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Thread ID: 9340 2001-05-21 03:29:00 Clearing hard drive Guest (0) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
12941 2001-05-21 03:29:00 My computer is on lease. When I return it I want to completely clear the hard drive of all programmes not originally loaded. Your help would be appreciated. Guest (0)
12942 2001-05-21 08:05:00 You can go throught your control panel(start/settings/control panel) add/remove programs and select which programs to remove(individually). Be aware that if you have some private documents etc. they usually can be resurrected even if deleted.


Scotty
Guest (0)
12943 2001-05-21 08:08:00 You can go throught your control panel(start/settings/control panel) add/remove programs and select which programs to remove(individually). Be aware that if you have some private documents etc. they usually can be resurrected even if deleted.


Scotty
Guest (0)
12944 2001-05-21 08:11:00 You can go throught your control panel(start/settings/control panel) add/remove programs and select which programs to remove(individually). Be aware that if you have some private documents etc. they usually can be resurrected even if deleted.


Scotty
Guest (0)
12945 2001-05-21 08:14:00 You can go throught your control panel(start/settings/control panel) add/remove programs and select which programs to remove(individually). Be aware that if you have some private documents etc. they usually can be resurrected even if deleted.


Scotty
Guest (0)
12946 2001-05-21 23:26:00 Thanks Scotty. Is there any way of preventing deleted material being resurrected? Guest (0)
12947 2001-05-22 09:20:00 Natalie some things to be aware of. As you probably know already, when you delete files they are not actually deleted but become unrecognised by your computer. These 'files' are therefore still present & stored on the free space on your hard disk until written over by other files. Hence anything deleted may still be recovered for some considerable time later using tools such as Nortin's Unerase etc. There are also varying degrees of deletion as well. Depending on the sensitivity of your files, tools such as Nortin's WipeInfo will complete a US Government Wipe which involves writing multiple times over your existing files or free-space clusters. Deleting files is not your only concern though. Your computer will also hold many hidden secrets such as logon & website passwords, windows index files, internet & Windows search histories, etc. Temporary Internet files, History & Cookie files for example, still remain even if you delete the contents of the folder - try right clicking each of these now eg History\Properties & you'll see that it contains multiple files & folders even if the folder appears to be empty from within Windows!. Anyway to uncomplicate things for you, a utility called Evidence Eliminator from a website of the same name, will delete all record of existing files on the HD free space, and the hidden stuff which I have mentioned as well & more. This is a trial-period utility, but you will only need to use it once then uninstall anyway - do this just prior to handing the computer back, as it will delete the settings which you have made in windows & in programs such as Word etc. Read the help file which comes with the utility & you should have no problems. Guest (0)
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