Computer clean up

[Dave Rifkin]

I have an older computer that I want to donate but, before I do, I want to make sure all of my information is removed from the hard drive. Can anyone tell me the easiest way, short of removing the hard drive, to clean all of my personal infromation from the computer?

Thanks

[gemleeus]

If you used that system to do a lot of your personal business, no sure fire way except formatting. if just a playing around computer just go through your files etc. and delete info you deem as personal.

[Pantera]

You want to find a program that will overwrite everybit of info you have on your hard disk. When you just re-format a drive, it only erace's the first letter of each block of info.
Memory is stored in 8 and 16 blocks of text {{for example=(xbcdefghi)) on your hard drive. a savy computer person (ie=Hacker) can go in and read that and perhaps/usually undo and recover your data.

best is to take the drive out and hit it with a hammer two or three times and that way you are safe.


good luck

Pantera

[indycamaro]

If you have the original recovery disk that came with your computer just load them. They will format the drive and load all the original drivers etc back on, just like the day you brought it home.