Formatting a laptop using Vista Recovery CD - has it actually formatted the disk?

Wings_of_Ambition

Hello,

I have recently upgraded to a newer laptop and wanted to completely wipe all my data from the old Toshiba one.

In the past when I've formatted laptops, I've done it through DOS and the "Format C:" command (under the supervision of a tech-savvy relative, I must admit). This time, I had the 'Vista Recovery CD', which I booted from, and it appeared to format the disks and reinstall windows.

It all seems to have worked, except that when I go to the 'Uninstall a program' part of the Control Panel, a lot of the Toshiba programs have an install date of 2007. Is this a sign that the programs were never wiped, and that the Recovery CD has just fixed anything missing from my original Vista files? Or is it likely that is HAS wiped everything, and the 2007 is just the date the laptop was first used?

Also, having installed Vista and let Windows Update do it's 90 or so updates, it has altogether used about 20Gb of space. Again, is this expected, or is it another sign that the drive may not have been formatted in the first place?

Thanks

Wings

Toxteth_OGrady

You've probably done a Factory Restore from the recovery disk which puts the os/software back to the original as purchased installation.

closed

if you did a vista quick format, install ccleaner, tick the wipe free space option if you want to make sure nothing can be recovered.

NiftyDigits

What do you intend to do with the 'old' laptop and what is the full model number?