Erasing stuff off computer before I sell it

[lindsey7]

I am about to get rid of my computer and I want to get rid of a lot of stuff on there that I did,...files ...I don't know really how to word this. How do I clean it out but leave the original programs on there? Its Windows ME.

Thanks

 

[SYAR2003]

U have to unistall all programs not wanted
in the add/remove from control panel.

Internet explorer , delete temp files , cookies , history etc.


Delete all your user documents .

Empty recycle bin.

Download a utility from the internet that
does a wipe on free space on your computer so that none of your personal files can be recovered.

SYAR

 

[franklin97355]

If you still have the disks I would delete the partition and reformat. Then reinstall the OS.

 

[SYAR2003]

Of course that the best way . I agree .
By the way its still possible to recover data
even if partitions is deleted and reformatted .
Only way to prevent it is to have some utility write
data in all free sectors.

But we are possibly getting a bit paranoid here..

 

[tiffanygirl]

After you delete all the stuff you don't want others to see/have, empty the recycle bin, and do a disk defrag. That will pretty well get rid of it. Tiff

 

[tiffanygirl]

PS. That way you can leave programs that others might want on it. Just delete the data files of those programs. Tiff

 

[geo87]

I use Nuke Disk to wipe the disk.Just do a google search for Nuke Disk to download.Run the program to make a floppy ,put it in the floppy drive and reboot.It takes a long time to wipe the entire disk.30gb 4hrs.

 

[franklin97355]

Remember, if you leave programs on the disk you need to pass the license to the new owner and not install those programs on your new computer.

 

[bcastner]

I see serious license issues for you for the software, including the OS, if you donate or sell the old computer with everything installed.

Boot with the CD, and use fdisk to remove all partitions. Sell it sans OS and sans any commercial software.

 

[mainegeek]

Hello lindsey7
If it were me, I would keep any/all software that came with
it including the WinME CD and/or any Restore CD's and then remove all partitions. Selling it in this condition would force the new owner to purchase an Operating System which they should do anyway. If the PC can handle XP then this would be the best route for them as it would probably contain most of the device drivers that they would require for it and license vs. ownership would remain a non-issue.

 

[neillovell]

With Windows Me you cannot boot from the CD like XP can you? So... how do you format the hard drive (is it run fdisk in DOS and pick an option there?) and then how do you tell the formatted drive to install from the CD (do you need to install the CD drivers or will they be on a Windows Startup disk?).

 

[comtec17]

I would recommend doing a low level format of your disk. Do a search on google and there are a ton of links.

 

[viol8ion]

Cyber-Scrub

http://www.cyberscrub-trial.com/Wipe-Disk/Wipe-Disk.html

Use the free trial.. it will wipe all sensitive data to mil-spec standards. That means that it wipes data, and wipes the drive 7 times so that there is virtually no chance that anything can ever be recovered.

When in doubt, deny all terms and defnitions.

http://www.wuli.com

 

[ceh4702]

I wouldnt keep WinME. As an operating system WinME is very unstable.

Most drive manufacturers have a way to writ zeros to either the firs 512 bytes or all of the drive. Basically this overwrites everything on the hard drive.

There is a program called Kill Disk that does repeated writes and rewrites areas several times to make recovering data next to impossible. The retail version has some more added functionality.

http://www.killdisk.com

If you do not like my post feel free to point out your opinion or my errors.

 

[lionelhill]

Software licences vary. Many do work on the "book" principle. One person at once can read it, and it's perfectly OK to sell it to another person, but they inherit the licence agreement and all obligations, and you lose all rights (which seems fair enough). But not all work this way. Frankly I find the others immoral, but they're legal, and legally binding, so we're stuck with it.