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how to wipe a computer
Comments
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The easiest and most secure way of safeguarding the data on your hard drive is not to sell it with the computer.
Take it out of the machine, and sell the machine without the drive.
Either that or take the drive out, buy a similar one, and put that in the machine - then sell it as having a hard drive, but no Operating System.
Absolutely.
When I "disposed" of some computers at work, I took the drives out, dismantled them and smashed them with a large hammer. Very therapeutic too!
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restoring to factory settings, followed by wipe free space makes any data unrecoverable.!!
> . !!!! ----> .0 -
Using a hammer seems to be quite a paranoid act when simply overwriting with a free tool does the job.0
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I'd somewhat agree -- u can never be too sure nowadays. :cool:The easiest and most secure way of safeguarding the data on your hard drive is not to sell it with the computer.
Take it out of the machine, and sell the machine without the drive.
Either that or take the drive out, buy a similar one, and put that in the machine - then sell it as having a hard drive, but no Operating System.0 -
...although i understand the reluctance of some would-be purchasers to buy only with a HDD/OS.0
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If a hard drive is formatted and even better erased with one of the free tools then its safe enough for most as the data will at least need recovery beyond the scope of most non tech users .
Different matter if their is something dodgy on it .
jje0 -
...although i understand the reluctance of some would-be purchasers to buy only with a HDD/OS.
agree; it's all a question of paranoia -- thresholdIf a hard drive is formatted and even better erased with one of the free tools then its safe enough for most as the data will at least need recovery beyond the scope of most non tech users .
Different matter if their is something dodgy on it .
jje 0 -
'Format' does not actually clean a disc to the point that data may not be recoverable. Either remove the HDD and physically destroy it, or use a specialist wiping program. These can be found on the internet."Never underestimate the mindless force of a government bureaucracyseeking to expand its power, dominion and budget"Jay Stanley, American Civil Liberties Union.0
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What's the deal with everyone wanting to 'destroy' the disc?
The OP apparently is using a computer other than the one to be sold, so can I suggest he/she removes the HDD from the parent's PC, and either installs it as a secondary in their own machine, or buys a caddy to put it in , also as a secondary drive.0
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