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i'm about to sell my computer to a friend and i want to clear windows of any personal info. is there a way to do this without reformating (ie: bootable programs or other software). by personal i mean everything, cookies, docs, logs, programs, and users, and just leave them with a new looking windows. the computer did not come with the XP cd so i suppose reformatting would require buying the disk. that really isnt an option for me. tnx
You can use any XP disk...as long as you have the license key on the side. It will say version with the key........ home or pro.......... just borrow a disk
As for cleaning the machine...dont forget the registry ;)
Best and easiest way is to format...IHMO
MLF
Depending on how it formats, this may not clean the system. If someone was bored enough they could still go through cluster by cluster looking for data (the reality is that if you quick format, you are just replacing the MBR/file table). If you want to be sure there is no data on the disk the best way is to overwrite the disk with all 1's then all 0's and to make sure that the program you are using is capable of writing to the entire cluster (not just partially or you could still leave stray data in the slack disk space).
I guess the decision is really up to you about how badly you want that data off of the system (ie to where the other person has no chance of accessing it). If you aren't that worried about it you could simply delete your files off the system and then use something like AdAware (check incidental items, i think that is what they call it) to go through and remove your file history, internet history, etc. Just a reminder though, deleted files can be found again...
well if thats the only option i have i guess it can work to reformat. i thought that there might be a program that you can botfrom and it would wipe the drive of everything except the windows files, and possibly clear them of any old data, without reformating. i would def reformat several times just to be sure but whats this about covering it in 1's and 0's is that a program or just something that works but is done within the windows cd
Just wanted to clarify this
That is a license key sticker on the side of the computer....or bottom of a laptopQuote:
You can use any XP disk...as long as you have the license key on the side.
MLF
no no i understand that i have done that with other comps i wanted to know more about the rewriting, and if that had to be a program or just is on the disk also. i understand that i can use xp disks to reformat. maybe i am misunderstanding this, i dont know how the disk would reformat not using quick but using the full or complete. i would really like to write over it several times just to be sure that they cant get anything off of it.
Well if you got the computer new without software then there should be a recovery partition on the hard drive. You will see this on boot up (hit f# for recovery) then you can choose what type of recovery you would like to do. I suggest clicking advance and choose the format recovery.
If you didnt get this system new and no software was presented with it on the hard drive, I would look at going to the person you got the computer from and ask for the CD.
If you Pirated the software I would format the hard drive and let the guy whos buying it worry about the OS. Remember if you sell a computer with pirated software you can be held liable for that.
Quote from morganlefay: You can use any XP disk...as long as you have the license key on the side. It will say version with the key........ home or pro.......... just borrow a disk
This isnt always true, what if you have an OEM, upgrade, or Volume Lic. Key?
i think i get it, so since i didnt pirate it and it came w/ recovery disks i can use those to wipe the drive. i think that could work.
windows washer
it cleans as it washes, 30 day trial
I would hope you could override this :)Quote:
Built-in safety features prevent you from accidentally removing important files.
also crap cleaner
just to remove all those little bits and pieces
don't forget to go through the control panel > add remove programmes to remove all the apps you don't want to send
then run a registry cleaner like reg supreme pro just to really empty out the last dregs from the registry
all of these are only if your mate is a good friend, and not too techy
otherwise, pull the plug, and re-install :eek:
[edit]
just re-read the last post ..........
run the CD
it will put the PC back to the day it was first built :p
Hint:
If you think you have destroyed the data, you are wrong.
It all depends on how much someone wants it. An appropriate sized drive can be picked up for a fraction of what you are probably being paid for the computer. Buy one, install the OS, keep your old drive as another drive in your new computer.... problem solved.
By using "External case" for harddrive you will be able always connect it to any USB port.
You will need also look to what rights is setup for you account, if you desktop is pesonalize so it can be problem to access it if it will be used from other computer.
But also you can use this tool http://www.nativecs.com/page.en.php?...n/aclview.desc
for removing rights for locked files.
Here is one link to one "External case" that I am also using by myself for backup
http://www.camerahobby.com/Digital_HardDriveCase.htm
I agree with Tiger Shark, I would sooner replace the drive with a new one, or run a few low level formats on it. Then reload windows. There are a couple programs out there that meet NSA specs for deleting data (if you REALLY are paranoid about anyone recovering files).
Used to use one called Gov Wipe when working for the DoD. Takes awhile to run. Has the option to make 7+ format passes. Takes all day. There is also a freeware version that is pretty good called KillDisk: http://www.killdisk.com/
Not sure this is what you want to hear though considering you don't want to blow out the existing install.
you may want to put in a DOS boot disk, load to command prompt and format the drive with the /u tag, this will take a while but will do a good job of getting rid of everything on the disk
also download the MaxBlast 4 software from maxitor and use the Zero Fill drive utility *full one* to completley empty the drive
High-Level Formatting: This is the “format” or meaning that flows off the tongues of most. It creates the logical structures on the HDD and makes the disk ready to place the OS near the first sector. Completed after creating volumes (partitioning) on the HDD.Quote:
Low-Level Formatting: Creates the actual physical structures on the HDD. Done only once at the manufacturer because of the complex nature of the structures on the modern drives. The older drives had the same number of sectors on the outer tracks as they did on the inner tracks. With the advance in technology we now have more sectors on the outer tracks than the inner ones. Google “Zoned Bit Recording” for an explanation. I would question any utility that claims it can complete a low-level format of a HDD while it’s on your computer. The drive controllers will laugh at the futile effort because they are designed not to allow it. Additionally, if it could be done, it would erase the “servos” on the tracks and the poor HDD Head would take a vacation because it wouldn’t know where to go to find the tracks. So read the documentation carefully before using. It may well be just a remapper.
cheers
Relyt is spot on, there is no "low level formatting" on modern drives.
It all depends on how "personal" these data are.................after all a "new" HDD is not that expensive?
You will have to reformat and reinstall for any semblance of security. I would then use a program that wipes "freespace" and then defragment.
Please remember that there is all sorts of interesting stuff stored in your Windows swap file (page file)
;)
It is true that is there is no level formatting, because the FORMAT TRACK command was removed from the ATA specs. What is available today as some one else mentioned is writing zero's to hard drive. This will essentially write 0 to all the sectors of the disk. Do not use the format command in DOS, it essentailly formats only 0.01% of the hard disk. The best possible thing is to backup all the data and just use the zeroing utility from the manufacturer.
MRG.