giving my computer away to a charity...

[Rob]

and i want to wipe everything off the computer. basically i want the
computer to look and "feel" like it did when dell shipped it to me.

what do i need to do?

thanks

 

[PD43]

and i want to wipe everything off the computer. basically i want the
computer to look and "feel" like it did when dell shipped it to me.

Insert the restore disc and run it.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Replace the hard drive. That is the safest.

Short of that I suggest you use something like
http://www.download.com/Erase-Your-Hard-Drive/3000-2092_4-10571514.html

Other posters will no doubt suggest their favorite eraser program.

A simple reformat using your XP cd does nothing to prevent anyone else from
running a good recovery program and capturing all your old files.

 

[ANONYMOUS]

You need to use killdisk!

http://www.killdisk.com/

hth

 

[Nil]

and i want to wipe everything off the computer. basically i want
the computer to look and "feel" like it did when dell shipped it
to me.

what do i need to do?

You need to check with your documentation and/or Dell. Every
manufacture has their own way of restoring the system. Some have
restore CDs, some have a hidden partition with the restore data on it,
and a command you run to restore it. I haven't used Dells for a few
years, but one of their restore programs was called ZZTOP. Running that
would wipe the active partition and reload the OS from the hidden
partition as they shipped it.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

You can perform a "clean install" using your
genuine Dell Windows XP Reinstallation CD.

Clean Install Windows XP
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

---------------------------------------------------------------

:

and i want to wipe everything off the computer. basically i want the
computer to look and "feel" like it did when dell shipped it to me.

what do i need to do?

thanks

 

[Daave]

and i want to wipe everything off the computer. basically i want the
computer to look and "feel" like it did when dell shipped it to me.

what do i need to do?

Either contact Dell and ask them what the method is that came with your
particular PC or perhaps post the model/number here in case someone here
is familiar with it.

There are three methods:

1. Installation disk (Dell calls these "Reinstallation" disks)
2. Recovery or Restore Disk
3. Hidden recovery partition on the hard drive

Methods 2 and 3 are similar; they allow you to revert to the same exact
image your hard drive had on day one. Method 1 is preferred (but not as
much in your case since the PC won't be yours anymore) because it gives
one the flexibility of performing a repair install in addition to a
clean install. However, you will also need to have the correct drivers
which will already be on a disk you hopefully have or may be downloaded
from Dell's Web site.

 

[John]

Darik Boot and Nuke (DBAN) http://dban.sourceforge.net/
or the most effective disk killer, a shotgun + slugs

 

[Shawn]

and i want to wipe everything off the computer. basically i want the
computer to look and "feel" like it did when dell shipped it to me.

what do i need to do?

thanks

Use DBAN to overwrite the hard drive space. Doing this insures your
private data can not be recovered. Note: it does not touch the HPA.

http://dban.sourceforge.net/


Now reinstall your operating system and any applications.

 

[Rob]

thanks to everyone who responded. i appreciate the advice and help.