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| Thread ID: 25858 | 2002-10-13 21:49:00 | Cleaning personal files off HD before selling | Veronika (2237) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 88935 | 2002-10-13 21:49:00 | I'm selling a computer (WIN98) op system. How do I delete all personal files & programs with personal files ie. ICQ, email so they cannot be retrieved. I have been told that even if files are deleted from the recycle bin that files can be restored by someone with "Know-how" or uses a file recovery program. If I uninstall a program such as ICQ & delete all personal files ie. in Word , excel etc, then run defrag... get rid of all "For my eyes only" files & programs? Or.... do I have to reformatt the HD? Thanx Veronika |
Veronika (2237) | ||
| 88936 | 2002-10-13 22:05:00 | Veronika, It would be better to reformat the harddrive of your PC, AFTER you have got all your personal data off to some other media. To do this you can create a Win98 Boot Floppy. START | SETINGS | CONTROL PANEL Select within Control Panel "Add/Remove Programs" From within that select Startup Disk and follow the instructions to create a bootable floppy diskette. You can then boot from that floppy disk you created and (re)Format the disk ( or partition(s)) that your Windows 98 system was (is) setup on. The FAQ's on this forum (see top right) will help also. See in particular FAQ#33 & FAQ#34 Cheers, Babe. |
Babe Ruth (416) | ||
| 88937 | 2002-10-13 22:20:00 | Wrong Any proprietry data recovery program will restore the deleted data. Formatting merely writes a new file allocation table or master file table - depending on Windows OS. Recovery of deleted partitions and/or data is not difficult with the right software. To render data irretrievable, destroy the hard drive. To render data vitually irretrievable, use either Wipe.exe from IBM (overwites the entire drive with zeros), the disk cleaning utilty in Norton Utilities (overwrites unused space with random zeros and ones), Windows Washer (ditto) or do a search on a search engine for secure file deletion Why virtually? it is still possible to recover disk data from a lower level using sophisticated equipment. |
Merlin (503) | ||
| 88938 | 2002-10-13 22:23:00 | In my opinion, formatting the Harddrive would be the first step you should take to covering your tracks. I say this because even if you Uninstall programs such as ICQ, Messenger, AIM etc. there may still be remnants left on your drive. If this is the case, wiping free space won't actually do anything to those files since they are still very much alive and undeleted. My advice would be to format, install Win98, then wipe free space after you have installed anything else you feel neccessary. How do you wipe free space and/or the recycle bin? With this neat little program (www.tolvanen.com) ! |
Jemy_X (2081) | ||
| 88939 | 2002-10-13 22:28:00 | Have a look here. www.bbcworld.com |
BootyLicious (526) | ||
| 88940 | 2002-10-13 22:29:00 | Bad link sorry | BootyLicious (526) | ||
| 88941 | 2002-10-13 22:29:00 | Bugger. Perhaps if I just paste the link then... www.tolvanen.com |
Jemy_X (2081) | ||
| 88942 | 2002-10-13 23:01:00 | there is an EXELLENT file-getter-ridder-of-er called incinerator this deletes the files, writes random 0's and 1's over it, and does that up to 10 times over. The military requoires 7 times for secure deletion. so imagine the security of 10 times!! youll have to search for the download INCINERATOR javoyle |
javoyle (2120) | ||
| 88943 | 2002-10-13 23:58:00 | Have you got a super dupa electro magnetic device that when you switch it on it will affect all other things within a block radius? :D Just kidding .. I have to agree Merlin that no matter what you do to a hard disk apart from physically damage it, data can still be retrieve thru sophiscated equipment no matter how many times you have formated or written over it. However, those equipment ain't for sale in the Warehouse or not for an average person to own or operate, certainly won't be the buyer of your PC who just wanna know your ICQ and email contents :) So use one of those progs that overwrites unused space with random zeros and ones should do the trick! Cheers |
mashimaro (2168) | ||
| 88944 | 2002-10-14 00:31:00 | October NZ PC world cover CD has some utilities. Eg eraser link (idg.net.nz) Some feedback from subscribers would be interesting Concur with above comments however |
Marty2001 (421) | ||
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