How Do I Wipe My Computer

stellasstar1



Joined: 02/07/2008
Posts: 1519

Message Posted:
07/11/2009 18:13

Hi, I want to sell my Fujistu laptop, but first want to wipe everything off. I have the 2 discs it came with, the Product Recovery and Drivers & Utilites but can't find the magic nob that takes it back to factory settings. Can anyone help please?

Stella

Turtle


Joined: 28/05/2007
Posts: 2669

Message Posted:
07/11/2009 18:15

can't find the magic nob ?





Are you sure you wanted to write that Stella !!

catalkoykid


Joined: 15/02/2009
Posts: 1190

Message Posted:
07/11/2009 18:15

if they no what they are doing will still get the stuff off the hd, only way is to put new hd in.

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
07/11/2009 18:19

Stella: if you wipe (format) your hard drive completely you can no longer (easily) prove that the computer works. You should install an Operating System. Preferably a legal version of Windows. The CD's you mention don't hold an Operating System afaik.

Hector


Joined: 26/08/2008
Posts: 2352

Message Posted:
07/11/2009 18:21

Stella, best way would be to reinstall your operating system i.e. Windows XP with a clean install. That will reformat your hard drive. Otherwise very difficult to know you have completely erased your files. Use your recovery disks to see if it will give you a disk format option. If not a trip to the computer shop might be a good option.

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
07/11/2009 18:23

RE msg 3, catalkoykid: (...) if they no what they are doing will still get the stuff off the hd, only way is to put new hd in. (...)

=> Come on, Stella is not going to sell her laptop the CIA! Here you'll find enough info to erase a hard drive:

http://www.google.com/search?q=erase%20hard%20drive&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

But again: see msg 4!

catalkoykid


Joined: 15/02/2009
Posts: 1190

Message Posted:
07/11/2009 18:31

ive got software that recovers info from even broken hds, although broken 1s are hit and miss recovered pics and files for people, not cia hans, and if i was selling a comp that has had bank details and passwords i would not sell it with my hd in defo.

colly


Joined: 31/07/2008
Posts: 297

Message Posted:
07/11/2009 19:03

one way if you have time is to delete all your files and then load a load of films on until hard drive is full!



Depends on the size of your hard drive but this should clear most of your items.



I thought there were utilities on the web that could do the wiping.



Col

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
07/11/2009 22:07

Thought this article was helpful



http://netsecurity.about.com/od/quicktips/qt/erase_drive.htm

catalkoykid


Joined: 15/02/2009
Posts: 1190

Message Posted:
07/11/2009 22:17

thank you mark i rest my case lol

JohnMclovin


Joined: 27/08/2009
Posts: 37

Message Posted:
07/11/2009 22:48

ctrl + alt + delete

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
08/11/2009 00:17

Thought this article was helpful



http://netsecurity.about.com/od/quicktips/qt/erase_drive.htm

girne 29


Joined: 06/12/2007
Posts: 1488

Message Posted:
08/11/2009 01:17

Auslogics has as part of its programme a wipe system.

Never just delete.

BBC ,years ago followed some computers from a dump in England, where you were to take old computers in order for the council to destroy.

Unknown to anyone ,the council were not destroying them,but instead were sent to Nigeria. BBC followed them to a huge market where they are overhauled. They bought some and returned to england where they proceeded to check the hard drive. Went round to this bloke and even though he had deleted everything,could tell him what he had bought ,how much he had paid for a holiday,where he worked etc.Basically what had been on computer was an open book.

By the way, you could buy a disc where I lived that enables you to get all these deleted files.Only £20 at a market selling counterfeit software,it was a long time ago ,but think it was called Police Forensics

raki117


Joined: 29/07/2009
Posts: 43

Message Posted:
08/11/2009 03:08

I was told by a computer engineet to never sell a lap top as some one can allways find the information if they know how

adagirl


Joined: 01/06/2009
Posts: 371

Message Posted:
08/11/2009 06:52

lend it to me!! I will destory the memory in minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have lost photos emails etc etc dont know how I did it though....................

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
08/11/2009 08:48

In this thread I think we should agree on this first: there's a big difference between DELETING files and ERASING a hard drive. Zero-out data is quick and overwrites your data once - it is pretty safe for average users. A 35-pass erase action is as safe as possible for any user.

catalkoykid


Joined: 15/02/2009
Posts: 1190

Message Posted:
08/11/2009 09:14

if you keep bank details on your comp i dont think pretty safe is enough but thats my opinion

greengate8


Joined: 07/12/2008
Posts: 156

Message Posted:
08/11/2009 11:05

Stella - simply deleting files is not good enough if you are concerned.



The easiest way to remove files (for general purposes) is to format the hard disc(s), to do this try booting up the pc from your operating system CD and go to the DOS command screen (c:\) - using the command 'fdisk' and delete the primary partition, this will scramble all files on the system. Next step is to use the 'format' command (usually on the 'c:' drive if thats the only partition you have on your system) - doing this twice is usually sufficient for most purposes.



Having done this you can then try the command (from the 'c:' prompt) 'fixmbr' which eradicates any files left in the boot record and resets back to an effectively blank hard disc.



There are commercial programs which will do all of this and more, but Unless you have any really sensitive files on your system this should be sufficient.

hope this helps

proger1



Joined: 18/04/2009
Posts: 2919

Message Posted:
08/11/2009 11:29

Just a thought but if you have purchased a new laptop or PC to replace the one you are selling then change your passwords with it. Any old information that might be available on the old laptop even after formatting will then be out of date.

I agree with the format and clean re-install but would then change my passwords afterwards as a precaution.



Paul

stellasstar1



Joined: 02/07/2008
Posts: 1519

Message Posted:
08/11/2009 17:40

Thank you all for your help, but it's looking so hard and their seem to be so many devious people about, I'm not sure I'll bother. I agree with Hans, it's not as is I'm CIA or MI5. Just thought when someone was buying a computer, they would want someone elses stuff taken off. I have to say it never occurred to me that the buyer would go to a lot of trouble to get stuff off the hard drive. I guess I must be too trusting, I thought everyone on this board was honest or at least nice !!!!!!!!!. I can't be bothered to look at a lot of my own stuff, let alone someone elses. Re-message 19, I don't have a password on my old one or my new one. I think I'll just put it back on the shelf. Thanks again.

Stella

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
08/11/2009 19:18

Stella, I need a cheap laptop with a version of Windows (already in my possession) to test files and web pages made on a Macintosh. May I inquire how much money you ask for your laptop (and I'm not even slightly interested in your private files - If I can buy from you I'll erase the hard drive while you are watching! )

girne


Joined: 14/01/2009
Posts: 438

Message Posted:
11/11/2009 08:50

ıf you are still having problems call Aiden 05338449298

cyprusairsoft



Joined: 22/06/2009
Posts: 2066

Message Posted:
11/11/2009 09:49

Hans having worked in comp shop for a number of years data is easily retrieved even if the hard drive has been set on fire or damaged the correct solution is to install brand new drive with working operating system



format and install are not that difficult and all the info can be obtained on step by step guides on the net

keithcaley



Joined: 13/06/2008
Posts: 2521

Message Posted:
11/11/2009 10:01

Stella,

I would trust Hans with any data of mine - ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING!

I think that the suggestion that he is not trustworthy (worked in comp shop for a number of years) is appalling.

He is totally honourable, and if he says he'll do something, you can believe him.

Keith.