Sold Laptop - How Do I Remove My Info?

pinkemsy

I have just sold my old laptop on ebay, how do I remove all my personal information from it? I can remove my documents etc but what about the hidden info eg bank details, temp files etc? Grateful for any advice you can offer.

Wombat

Safest way is to reformat your hard drive and reinstal all your software, assuming that you have the manufacturer's installation disks and a Windows disk.

pinkemsy

Don't have my Office disk, I have looked everywhere for it. I do have the Windows disk though. I have sold it saying it comes with Office installed, so I can't risk taking it off and searching for my disk again. Thanks for the suggestion though.

Wombat

OK then, I'd use a file eraser such as Window Washer:

http://www.webroot.com/En_US/consumer-products-windowwasher.html?acode=af1&rc=712

Download the free trial and use it to erase all traces of your activity on the Net, history, passwords and 3rd. party software information.

Then, delete your account from the computer (assuming you have a separate Administration account set up - if not, set one up) and tell it to delete all your files.

You then need to delete all your emails and any other files that you have created that you don't want to pass on (you're beginning to see why reformatting is easier, right?).

I would then do a disk defragmentation on your hard drive - moving your files around will overwrite some of the areas you've cleared through deletion of files.

To make file deletion more secure, use one of the packages that overwrites the file several times, like Eraser:

http://www.heidi.ie/node/6

pinkemsy

Thank you - I'm going to try it this evening!

II_D2_II

Wombat wrote: »

OK then, I'd use a file eraser such as Window Washer:

http://www.webroot.com/En_US/consumer-products-windowwasher.html?acode=af1&rc=712

Download the free trial and use it to erase all traces of your activity on the Net, history, passwords and 3rd. party software information.

Then, delete your account from the computer (assuming you have a separate Administration account set up - if not, set one up) and tell it to delete all your files.

You then need to delete all your emails and any other files that you have created that you don't want to pass on (you're beginning to see why reformatting is easier, right?).

I would then do a disk defragmentation on your hard drive - moving your files around will overwrite some of the areas you've cleared through deletion of files.

To make file deletion more secure, use one of the packages that overwrites the file several times, like Eraser:

http://www.heidi.ie/node/6

but will this really remove all information?
wouldnt it be possible to make a reinstalation disk, from the files hidden on the computer, then re format it?

JDMYOFAN

START / RUN / CMD.EXE

FORMAT C:\

This wipes the PC.. You will need the windows installation disk though.

Marty_J

pinkemsy wrote: »

Don't have my Office disk, I have looked everywhere for it. I do have the Windows disk though. I have sold it saying it comes with Office installed, so I can't risk taking it off and searching for my disk again. Thanks for the suggestion though.

Depending on what version of Office you're using, you might be able to download a trial from Microsoft and use your serial number in it.

jpwjpw

If you want to do it properly....

Download this: http://www.dban.org/ (its free) and burn the ISO file to a CD. Boot from the CD and follow the instructions. This will securely wipe everything on your laptop.

After this has finished you will need to reinstall Windows and Office.

Marty_J

The OP doesn't have the Office disk to reinstall it with.

I hope they noted this when they sold it.

d900

what you really needed to do was think about this weeks before you sold it

contact the buyer say office is a problem.