Making Old Laptop Safe to Sell

giggles_alot

Morning,

I was hoping someone could point me in the right direction...

I've got my old laptop listed on ebay but I need to make it 'safe', get the information off it before sending to new buyer. I've got all the documents off that I need but I don't want to put my identity or personal information in danger by not clearing all the appropriate things off. What is the best way to do this?

Someone told me the only way to be really sure is to sell without the hard drive, is this true?

Thanks

OneADay

kill the disk http://www.killdisk.com/

But by the time you are done erasing the disk, it will probably be fried hot.

robmar0se

this is a good program, and you can choose how many times you overwrite the unused space.

Many folks forget to relete their old email accounts etc, so if using OE delete the lot and compact the folders first.

http://www.theabsolute.net/sware/clndisk.html

hpuse

Are you selling the laptop with the original operating system that came with it ?

If so, the best way to do this is to restore the original OS image that came by inserting the restore CD. There will be an option asking whether to keep or erase all user data from the disk. Make sure you tick/untick the option to erase all user data.

If you do not have a restore CD, then search the manufacturer' support website with your model number - you should be able to download one make a restore CD.

Hope this helps.

Linbox

robmar0se wrote: »

Many folks forget to relete their old email accounts etc, so if using OE delete the lot and compact the folders first.

If you haven't got a backup copy of the clean system, or unable to restore to factory settings. Delete all programs like FF/TB/Chrome etc all documents, all history type things, all programs that you've put on the machine basically. Then run CCleaner then delete unused space - use some thing like THIS or the equivalent.

Lifeforms

And don't forget about restore points. No point selling it with old restore points that will basically allow them to restore back to you unclean state!

John_Gray

The real question is whether you can reinstall the Windows operating system with the correct product key for the laptop.

If you can, clean the hard disk entirely using something like DBAN, or KillDisk (above), then reinstall Windows. Then update to SP3 (assuming it had XP on it), then all the later fixes. Shouldn't take more than a day or two!

Dave_C_2

I'll post my usual reply see post number 16 in this thread - and the follow-ups.

It all depends on your level of paranoia.

Whatever you do remember to write down the new windows password so the new user can log on.

Dave

John_Gray

Dave_C wrote: »

Whatever you do remember to write down the new windows password so the new user can log on.

I have a clever idea - don't set one!

giggles_alot

Thank you all for the replies.
I will have a play around with it tomorrow. I'm pretty sure it doesn't have any CDs with it, I think everything was pre installed and ready to go.
Thanks again

GunJack

John_Gray wrote: »

I have a clever idea - don't set one!

Common sense....it'll never catch on

I never set up "user" accounts & passwords on any of my machines, either my own or any I do up & sell....I don't really get why people insist on doing this, especially as a bootdisk can just remove them anyway...