How to clear computer

[chips]

I am about to donate my old computer (pc) to a charitable orginazation and want to be sure all my personal information is off the hard disk. How do i go about it?

[jjtimmons]

If you can burn CD's, you can download DBAN ( http://www.dban.org/ ) and wipe your hard drive. Then, you can install a version of Linux ( Ubuntu is user friendly: http://www.ubuntu.com/ ) so they can have a good operating system to play with.

Outside of having to do a bunch of technical stuff, you can try reinstalling Windows for them. But the *best* method would be above. On DBAN, the quick write would be best, but it comes with formats that meets DoD standards.

[lindah]

Your computer probably came with a recovery disk that you can use to reformat your hard drive and install all the programming as it came from the factory.

However, it is my understanding that information is never *really* deleted from a hard drive and someone who knows how to access the information can (certainly not me!).

The absolute best way of making sure none of your information is ever accessed is to replace the hard drive with a new one...they're relatively inexpensive...and then destroy the old hard drive.

[jjtimmons]

However, it is my understanding that information is never *really* deleted from a hard drive and someone who knows how to access the information can (certainly not me!).

This is a common misconception. In most cases (at least with Windows), the data is stored on your hard drive until it's written over: Basically, Windows keeps a keychain of all your files, and just throws the key away. The door's still there (until you remake the key as in data recovery, or you put up a new one as in overwriting), you just can't do anything with it. Think about it this way: If a computer never got rid of the information you put on it, why are there size limits, etc to hard drives?

I'm not sure about Any Unix-based operating systems, but a simple "Quick Erase" from the program I recommended would get rid of most if not all the data. The DoD encryption stuff is to "knock out " the hard drive to ensure there's 100% no way to retrieve the data.

In all likelihood, the people who purchase your computer will be more concerned with being able to use it than stealing your data. You should be safe enough with just reinstalling Windows: My method above is a more "safe" method (and more legal if, for example, you're using the windows CD code on more than one computer).

[flfuzz]

The safest way was mentioned above. Transfer you important documents, pictures and music to an external hard drive and destroy the old hard drive. There are ways to get anything off your old HD by experts. The best way to destroy the old hd is drilling a hole through it.

Hope this helps,

Flfuzz
Retired Deputy Sheriff
Florida

[betsytom]

lindah is correct-take her advice, the required DOD protocol is drilling the drive, ANY action short of this leaves information which is recoverable.

As for me, first I drill then I smash.

[jjtimmons]

http://www.dban.org/

Has an image you can burn to CD or floppy, I think, that will perform all sorts of writes to the hard drive to clear up any information.