I need infor on how to use windows xp install disc to remove files

[Guest]

I need some much needed help and info and instructions on how to clean out a
computer that I want to sell later on. I was told by Dell and Circuit City
both that the orginal windows xp installation cd would remove all my
information off of the computer so I could sell it. But I can't find the
answer to that on how to do it and I am not even close to being that computer
smart. So would someone please tell this dumb old lady what to do, if it can
be done and how to do it. Thanks alot for any help.

 

[DL]

A destructive restore / recovery puts your PC back in the state it was
supplied in
If you then want to indulge in further paranoia you can google for wipe disk
software - free - that overwrites any free space

 

[dardruba]

If you then want to indulge in further paranoia you can google for wipe disk
software - free - that overwrites any free space

Dont worry about paranoia.
Before you release the PC either remove the disk completely and let
the buyer choose their own.
Or do the search for a free program which guarantees to clear the disc
completely in some way.

Sounds paranoid? Be safe, there are weird people out there.

A colleague gave his old PC to his 'friend' in the next office, that
friend put porno stuff in a folder on the company main frame which he
said he'd found on the PC he'd obtained from the colleague. Worse, his
sitewide email to the company telling about the folder was addressed
to the colleagues wife who also worked for the company.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I need some much needed help and info and instructions on how to clean out a
computer that I want to sell later on. I was told by Dell and Circuit City
both that the orginal windows xp installation cd would remove all my
information off of the computer so I could sell it. But I can't find the
answer to that on how to do it and I am not even close to being that computer
smart. So would someone please tell this dumb old lady what to do, if it can
be done and how to do it. Thanks alot for any help.

To protect your personal information and data from any future users
of average skills, you should, at the very least, format the hard drive.
You can do this using the original Installation CD. Simply boot from
the WinXP installation CD. You'll be offered the opportunity to delete,
create, and format partitions as part of the installation process. (You
may need to re-arrange the order of boot devices in the PC's BIOS to
boot from the CD.)

HOW TO Install Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;316941

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm

If you wish to do a more thorough job of protecting your personal data,
WipeDrive (http://www.whitecanyon.com/wipedrive-erase-hard-drive.php)
meets U.S. DoD standards for securely cleaning surplus unclassified hard
drives, and could be used before formatting and reinstalling the OS and
applications.


--

Bruce Chambers

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