Help on Cleaning out a Computer.

19 years ago

Can anyone tell me how to clean out a computer...the email and all personal things? We are selling my husbands computer.

Thanks

Betty in Florida

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Comments (7)

bob414
19 years ago
One way is to use a utility like the one at this link: DBAN. It takes a while to run but it will wipe the hard drive clean. You will then have to reinstall the OS and any programs you want to include when you sell the computer.
TxKen
19 years ago
Betty,
Check out the Computer Help files.
Link should be at the top of the main page.
Hope this helps..
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First off lets get one thing perfectly clear I have NEVER claimed to be the ONLY person here HELPING, how absurd. I volunteer on numerous wonderful support/help forums with a multitude of absolutely wonderful knowledgeable people this one included. I never advise anyone to do or use something that I would not use myself and that will NOT change. And any time I see one recommended that I know has some problem I WILL with out doubt provide that info so that any person considering it will have full info to make an informed decision on that program themselves, with full knowledge. And I appreciate it when someone who knows something negative about a programs speaks up and provides that info, it is how we learn. IObit has been found guilty of several thefts of program material over the years this theft of malwarebytes is just one more. NOT the kind of people I want to entrust ANY ones pc to. Try reading the info provided about IOBit. I never mentioned you anywhere in my post, I simply referred to the program,(which I would have done no matter who posted about it, and have done in the past) no idea why on Earth you felt the need to slam me, but I am not the only one here you have done it to, it really does not surprise me. Done
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The safest way is to pull the hard drive out and keep it. Failing that, using a program that will "wipe" the drive is the next best approach. The drive wiping programs will overwrite the drive multiple times, making the contents unrecoverable. Restoring using the system CD will remove all references to the information on the drive, but won't remove the information, so somebody who is willing to put in the time and effort can recover it. Here is a ZDNET article on this. It references the Boot and Nuke above and also a Secure Erase program from the University of California San Diego.
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or better yet Linux OS it is FREE! all free tons of programs to use and yes again all FREE. Plus these days with virtually every distro available on a live cd you can try linux on your pc with out ever messing with anything, just put the live cd in the drawer, reboot the pc and select to run the linux from the cd. Great way to get the feel of a new OS with out changing a thing on your pc. When done remove cd and reboot back to normal nothing has touched your hard drive. With my windows machines, I defrag when it tells me it is time, I disc clean up every time I defrag and sometimes more. I update and scan with my scanners weekly, like superantispyware. keep my spywareblaster updated and enabled weekly, clear my temp internet files on firefox when I think about it. Don't use IE. Antivirus is on and updating does a full scan weekly. Do an online scan at trend micro randomly for backup. And I use several backup methods for my important stuff. Firewalls - software and hardware set and on do windows updates as far as order as you asked I do disc cleanup prior to defrag and I clear my cache in firefox prior to also.
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LOL!!! I thought that's what it was going to be. There have been a few times when I've had the outside cleaned that way too. Linda
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TxKen
19 years ago
Betty...
I'm sorry...it would be the FAQ's.
txKen
betty_the_villages
Original Author
19 years ago
The computer we are trying to delete files from to sell is using Windows 2000. I forget to tell this....smile!
We do not want to take out any good programs..just personal information.
Betty in Florida
grandms
19 years ago
There is a free program called Erase (you can find it using Google)that you can use just for wiping out those file you do not want to leave on the computer. It overwrites the files. It may take a little while to do this, but it works.
vstech
19 years ago
you could create a new user, log into that user, then delete the original user. this will remove all the my documents and pretty much anything stored in the D&S directory for that user.
in win2K it's a bit more difficult than XP, but same applies.
basically click on start>settings>control panel.
then click on users and passwords, then advanced, then click advanced again, then click on the user folder, right click on the right pane, add user, give the user administrative rights, then log off and back on as the new user, then repeat above, but delete the user you were logged on as before.
it's not totally gonna get all your data out, but it will take care of your email and a few other bits of stuff.
John
genes
19 years ago
You could also sell it without the harddrive. That would ensure all data is gone

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Help on Cleaning out a Computer.

Comments (7)

bob414

TxKen

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Help on Cleaning out a Computer.

Comments (7)

bob414

TxKen

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