to reformat: Simple one's and zeroez, to russian encryption.
just format providing there nothing super secret no1 will ever bother to look and it all be gone use win xp cd or win me or what ever and just format and reinstall windows then ur good to go
(the only way gettin data back after that is using pritty good stuff like programs designed to do it so i doubt any 1 will even bother) if ur realy worried just buy new hard driver 拢40 for a 500gb 1 lol
and file shredding ok but u dnt realy want to go all thro ur pc lookin for ever little bit of data do u ? like all internet exploer cache all the cookies all the temp files all reg files lot easier just to format
easiest way is to reformat the computer. that erases everything and puts the os back on there. Of course you have to reinstall all the programs.
Physically shred it.I want to sell my computer, how can I clear my hard drive?
If this is a Dell try whats below
If not sorry for wasting your time
Using Dell PC Restore by Symantec
NOTICE: Using Dell PC Restore permanently deletes all data on the hard drive and removes any applications or
drivers installed after you received your computer. If possible, back up the data before using PC Restore. Use PC
Restore only if System Restore did not resolve your operating system problem.
NOTE: Dell PC Restore by Symantec is not available in all countries or on all computers.
Use Dell PC Restore by Symantec only as the last method to restore your operating system.
PC Restore restores your hard drive to the operating state it was in when you purchased the computer.
Any programs or files added since you received your computer鈥攊ncluding data files鈥攁re permanently
deleted from the hard drive. Data files include documents, spreadsheets, e-mail messages, digital photos,
music files, and so on. If possible, back up all data before using PC Restore.
To use PC Restore:
1 Turn on the computer.
During the boot process, a blue bar with www.dell.com appears at the top of the screen.
2 Immediately upon seeing the blue bar, press %26lt;Ctrl%26gt;%26lt;F11%26gt;.
IF YOU DO NOT PRESS %26lt;CTRL%26gt;%26lt;F11%26gt; IN TIME, LET THE COMPUTER FINISH STARTING, AND THEN RESTART THE
COMPUTER AGAIN.
NOTICE: If you do not want to proceed with PC Restore, click Reboot in the following step.
3 On the next screen that appears, click Restore.
4 On the next screen, click Confirm.
The restore process takes approximately 6鈥?0 minutes to complete.
56 Troubleshooting Tools
5 When prompted, click Finish to reboot the computer.
NOTE: Do not manually shut down the computer. Click Finish and let the computer completely reboot.
6 When prompted, click Yes.
The computer restarts. Because the computer is restored to its original operating state, the screens that
appear, such as the End User License Agreement, are the same ones that appeared the first time the
computer was turned on.
7 Click Next.
The System Restore screen appears and the computer restarts.
8 After the computer restarts, click OK.
Go to Microsoft Updates as you now will be WAY out of date.
Hmmm...some of the advice you have gotten is not quite right.
Reformatting your hard drive will NOT erase completely the tracks of what now is on it. Forensic disk reading software -- even some simple file recovery software -- will find and be able to retrieve some of those files.
Whomever told you to wipe free space and use a shredder was right. If you are selling just the hardware--not an operational computer with Windows (or any other OS installed)--then you can and should reformat the hard drive after you have wiped it AND when you are sure you are completely ready to end its useful-to-you life.
You can get a decent (not great, but for this purpose it will do) file shredder for free. Go to download.com, search file shredder and look for File Shredder 2. Read about it and the CNet editors' review.
You can choose the algorithm to use for erasing those files you want to erase AND to shred free space. Do it. I suggest using the Guttman method (35 passes)--and then reshred free space (yes, again) using one of the DOD-standard methods.
Obviously, you must identify the files you wish to shred and be sure to get all those you want to get without impairing your computer's ability to continue to function while you shred (and later, reformat, if you are going to do that).
And I once read advice about cleaning your hard drive before you dispose of your computer from a high-level security expert: wipe it at least 50 times (my advice above won't get you to 50, but it will be pretty darn thorough)--and then drive a stake through the drive. (The last part is not a good idea if you intend to sell a working computer.)
Good luck!
formating once is not enough. If you quick format it will just erase the file allcoation tables if your using fat32 or the MFT if your using ntfs. When you delete a file in windows the file is just marked as delted. The file is still in its sector on the disc. when you format a disk it erases everything on the disc. When you format with windows it just puts 0s and 1s on the hard disk. 0 and 1s are how a computer reads stuff. you have to format the drive more than once. I recommend 3 times the minum. I use this program to format my disc. It is call dban nuke disc it is a free program that boots from a floppy or cd. check out the site http://dban.sourceforge.net/
Google windowswasher, it gives you the ability to format your pc if you want to get rid of sensitive data you don't want others to see. Best of all, it's a 30 free day trial with lots of options to reformat: Simple one's and zeroez, to russian encryption.
just format providing there nothing super secret no1 will ever bother to look and it all be gone use win xp cd or win me or what ever and just format and reinstall windows then ur good to go
(the only way gettin data back after that is using pritty good stuff like programs designed to do it so i doubt any 1 will even bother) if ur realy worried just buy new hard driver 拢40 for a 500gb 1 lol
and file shredding ok but u dnt realy want to go all thro ur pc lookin for ever little bit of data do u ? like all internet exploer cache all the cookies all the temp files all reg files lot easier just to format
easiest way is to reformat the computer. that erases everything and puts the os back on there. Of course you have to reinstall all the programs.
How do i clear search historys from my computer?
Does anyone know?How do i clear search historys from my computer?
open internet explorer open the history tab right click then press delete
or click on tools %26gt; internet history %26gt; deleteHow do i clear search historys from my computer?
if you use firefox, go to tools, and select clear private data.
and u can choose which one you want to delete!
or just use disk cleanup
Safari Web Browser:
1. History
2. Clear History
Internet Explorer ( I.E)
1.On your internet Explorer toolbar click TOOLS
2. click DELETE BROWSEING HISTORY
On that window you will have the opition to delete multipule things such as files, cookies, browseing history, typed information saved on fourms, and passwords:
Files- Copies of images, webpages etc.
Cookies- Files saved on your system by websites to save your settings such as login infomation
History- List of recently visted websites
Forms- Saved information typed into forms
Passwords- passwords that are automatically filled in when you log on to a recently visted websites.
Good Luck,
Shawn W 8-)
Next time you have a question about your web browser, tell what one it is.
follow these steps:
click on tools %26gt; internet history %26gt; delete
voila, done, glad to help.
N.B. - this is for Firefox, and I have no idea if it will work with any other browser.
To clear all the search histories, go to 'Tools' in the toolbar at the top left of the screen. Several options should appear, among them 'Clear Private Data'. Clicking that option will erase the search history.
You might also want to delete your google history, if you need to. If it is a toolbar, pull down the search box and click on the blue link. If you use the homepage, you need to go into preferences.
Or if you are using Opera go tools %26gt; delete private data %26gt; details and tick ';clear history of visited pages';. Plus any other things you may want deleted such as all cookies or history of typed in addresses.
ok you go to the toolbar at the top of your internet browser and click on the history button ( it looks loke a clock with a green arrow going anti-clockwise) . this will bring up your history on the left of your page. right-click the page you want to delete and then select delete. this will send that page to your recycling bin so if you need to find it in your bin and permanently delete it. hope this helps :)
open internet explorer open the history tab right click then press delete
or click on tools %26gt; internet history %26gt; deleteHow do i clear search historys from my computer?
if you use firefox, go to tools, and select clear private data.
and u can choose which one you want to delete!
or just use disk cleanup
Safari Web Browser:
1. History
2. Clear History
Internet Explorer ( I.E)
1.On your internet Explorer toolbar click TOOLS
2. click DELETE BROWSEING HISTORY
On that window you will have the opition to delete multipule things such as files, cookies, browseing history, typed information saved on fourms, and passwords:
Files- Copies of images, webpages etc.
Cookies- Files saved on your system by websites to save your settings such as login infomation
History- List of recently visted websites
Forms- Saved information typed into forms
Passwords- passwords that are automatically filled in when you log on to a recently visted websites.
Good Luck,
Shawn W 8-)
Next time you have a question about your web browser, tell what one it is.
follow these steps:
click on tools %26gt; internet history %26gt; delete
voila, done, glad to help.
N.B. - this is for Firefox, and I have no idea if it will work with any other browser.
To clear all the search histories, go to 'Tools' in the toolbar at the top left of the screen. Several options should appear, among them 'Clear Private Data'. Clicking that option will erase the search history.
You might also want to delete your google history, if you need to. If it is a toolbar, pull down the search box and click on the blue link. If you use the homepage, you need to go into preferences.
Or if you are using Opera go tools %26gt; delete private data %26gt; details and tick ';clear history of visited pages';. Plus any other things you may want deleted such as all cookies or history of typed in addresses.
ok you go to the toolbar at the top of your internet browser and click on the history button ( it looks loke a clock with a green arrow going anti-clockwise) . this will bring up your history on the left of your page. right-click the page you want to delete and then select delete. this will send that page to your recycling bin so if you need to find it in your bin and permanently delete it. hope this helps :)
How does one clear personal files from a computer and restore back to original state (w/o the cd)?
Im leaving my workplace, and want to clear my computer of all files for privacy reasons. I do not have the back up CD. What are the options to clear and restore to original state?How does one clear personal files from a computer and restore back to original state (w/o the cd)?
Delete all your own files which you KNOW you created. In addition, use DIsk Cleanup to get rid of the temporary Internet files, downloaded files and cookies.
Start - Programs - Accessories - System tools - Disk Cleanup.
Lastly, your tech people probably have a ';Gold Disk'; or ';Image'; which they can 'reimage' your PC. Ask them to do this for your own personal security.How does one clear personal files from a computer and restore back to original state (w/o the cd)?
Without the CD or a ';Restore Partition';, you can't. Your best solution would be to go through the system and delete all personal files.
You will need to talk to someone in your IT department, if you have one. Otherwise you will just have to remove all your personal files individually. Remember that the computer and the information that is not personal that it contains, belongs to your company and you could in theory face legal action for destroying that information.free antivirus download
Delete all your own files which you KNOW you created. In addition, use DIsk Cleanup to get rid of the temporary Internet files, downloaded files and cookies.
Start - Programs - Accessories - System tools - Disk Cleanup.
Lastly, your tech people probably have a ';Gold Disk'; or ';Image'; which they can 'reimage' your PC. Ask them to do this for your own personal security.How does one clear personal files from a computer and restore back to original state (w/o the cd)?
Without the CD or a ';Restore Partition';, you can't. Your best solution would be to go through the system and delete all personal files.
You will need to talk to someone in your IT department, if you have one. Otherwise you will just have to remove all your personal files individually. Remember that the computer and the information that is not personal that it contains, belongs to your company and you could in theory face legal action for destroying that information.
How do I clear all data on my computer?
I want to have my computer like i just pulled it out of the box.
But the computer says that the file that helps me do that is infected so it wont let me use it.
PLEASE HELP!!!!!How do I clear all data on my computer?
Step 1
Backup any computer data that you wish to save. Resetting Windows XP will completely wipe your hard drive and delete all files on your computer. You may backup your computer using blank CDs/DVDs, an external hard drive or an online backup service such as Mozy.com.
Step 2
Insert the original Windows XP installation disk into the CD-ROM drive of your computer.
Step 3
Click the Start menu button in the lower left-hand corner of Windows XP and select Restart to reboot your computer.
Step 4
Press any key on your keyboard during the booting process to launch the Windows XP installation setup screen.
Step 5
Choose Enter Setup on the setup screen. Do not click Repair. After selecting Enter Setup, press the Enter key on your keyboard.
Step 6
Review the licensing terms provided by Microsoft to all users of the Windows XP operating system. Press the F8 key on your keyboard to confirm that you have read these terms and agree to them.
Step 7
Wait for the Windows XP installation disk to scan your hard drive and locate your current Windows XP installation. Select the target hard drive partition in which you wish to reset and restore the Windows XP operating system. Typically, the default drive is the C:\\ partition.
Step 8
Select the type of Windows file system that you wish to revert to from the setup screen. Click Enter after making your selection.
Step 9
Press Enter on the next screen to prompt the setup software to begin the Windows XP reset process. Wait for the entire reinstall process to complete before closing the dialog box. Depending on the size of your hard drive and the speed of your computer processor, this process may take several hours.
Step 10
Type your entire Windows XP registration code at the end of the installation process.
Step 11
Enter the settings for the Windows XP reset, such as your time zone and name. This will erase any current settings in your old Windows XP installation.
Step 12
Press any key to complete the installation and restart your PC.How do I clear all data on my computer?
Just do as I say.............
Step 1
Go to Darik's Boot and Nuke website. There you will find a brief description of the program and then the ';Download'; section.
Step 2
Click on the README.TXT file if you haven't used this program before. This tells you about the program, how to download it onto a floppy, USB drive, or a CD, and how to use the program.
Step 3
Once you have reviewed the readme file, go back and click on the download for either CD and DVD media or floppy disks and USB flash drives .
Step 4
Once you have the program downloaded, re-boot the computer. The readme file has some instructions for how to do this, since the program cannot be started from within Windows, and you need to have the DBAN program start before the operating system on the hard drive is started.
Step 5
Type ';autonuke'; at the boot prompt to wipe all devices on the computer without confirmation. If you need further help, support is available through the website. Be sure to follow the protocol, outlined within the README file, to get support.
format your computer.
u need the disks that came with it to do a complete reformat/reinstall
But the computer says that the file that helps me do that is infected so it wont let me use it.
PLEASE HELP!!!!!How do I clear all data on my computer?
Step 1
Backup any computer data that you wish to save. Resetting Windows XP will completely wipe your hard drive and delete all files on your computer. You may backup your computer using blank CDs/DVDs, an external hard drive or an online backup service such as Mozy.com.
Step 2
Insert the original Windows XP installation disk into the CD-ROM drive of your computer.
Step 3
Click the Start menu button in the lower left-hand corner of Windows XP and select Restart to reboot your computer.
Step 4
Press any key on your keyboard during the booting process to launch the Windows XP installation setup screen.
Step 5
Choose Enter Setup on the setup screen. Do not click Repair. After selecting Enter Setup, press the Enter key on your keyboard.
Step 6
Review the licensing terms provided by Microsoft to all users of the Windows XP operating system. Press the F8 key on your keyboard to confirm that you have read these terms and agree to them.
Step 7
Wait for the Windows XP installation disk to scan your hard drive and locate your current Windows XP installation. Select the target hard drive partition in which you wish to reset and restore the Windows XP operating system. Typically, the default drive is the C:\\ partition.
Step 8
Select the type of Windows file system that you wish to revert to from the setup screen. Click Enter after making your selection.
Step 9
Press Enter on the next screen to prompt the setup software to begin the Windows XP reset process. Wait for the entire reinstall process to complete before closing the dialog box. Depending on the size of your hard drive and the speed of your computer processor, this process may take several hours.
Step 10
Type your entire Windows XP registration code at the end of the installation process.
Step 11
Enter the settings for the Windows XP reset, such as your time zone and name. This will erase any current settings in your old Windows XP installation.
Step 12
Press any key to complete the installation and restart your PC.How do I clear all data on my computer?
Just do as I say.............
Step 1
Go to Darik's Boot and Nuke website. There you will find a brief description of the program and then the ';Download'; section.
Step 2
Click on the README.TXT file if you haven't used this program before. This tells you about the program, how to download it onto a floppy, USB drive, or a CD, and how to use the program.
Step 3
Once you have reviewed the readme file, go back and click on the download for either CD and DVD media or floppy disks and USB flash drives .
Step 4
Once you have the program downloaded, re-boot the computer. The readme file has some instructions for how to do this, since the program cannot be started from within Windows, and you need to have the DBAN program start before the operating system on the hard drive is started.
Step 5
Type ';autonuke'; at the boot prompt to wipe all devices on the computer without confirmation. If you need further help, support is available through the website. Be sure to follow the protocol, outlined within the README file, to get support.
format your computer.
u need the disks that came with it to do a complete reformat/reinstall
Friday my computer was corrupted and had to clear the Hardrive except for the original factory settings?
How can I bring them back onto my desk top?Friday my computer was corrupted and had to clear the Hardrive except for the original factory settings?
Bring WHAT back? If you restored it to factory, what you see is what you get.Friday my computer was corrupted and had to clear the Hardrive except for the original factory settings?
Bring what back? If you are talking about your programs, you reformatted the HDD making it a blank canvas with only the OEM software installed. Reinstall/download everything is your only hope if you didn't have a backup.
you cant bring them back since you wipe your data and current settings in your hardware. the remedy is that you should always put a back up files before you take a reformat in your system
Ah, the wonders of Reformatting
Kiss your data goodbye, hope you didn't have company data on it.
Bring WHAT back? If you restored it to factory, what you see is what you get.Friday my computer was corrupted and had to clear the Hardrive except for the original factory settings?
Bring what back? If you are talking about your programs, you reformatted the HDD making it a blank canvas with only the OEM software installed. Reinstall/download everything is your only hope if you didn't have a backup.
you cant bring them back since you wipe your data and current settings in your hardware. the remedy is that you should always put a back up files before you take a reformat in your system
Ah, the wonders of Reformatting
Kiss your data goodbye, hope you didn't have company data on it.
Would like to clear things off computer so it will work quicker how?
alot of times when I am checking e-mail it wont click to where i can answer.Would like to clear things off computer so it will work quicker how?
Clean out your cache. If you are using Internet Explorer, go to TOOLS, then INTERNET OPTIONS, then click DELETE. Then DELETE FILES and wait until it is done, you will see a little action window. Then DELETE COOKIES, same thing. Then DELETE HISTORY, and wait. Once it is done, click OK. Go back to your desktop, out of your browser, and go to START, ALL PROGRAMS, ACCESSORIES, SYSTEM TOOLS and click on DISK CLEAN UP. Once that is done, restart your computer. That should help. Also in Accessories, you may want to do disk defragment, but maybe overnight because it may take a while.Would like to clear things off computer so it will work quicker how?
Working faster involves two things, Memory %26amp; Processor speed. Those to items are what runs a computer basicly. You can be mislead into thinking things are removed when in fact they are simply ';put to the side'; and still occupy your disk space and read which slows all computers down.
Weekly disk clean up and defrag is about all one can do to maintain optimum performance.
Clean out your cache. If you are using Internet Explorer, go to TOOLS, then INTERNET OPTIONS, then click DELETE. Then DELETE FILES and wait until it is done, you will see a little action window. Then DELETE COOKIES, same thing. Then DELETE HISTORY, and wait. Once it is done, click OK. Go back to your desktop, out of your browser, and go to START, ALL PROGRAMS, ACCESSORIES, SYSTEM TOOLS and click on DISK CLEAN UP. Once that is done, restart your computer. That should help. Also in Accessories, you may want to do disk defragment, but maybe overnight because it may take a while.Would like to clear things off computer so it will work quicker how?
Working faster involves two things, Memory %26amp; Processor speed. Those to items are what runs a computer basicly. You can be mislead into thinking things are removed when in fact they are simply ';put to the side'; and still occupy your disk space and read which slows all computers down.
Weekly disk clean up and defrag is about all one can do to maintain optimum performance.
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