Getting rid of personal data on pc?

googler

Davesnave wrote: »

........Or smash it with a club hammer.

Why all this enthusiasm for smashing up a perfectly good drive?

Keep it, use it as a backup or secondary, re-format it, whatever - it's still useful. No need to waste it.

googler

LincolnshireYokel wrote: »

Many of the computers sold on ebay are bought by fraudsters, and swept for erased data first, then sold on for scrap.

can you provide any backup for this statement?

googler

Dussed wrote: »

Best way I've heard is to put a few holes in it with a drill.

again, why would the OP need to destroy a perfectly good drive that could be reused by them for backup and other purposes?

Dussed

googler wrote: »

again, why would the OP need to destroy a perfectly good drive that could be reused by them for backup and other purposes?

The OP might be more concerned about the data and not really care about the drive. It depends on the OP's preference really.

Davesnave

Dussed wrote: »

The OP might be more concerned about the data and not really care about the drive. It depends on the OP's preference really.

Thank you. Saved me having to explain.

closed

They asked how to install windows for a new owner, I doubt that they intend going out and buying a new hard disk for that purpose when they have one installed already

Davesnave

closed wrote: »

They asked how to install windows for a new owner, I doubt that they intend going out and buying a new hard disk for that purpose when they have one installed already

Yes, I agree, which is why I reassured OP that there are lots of computers being sold minus the HHD.

Personally, if I bought second user computer, I'd probably want to change the drive anyway.

I'm happy with your solution. It is up to the OP to decide what they'd like to do. This is about peace of mind, which is a mental state, subject to the vagaries of human emotion.

Dave_C_2

closed wrote: »

This has been asked 100's of times on here, and always attracts the same extreme responses.

Follow post 4, you'll have a fully working factory restored pc after 30 minutes work, and no-one (including imaginary fraudsters with superhuman skills and endless time on their hands) will get your data back.

Machines often come with a method of creating the windows disc, you'll still need to tick the ccleaner wipe free space option on all drives, if you use this method of reinstallation instead.

+1, I agree.
A second-hand PC will be worth more with an operational OS.
And as any fule kno that if you must destroy a hard drive the only way is thermite:)

Dave