dumping old computer

ravima · 08-08-2009 04:44PM #1

I am dumping an old dell desktop. How can i be sure that all programs and anyi personal data are wiped from it. I do not want to hand it in/dump it if there is a possibility of personal stuff remaining on it.

wolfric · 08-08-2009 04:48PM

take the hard drive out. I wouldn't trust any companies. They'd probably just format which leaves the data there to be recovered.

If you want to get rid of the hard drive here are the methods that can be used on it.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4444555_destroy-computer-data-unrecoverable.html

Keano · 08-08-2009 04:50PM

ravima wrote: »

I am dumping an old dell desktop. How can i be sure that all programs and anyi personal data are wiped from it. I do not want to hand it in/dump it if there is a possibility of personal stuff remaining on it.

One way is to do a fresh install of the OS?

Or

Get a hammer - take out hard drive and give is a good bashing

MunsterCycling · 08-08-2009 04:55PM

Either take a hammer to the hard drive to be absolutly sure or google dban, boot from the dban cd and wipe the drive.

MC

Tea_Bag · 08-08-2009 04:56PM

if you have a windows CD, then you can format the HDD through it if you boot your PC from the CD. alternatively, and easier if you dont want to go through the bios to change boot sequence to CD, simply keep the HDD. open up the case, usually easy enough with a dell pc, and unslot the HDD. actually if its old it may have screws to keep it in.

EDIT: beaten to it by miles. slow typing obviously.

08-08-2009 05:02PM

Download DBAN (Darik's Boot and Nuke).
http://www.dban.org/

Burn it to a cd, load it up, it will write 1's and more 1's to your disk, you can tell it to write over the disk several times for peace of mind.

For physical methods, my favourite, grab a hammer, and some large magnets, add a splash of petrol and garnish with some fire.

No more data...

ynotdu · 08-08-2009 05:08PM

If you would like to give it to a charity/relative.there is a great piece of free software that deletes All traces of files called Revo uninstaller.
As well as the reviews on this link,it also has a feature that makes ALL deleted files unrecoverable from the hardrive.

http://download.cnet.com/Revo-Uninstaller/3000-2096_4-10687648.html?tag=mncol#editorsreview

BopNiblets · 08-08-2009 05:21PM

Yeah give it to camara.ie if you're near Dublin, Cork or Belfast.

Tea_Bag · 08-08-2009 06:16PM

ynotdu wrote: »

If you would like to give it to a charity/relative.there is a great piece of free software that deletes All traces of files called Revo uninstaller.
As well as the reviews on this link,it also has a feature that makes ALL deleted files unrecoverable from the hardrive.

http://download.cnet.com/Revo-Uninstaller/3000-2096_4-10687648.html?tag=mncol#editorsreview

Revo uninstaller FTW! it removes traces left in your registry too, which is fantastic!

nobeastsofierce · 08-08-2009 06:54PM

dumping old computer

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