100% of the information will not be removed, there will be items left in the registry. The only certain way of removing data, is to use an eraser utility and a clean reinstallation of windows.
I have used one utility called Eraser. It seems to work quite well. In the incarnation that I have on other pc's, you have your choice of how many times it overwrites the HD. It is not a fast (understatement) procedure, but the version I have is supposed to exceed DOD standards. It is a free program, you have probably linked to it.
The final decision will be your own, of course, and how comfortable you are with the level or degree of erasing.
If you want the ULTIMATE in removal of personal information, my recommendation would be to physically remove the hard drive prior to selling the computer.
You may have to lower your selling price because the buyer will have to install one of their own, but I would imagine the buyer would understand your reason for selling a computer with no hard drive, if at the time of sale you are open about why you have removed your old one.
Alternatively, you could purchase an inexpensive used hard drive at a swap meet and put that in your old computer prior to sale.
What to do with the removed hard drive? Put it in your new computer as a second hard drive. If that isn't practicable, once you have backed up and removed everything you will ever need from it, take the hard drive to some place like a machine shop and have them use an industrial saw to cut the hard drive into pieces (halves or quarters).
That's what I did and I can 100% guarantee you that no one will ever be able to recover any data from that hard drive.
"nvcreations" wrote: "I dont have the install cd for my OS, it was built by a friend in the last state I lived in, and I have no contact. I dont want to go out and blow money on a whole new OS, but is that my only choice?"
Guess that means the OP, wants to keep the hard drive and only remove his personal data and leave the operating system intact.
Maybe. I think we are both correct in this instance.
In my original reply, I began by mentioning that the decision was up to him (the original poster), based on his own comfort level. I think it fair to say that that still applies.
Also in my original reply, I was only offering an alternative when I wrote about removal and destruction of the original hard drive and purchase and installation of a used hard drive. Perhaps I should have made myself more clear. It was never my intention to suggest that the original poster go out and blow big bucks on a whole new operating system.
Older hard drives, with an operating system loaded, can be purchased very inexpensively in a lot of places. Swap meets or eBay come to mind. The original poster will not blow (big) money on a whole new operating system if he follows this route, although I grant you he will spend
some money. Again, it's his personal information and his comfort level.
I did an eraser program once, manually deleted everything I didnt want, and did it again. I will delete my profile from the users as well.
I am including the hard drive with the sale, not much I can do outside of that. I feel somewhat comfortable with the purchaser, she works in the same building as my mom so yeah.
if you guys think of anything else let me know! thanks again.
shesagordie
10 Elder
•
46K Posts
0
July 30th, 2006 17:00
100% of the information will not be removed, there will be items left in the registry. The only certain way of removing data, is to use an eraser utility and a clean reinstallation of windows.
Larryls
3 Posts
0
July 31st, 2006 23:00
Bev,
I have used one utility called Eraser. It seems to work quite well. In the incarnation that I have on other pc's, you have your choice of how many times it overwrites the HD. It is not a fast (understatement) procedure, but the version I have is supposed to exceed DOD standards. It is a free program, you have probably linked to it.
lls
shesagordie
10 Elder
•
46K Posts
0
August 1st, 2006 02:00
JimCC
25 Posts
0
August 1st, 2006 02:00
The final decision will be your own, of course, and how comfortable you are with the level or degree of erasing.
If you want the ULTIMATE in removal of personal information, my recommendation would be to physically remove the hard drive prior to selling the computer.
You may have to lower your selling price because the buyer will have to install one of their own, but I would imagine the buyer would understand your reason for selling a computer with no hard drive, if at the time of sale you are open about why you have removed your old one.
Alternatively, you could purchase an inexpensive used hard drive at a swap meet and put that in your old computer prior to sale.
What to do with the removed hard drive? Put it in your new computer as a second hard drive. If that isn't practicable, once you have backed up and removed everything you will ever need from it, take the hard drive to some place like a machine shop and have them use an industrial saw to cut the hard drive into pieces (halves or quarters).
That's what I did and I can 100% guarantee you that no one will ever be able to recover any data from that hard drive.
Good luck!
shesagordie
10 Elder
•
46K Posts
0
August 1st, 2006 02:00
shesagordie
10 Elder
•
46K Posts
0
August 1st, 2006 03:00
Jim.
I agree with you in principal, but sometimes compromises must be made. :smileyhappy:
Bev.
JimCC
25 Posts
0
August 1st, 2006 03:00
Maybe. I think we are both correct in this instance.
In my original reply, I began by mentioning that the decision was up to him (the original poster), based on his own comfort level. I think it fair to say that that still applies.
Also in my original reply, I was only offering an alternative when I wrote about removal and destruction of the original hard drive and purchase and installation of a used hard drive. Perhaps I should have made myself more clear. It was never my intention to suggest that the original poster go out and blow big bucks on a whole new operating system.
Older hard drives, with an operating system loaded, can be purchased very inexpensively in a lot of places. Swap meets or eBay come to mind. The original poster will not blow (big) money on a whole new operating system if he follows this route, although I grant you he will spend some money. Again, it's his personal information and his comfort level.
Jim
nvcreations
4 Posts
0
August 1st, 2006 19:00
thanks for all the suggestions!
I did an eraser program once, manually deleted everything I didnt want, and did it again. I will delete my profile from the users as well.
I am including the hard drive with the sale, not much I can do outside of that. I feel somewhat comfortable with the purchaser, she works in the same building as my mom so yeah.
if you guys think of anything else let me know! thanks again.
shesagordie
10 Elder
•
46K Posts
0
August 1st, 2006 19:00