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#1
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donating old computer
I wish to donate a computer no longer in use. Before doing so, how do I
erase or format the disk, eliminating all files and then loading back an operating system? |
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#2
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donating old computer
"Pat Jennings" wrote in message ... I wish to donate a computer no longer in use. Before doing so, how do I erase or format the disk, eliminating all files and then loading back an operating system? it depends which OS you want to get rid of and which OS you want to reload if you merely wish to erase then reload win98 however just format the drive, then reload |
#3
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donating old computer
Pat Jennings wrote:
I wish to donate a computer no longer in use. Before doing so, how do I erase or format the disk, eliminating all files and then loading back an operating system? To protect your personal information and data from any future users of average skills, you should, at the very least, format the hard drive and reinstall only the OS and those applications whose licenses are to be included in the transfer. If you wish to do a more thorough job of protecting your personal data, WipeDrive 2.2.1 (http://www.accessdata.com/Product07_...?ProductNum=07) meets U.S. DoD standards for securely cleaning surplus unclassified hard drives, and could be used before formatting and reinstalling the OS and applications. A search of Google will also undoubtedly turn up a few more options. -- Bruce Chambers Help us help you: http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having both at once. - RAH |
#4
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donating old computer
If you are worried about security just install a copy of Linux. That will
essentially render the previous info on the drive unrecoverable without specialized software. Other than that just do a clean install of the operating system. As this is an XP newsgroup I'm assuming you will be reloading Windows XP. Go here to learn how to do a Clean install http://www.blackviper.com/Articles/O...allxphome1.htm -- Harry Ohrn MS-MVP [Shell/User] www.webtree.ca/windowsxp "Pat Jennings" wrote in message ... I wish to donate a computer no longer in use. Before doing so, how do I erase or format the disk, eliminating all files and then loading back an operating system? |
#5
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donating old computer
The organization will probably reinstall the operating system to protect
themselves from items that may be left on the hard drive. I would just reformat the hard drive and let them handle the reinstallation. This was told to me when I donated a computer to "Computers for Schools". "Pat Jennings" wrote in message ... I wish to donate a computer no longer in use. Before doing so, how do I erase or format the disk, eliminating all files and then loading back an operating system? |
#6
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donating old computer
"Pat Jennings" wrote in message
... I wish to donate a computer no longer in use. Before doing so, how do I erase or format the disk, eliminating all files and then loading back an operating system? http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/ It's free. To boot from a floppy to wipe all drives: http://dban.sourceforge.net/ Darik's Boot and Nuke ("DBAN"): A self-contained boot floppy that securely wipes the hard disks of most computers. DBAN will automatically and completely delete the contents of any hard disk that it can detect, which makes it an appropriate utility for bulk or emergency data destruction. -- __________________________________________________ __________ Post your replies to the newsgroup. Share with others. E-mail reply: Remove "NIXTHIS" and add "#VS811" to Subject. __________________________________________________ __________ |
#7
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donating old computer
"Vanguard" wrote in message ... "Pat Jennings" wrote in message ... I wish to donate a computer no longer in use. Before doing so, how do I erase or format the disk, eliminating all files and then loading back an operating system? http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/ It's free. To boot from a floppy to wipe all drives: http://dban.sourceforge.net/ Darik's Boot and Nuke ("DBAN"): A self-contained boot floppy that securely wipes the hard disks of most computers. DBAN will automatically and completely delete the contents of any hard disk that it can detect, which makes it an appropriate utility for bulk or emergency data destruction. Out of curiosity, why would any normal user need "emergency data destruction"? |
#8
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donating old computer
"Johnny Lingo" wrote in message news:YROPd.66153$EG1.57507@attbi_s53... "Vanguard" wrote in message ... "Pat Jennings" wrote in message ... I wish to donate a computer no longer in use. Before doing so, how do I erase or format the disk, eliminating all files and then loading back an operating system? http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/ It's free. To boot from a floppy to wipe all drives: http://dban.sourceforge.net/ Darik's Boot and Nuke ("DBAN"): A self-contained boot floppy that securely wipes the hard disks of most computers. DBAN will automatically and completely delete the contents of any hard disk that it can detect, which makes it an appropriate utility for bulk or emergency data destruction. Out of curiosity, why would any normal user need "emergency data destruction"? Define "normal user" ;-) -- Harry Ohrn MS-MVP [Shell/User] www.webtree.ca/windowsxp |
#9
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donating old computer
"Johnny Lingo" wrote in message
news:YROPd.66153$EG1.57507@attbi_s53... "Vanguard" wrote in message ... snip Darik's Boot and Nuke ("DBAN"): A self-contained boot floppy that securely wipes the hard disks of most computers. DBAN will automatically and completely delete the contents of any hard disk that it can detect, which makes it an appropriate utility for bulk or emergency data destruction. Out of curiosity, why would any normal user need "emergency data destruction"? Contact the author at the sourceforge.net site to ask him what he meant by that statement. -- __________________________________________________ __________ Post your replies to the newsgroup. Share with others. E-mail reply: Remove "NIXTHIS" and add "#VS811" to Subject. __________________________________________________ __________ |
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