Redundant computer - how to clean the hard drive?

[Deleted User]

My old computer is about to be retired but is still in working order. I am thinking about donating it to local charity as it will undoubtedly be good for everything except games.

I have a lot of financial and work related stuff on it at the moment which I wish to permanently delete.

What is the best (and cheapest) way to do this? Would I be better taking it to PC World and getting them to do it?

spotter

Free Heidi Eraser software

http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/

blinky

Don't pay PC World to do it (I wouldn't trust them for starters).

The easiest way is to do a complete secure wipe of the Hard Drive. This will wipe everything out including the Operating System.

The tool I'd recommend is DBAN - Darik's Boot and Nuke Tool. It's open source freeware. You can download a versions which will produce a bootable floppy with the tool on or a bootable CD.

For the wipe method I would use American DoD 5220-22.M Standard Wipe which is a 7 pass wipe algorithm (DoD = Department of Defense). Usually running this once will wipe the drive to a satisfactory standard. If you are feeling particularly paranoid the you could use the Gutmann Wipe which is a 35 pass wipe algorithm (and therefore takes 5 times as long).

I've recently done this for some old machines at a local CSV office prior to disposal to a charity. (Did it free for them of course :T )

[Deleted User]

Many thanks

catford

now i've saved a bit of cash for my own pc i am going to give my loaned one back .Even though we are good friends i would like to wipe all my activity from it before itsreturn If i use heidi,will it leave all the original programs intact? i e explorer etc?? any recommendations for a half decent pc for about £400-450???

wildheart_2

no it will remove EVERYTHING.

catford

is there a program i can use to clean my pc of my personal stuff without wiping out int exp etc or do i have to do it longhand?? any suggestions please???

blinky

Have a look at evidence eliminator.