www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk

Right then, another numpty question from yours truely

if I want to sell or get rid of my computer, what can I do to clear all memory from it, I dont want anything left on my drive etc, so what is the easiest and simpliest way of making sure that everything is wiped clean.

Take the hard drive out, and destroy it. then get a computer guy to fit a new one.

Bobbie,
Is there any information, files or folders on the computer that you want to keep on a newer computer?
If so, you should get a computer guy to put the hard drive (HD) into your new computer and transfer the files etc to the new computer hard drive.
Then either keep it in the computer or destroy it. But either way, if you are selling the old comp, it will need a HD installing and possibly an operating system installing.
Do you have a disc with Windows XP on from when you bought the old comp?
If so he could reinstall XP for you.

What make and model is the old one, and what Windows does it have on it?
How old is it?

dave

http://www.dban.org/about

systematically writes zeros to each sector of the disk making it unreadable then just re-partition it and re use.

Depending on age/power a PC might only realise a few £ - not to mention the worries you may have over possible data loss. Personally I'd try to find another use for it - kids bedroom? or even strip it for bits to transfer to the new machine (memory and HDD to name but two).

As scruff says, the simplest and most secure method is the hammer.

Second PC is always a good thing for friends and family - depending on the age/state.

As said above - what make and model? Each have their own methods of system recovery and some allow you to create recovery media. If it's one of those, a good solution is:

- Backup any data to keep
- Create recovery Media (if possible - what make/model/discs do you have?)
- DBAN the machine (or equivent). This will remove all data
- Restore system and use/keep/sell/give knowing it's not got your data on.

Don't worry about creating the media - most if not all of the major guys use a system that creates restore media from a restore image. This will NOT contain any of your data and is CRC checked to ensure it's the same size/type as what they made in the factory ;)

Cheers,

BG

Sorry folks I havent been back to reply to you all, but have been very busy with one thing and another.

I will be selling or getting rid of my desk top PC and be getting a laptop sometime in the next few months, so just wanted rid of all my date that is stores, so that if I sell or dump it, no one can get in to retreive personal details, ie bank, card numbers etc

Plus I am selling my house and downsizing, so wouldnt have a clue how to reconnect everything anyway lol, plus a laptop would be more compact and easier for me.

A related question - if you're getting rid of a computer or laptop is there a best way to do this or can you just put it in the household bin? Are there places that take old computers, like they take old mobile phones?

The Council dump will take them, but as above you need to remove the hard drive, and destroy it, for it to be really safe.

Ask your green collection crew.

There are also companies who take computers off individuals hands and re-work them for places like charities and schools. They erase your personal data and install a genuine copy of Windows - worth consideration.

as BG says there are charities that will take them - took a couple of old ones of mine (they were that old the processors were carved out of wood) to a charity/company round mine called Remploy which try to re-train the long term unemployed and they seem pleased as punch to get them (probably chucked them in the bin as soon as I went though - they were that bad)

northwales4u wrote:as BG says there are charities that will take them - took a couple of old ones of mine (they were that old the processors were carved out of wood) to a charity/company round mine called Remploy which try to re-train the long term unemployed and they seem pleased as punch to get them (probably chucked them in the bin as soon as I went though - they were that bad)

Remploy is a good example - good guys!

Are you near there? I should have said Hi

BG

I'm about 3 or 4 miles outside of Wrexham in the country (keeps me out of trouble!)

BillyGoat wrote:There are also companies who take computers off individuals hands and re-work them for places like charities and schools. They erase your personal data and install a genuine copy of Windows - worth consideration.

I dont mind that, as long I was sure that they did erase all my stuff.

I suppose if push comes to shove I could just bash the hell out of it

Get the screwdriver out Bobbie and see how it all come apart.

Go on you know you want to.

Are you feeling better now Bobbie.