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Best way to securely wipe an old PC?

kopper
kopper Posts: 184 Forumite
in Techie Stuff
Hi
I have now replaced by 10 yr old Dell Dimensio Desktop PC and want to dispose it securely and possibly sell it.

I have read about Darik's Boot And Nuke to completely wipe it securely but after wiping it I would like to reinstall the Windows XP.
The Dell came with CDs for drivers and Restore but if I use DBAN, will the restore CD work?

Thanks
«1

Comments

  • NiftyDigits
    NiftyDigits Posts: 10,459 Forumite
    Forget about DBAN, It may just cause you issues.

    What the Service Tag? It's written at the back.

    If on the machine, look here
  • kopper
    kopper Posts: 184 Forumite
    Its DVSNB1J

    Thanks
  • kopper
    kopper Posts: 184 Forumite
    anyone?

    Thanks
  • NiftyDigits
    NiftyDigits Posts: 10,459 Forumite
    kopper wrote: »
    anyone?

    Thanks

    I already replied to you via PM. Format(not the Quick Format) the disc with the new Windows XP CD, install XP and then wipe the Free Space with CCleaner....then put the thing on FreeCycle. It's not worth anything.

    You can check for yourself afterwards to see if you can retrieve any data once you have done this.
  • agrinnall
    agrinnall Posts: 23,344 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Take the hard disk out and physically destroy it. Quick and easy solution.
  • NiftyDigits
    NiftyDigits Posts: 10,459 Forumite
    agrinnall wrote: »
    Take the hard disk out and physically destroy it. Quick and easy solution.
    I have read about Darik's Boot And Nuke to completely wipe it securely but after wiping it I would like to reinstall the Windows XP.

    What is going on with you these days??
  • KxMx
    KxMx Posts: 11,461 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Personally I would take the hard drive out (it's dead easy) and sell the PC without.
  • agrinnall
    agrinnall Posts: 23,344 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    NiftyDigits wrote: »
    What is going on with you these days??

    In this case, failure to read enough :). Although the OP's first sentence sends a mixed message, "want to dispose it securely and possibly sell it", well which is it?
  • NiftyDigits
    NiftyDigits Posts: 10,459 Forumite
    agrinnall wrote: »
    In this case, failure to read enough :). Although the OP's first sentence sends a mixed message, "want to dispose it securely and possibly sell it", well which is it?

    True enough :)
  • googler
    googler Posts: 16,103 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    KxMx wrote: »
    Personally I would take the hard drive out (it's dead easy) and sell the PC without.

    Best way to secure data is to keep it.

    Agree with the above, take the HDD out and either use it with a new PC or keep it at the bottom of your sock drawer.
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