How do I clear my computer ready for donation?

DSmiffy

Hi there all, we have just upgarded our computer and would like to give the old one away to a relative. As the old has been used for work purposes it has some sensitive information on it such as wages, personal details and bank information.

Is there a quick and simple way I can wipe all this information off the hard drive so that I can pass it one to someone else with confidence. By the way, I'm not very techie, so if someone can explain it in a step by step manner that would be great. It currently runs Windows 95 and Sage.
Thanks very much!

Browntoa

Delete all the sensitive stuff by using this

http://www.download.com/AbsoluteShield-File-Shredder/3000-2092_4-10164976.html?tag=lst-0-1

or this

http://www.download.com/Simple-File-Shredder/3000-2092_4-10428355.html?tag=lst-0-2

marylee

Can you save ths to a disk? I want to donate my old pc windows 98e, but I do not wish to connect to the internet to do it as it is very slow. I am wondering whether I could download this on my new pc and save it on a disk and then use the disk to get rid of the data on the old computer. Thanks

Browntoa

yes, you can download it to disk....

DSmiffy

fantastic, thanks Browntoa, just downloaded it to a disk and have cleared the lot. Brilliant!!
Thanks again!!

Darksun

Another good way is to use DBAN (http://dban.sourceforge.net/) to completly wipe the drive, and then reinstall Windows. This way it leaves nothing that could in any way be sensitive.