Selling laptop, but how to clean off data?

Jolaaled

Hi all
have sold laptop on ebay, but realised that, having deleted as much as possible and emptied recycle bin, is there anything else i can do, to protect my security?
I've heard of personal data still being accessible on 'fat' files??

Is there a quick and easy way, and would i have to re-install Windows (not done this before, so may be beyond me).

thanks to all

33pelter

I could use the same help! My problem is my laptop is broken and being sold as spares or repair....

-TangleFoot-

Options:

• Use DBAN and reinstall Windows from CD/DVD
• Restore factory image and use Eraser to Erase Unused Space
• Remove the HDD and destroy it.

33pelter

Is it dangerous to sell without data being wiped? There's no confidential information on it or anything, it was only ever used for the internet and A-level assignments....

andyaj0807

Everytime you go onto the internet, what ever site you visit, its stored on your computer. If you put personal details on a word document and delete it, it is still stored on your computer. Even if you delete these files, the are still stored on your computer, they are just hidden. Even if you reinstall windows and format the hard disk drive (HDD), its still stored on your hard drive!!...

Now i have been in the same situation as you, i had bank statements saved on my hard drive, i needed to make sure that these files are deleted so no 1 can find them at all! (even tho i did delete them)... a program called "DriveScrubber 3" will overright any hidden files (files you have deleted) and replace them with data than cannot be encrypted, basicly, this program will ensure all deleted files cannot be recoverd.

Google "DriveScrubber 3" for download... It does cost money!...

It also give you the option to delete EVERYTHING on your hard drive even the operating system, so if you choose that option, make sure you have a recovery disk!

-TangleFoot-

andyaj0807 wrote: »

Google "DriveScrubber 3"

Why bother? Eraser and DBAN do much the same thing for free!

asininity

I would recommend Active KillDisk from here. Its very good.

andyaj0807

-TangleFoot- wrote: »

Why bother? Eraser and DBAN do much the same thing for free!

Its normaly free for a reason! It doesn't work aswell!... DriveScrubber I find trustworthy, i herd very good reviews from it, its very easy to use and its been It meets and exceeds not only the U.S. Department of Defense 5220.22-M disk-sanitizing standard, but also all known government and military specs.

asininity

Just because somethings free dont mean it doesn't work as well.

pstones578

Jolaaled wrote: »

Hi all
have sold laptop on ebay, but realised that, having deleted as much as possible and emptied recycle bin, is there anything else i can do, to protect my security?
I've heard of personal data still being accessible on 'fat' files??

Is there a quick and easy way, and would i have to re-install Windows (not done this before, so may be beyond me).

thanks to all

Install something like eraser http://eraser.heidi.ie/ and do a multi pass clean of your hard drive. Then if your really paranoid, run Get Databack NTFS against the 'cleaned' disk and see what can be recovered, you should find nothing useful after a secure erase.

DCodd

Newbie guide to file deletion:

Delete using windows = windows marks the file as being able to be overwitten and does not actual overwrite the file, any file recovery software can find these files.

Erasing software = Actualy overwrites the file with random data (all data is actualy just 0s and 1s) different levels of erasing means more or less data is written over the file (depending on the age and quality of the hardware in your computer depends on how acurately the file gets overwritten). Most will have a free space deletion option to clean any files and fragments that may be hidden in the free space on the hard drive. Commercialy available recovery software will not be able to find theses files.

The authorities and probably some major crime syndicates have access to very advanced software and electron microscopes that can recover practically any overwritten file, even if the disk is physically destroyed.