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question for the computer experts...

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Prospect
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Posted: #1
looking to finally get rid of my old laptop and get a top of the line one. I figured I might as well try to re-sell the old one, even if I don't get much money for it.

My question is, how do I get rid of all my files and basically clean out the hard drive. I just checked online and some sites say to go to the recovery manager (I have a comaq) and click on system recovery which restores my computer to it's original factory setting. I guess it reformats the hard drive. 

So basically I'm wondering if that's good enough. Like could someone who buys my computer somehow find any of my files or passwords? if I do this complete system recovery I read it's like the first day you got your computer and deletes everything. i just didn't know whether I needed  to take it to a computer tech or buy some software to make sure my info can't be stolen. Thanks.
 
All-Star
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Posted: #2

Very interesting. I like to know the answer to this as well as I'm looking to replacing my old laptop soon. (And I don't plan on buying top of the line stuff as electronics get outdated so fast these days.)

 
Banned
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Posted: #3

Data can still be recovered even if you format the drive & reinstall the operating system. It's not easy, and probably won't happen, but you can't be sure.

Go to www.cnet.com and look for utilites that do a wipe of your hard drive. It overwrites the drive with zeros & ones and makes it much more difficult to recover any data.

The only two foolproof methods are a magnetic wipe (expensive) or replace the hard drive with a new one.

 
Captain
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Posted: #4
 
All-Star
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Posted: #5
Quote Originally Posted by 3rd_and_Long:

Data can still be recovered even if you format the drive & reinstall the operating system. It's not easy, and probably won't happen, but you can't be sure.

Go to www.cnet.com and look for utilites that do a wipe of your hard drive. It overwrites the drive with zeros & ones and makes it much more difficult to recover any data.

The only two foolproof methods are a magnetic wipe (expensive) or replace the hard drive with a new one.



And a new hard drive may cost more than a used laptop.  Are you going to sell your copy of Windows with the laptop?  If you are then just need to re-install it and do a full format.  If not, then you need a utility to format the drive, or you need to sell the laptop without a drive.
 
Veteran
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Posted: #6
how much are you expecting to get for your laptop? they are so cheap now a days, I doubt it would be worth the trouble and risk, unless you sell it without a hard drive.
 
Legend
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Joined: Oct, 2008
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Posted: #7
Quote Originally Posted by robois88:

looking to finally get rid of my old laptop and get a top of the line one. I figured I might as well try to re-sell the old one, even if I don't get much money for it.

My question is, how do I get rid of all my files and basically clean out the hard drive. I just checked online and some sites say to go to the recovery manager (I have a comaq) and click on system recovery which restores my computer to it's original factory setting. I guess it reformats the hard drive. 

So basically I'm wondering if that's good enough. Like could someone who buys my computer somehow find any of my files or passwords? if I do this complete system recovery I read it's like the first day you got your computer and deletes everything. i just didn't know whether I needed  to take it to a computer tech or buy some software to make sure my info can't be stolen. Thanks.

 

Had a lot of problems wit this as well. This site helped me clear up the confusion a ton. check it out

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StlMdNcvCJo

 
 
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Joined: Jun, 2002
Posts: 2635
Posted: #8
i was planning on selling my old laptop but didn't end up with any interested parties. so i kept it and use it primarily for downloading movies, tv shows and music before transferring to my ipod. if for some reason i get a virus, i'll just drill a hole through the hard drive.
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