how to clear laptop?

peanutpiper

Hi, I just want to clear anything off my laptop that has nothing to do with work! It has to go in the office next week and I have been on ebay quite a lot! how do I make sure I can clear it before the boss sees what I have been doin?

I have cleared history and cookies

CHR15

I use Window Washer,which is available for a trial period free.

http://www.webroot.com/consumer/products/windowwasher/

You could clear your Forms too to get rid of the typed history in the address bar.
Take a good look through the options for Window Washer, there are loads of files which aren't selected for deletion by default.

peanutpiper

Where are the files stored? How do I check to see if there is anything left?

CHR15

Depends on your OS.

Clearing the history doesn't get rid of the cookies each visited website leaves behind. This is the normal route companies take to bring disciplinary offences to employees.

If you say what Operating System is installed we can tell you where the cache lives.

Window Washer will do this for you though.

As for the Forms:
Assuming Internet Explorer

Tools => Internet options =>

Content => Autocomplete =>

Clear Forms and Clear passwords.



Edit:
Another thought but one frequently overlooked.

Make sure you haven't saved Ebay as a favorite!!

peanutpiper

howdo i find that out?

ABH_3

peanutpiper wrote:

Where are the files stored? How do I check to see if there is anything left?

It depends upon which browser you are using on the laptop. In the case of Internet Explorer, you would need to click on Control Panel, Internet Options on the general tab, click 'delete cookies': Press Ok. Click 'Delete FIles' put an 'x' in the 'delete all offline content' box and press Ok. Click Settings, View Files if you see any files, highlight one by clicking on it, then on the keyboard use 'Ctrl + A' to select all the files, then simply press the 'delete' key on the keyboard. Then press the 'Clear History' button, after which press Apply and Ok.

Then run this program: http://www.ccleaner.com/ it will clear anything you might have missed. Be aware that when installing, it may ask if you want to install the google toolbar, just say no and carry on with the installation.

HTH