Removing from harddrive

Peaches · 06-17-2004

I'm giving my SIL my old laptop. I doubt she'd ever try to bring up my deleted files, but JUST IN CASE, what's the best way to get rid of everything where they are relatively very gone? I know she'd NEVER know how to really get SUPER deleted files, so putting in a new harddrive is overkill. I've never installed an OS, so I'd probably screw it up if I formated the entire drive.

Lisa · 06-17-2004

Peaches do you have an XP cd? If so, whack that in the cd player, follow the prompts to install a fresh copy, when it warns you it's going to format, say yes please.

It really is easy, I've done it a few times now, and if I can do it, anyone can.

SykkBoy · 06-18-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by Peaches@Jun 17 2004, 10:25 PM
I'm giving my SIL my old laptop. I doubt she'd ever try to bring up my deleted files, but JUST IN CASE, what's the best way to get rid of everything where they are relatively very gone? I know she'd NEVER know how to really get SUPER deleted files, so putting in a new harddrive is overkill. I've never installed an OS, so I'd probably screw it up if I formated the entire drive.

You REALLY don't want her to see those pics of my ass, eh?

Hell Puppy · 06-18-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by Lisa@Jun 17 2004, 11:05 PM
Peaches do you have an XP cd? If so, whack that in the cd player, follow the prompts to install a fresh copy, when it warns you it's going to format, say yes please.

It really is easy, I've done it a few times now, and if I can do it, anyone can.

That'll keep out all but the hardcore techies, but you'd be amazed how easy it is to bring those files back from the dead after a format with the right tools.

chodadog · 06-18-2004

Low Level Format

Peaches · 06-18-2004

It's not an XP machine - it's Win98

I deleted everything "questionable" last night. I really didn't have all that much - just some websites loaded in there, but it's enough where I really don't want them seen.

How hard it is to grab things back up and can they do it accidentally?

This is a 400mhz Celeron laptop with 64MB ram. When I put out the batcall to family that it was up for grabs, my brother mentioned this has better specs than her current desktop. IOW, we're not talking big computer user here.

Choadog - I want to leave SOME things on there - software and such. Will the low level format get rid of everything?

chodadog · 06-18-2004

Yeah, completely. I believe low level format is the only type that truly gets rid of the data forever. I remember hearing about a program that wrote over all the blank space countless times so that previously deleted data couldn't be accessed (you can only go so far back, apparently). I can't think of the name, though.

Peaches · 06-18-2004

Gotcha, thanks. I'm going to go ahead and delete the best way I know how and if they dig in and find something...I'll blame it on spyware

VooMan · 06-18-2004

One of the girls at the office had a drive die on her, so when the new drive arrived I SMASHED the old one on the sidewalk... jumped on it and crushed it right there in front of everyone. Then I threw it in the trash...

Hack into that whydoncha...

DrGuile · 06-18-2004

Norton SystemWorks has a utility called disk wipe.

I do believe that's what it does.

06-17-2004	#1
Peaches Members Want to see your own Advertising Here! Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Hills of N. GA Posts: 10,823	I'm giving my SIL my old laptop. I doubt she'd ever try to bring up my deleted files, but JUST IN CASE, what's the best way to get rid of everything where they are relatively very gone? I know she'd NEVER know how to really get SUPER deleted files, so putting in a new harddrive is overkill. I've never installed an OS, so I'd probably screw it up if I formated the entire drive. __________________ Peaches@onlinebeach.com ICQ# 36734533

06-18-2004	#6
Peaches Members Want to see your own Advertising Here! Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Hills of N. GA Posts: 10,823	It's not an XP machine - it's Win98 I deleted everything "questionable" last night. I really didn't have all that much - just some websites loaded in there, but it's enough where I really don't want them seen. How hard it is to grab things back up and can they do it accidentally? This is a 400mhz Celeron laptop with 64MB ram. When I put out the batcall to family that it was up for grabs, my brother mentioned this has better specs than her current desktop. IOW, we're not talking big computer user here. Choadog - I want to leave SOME things on there - software and such. Will the low level format get rid of everything? __________________ Peaches@onlinebeach.com ICQ# 36734533

06-18-2004	#8
Peaches Members Want to see your own Advertising Here! Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Hills of N. GA Posts: 10,823	Gotcha, thanks. I'm going to go ahead and delete the best way I know how and if they dig in and find something...I'll blame it on spyware __________________ Peaches@onlinebeach.com ICQ# 36734533

06-18-2004	#9
VooMan Members Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 931	One of the girls at the office had a drive die on her, so when the new drive arrived I SMASHED the old one on the sidewalk... jumped on it and crushed it right there in front of everyone. Then I threw it in the trash... Hack into that whydoncha... __________________

06-18-2004	#10
DrGuile french with welsh tendancies Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 2,007	Norton SystemWorks has a utility called disk wipe. I do believe that's what it does. __________________ LiveBucks / Privatefeeds - Giving you money since 1999 Up to 40% Commission! 25% Webmaster Referal

06-17-2004	#2
Lisa Happiness is an anagram of penis pash... Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Brisbane Posts: 879	Peaches do you have an XP cd? If so, whack that in the cd player, follow the prompts to install a fresh copy, when it warns you it's going to format, say yes please. It really is easy, I've done it a few times now, and if I can do it, anyone can.

06-18-2004	#5
chodadog Members Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 372	Low Level Format