How do I wipe everything off my computer?

Question

I'm selling my computer because I got a new one so How do I wipe it clean?

Answer 1

   1. Turn off your computer

   2. Insert the Windows XP disk, and turn on your computer

   3. A screen will pop up and tell you to press any key to boot from CD, so press any key you like.

   4. Once everything has loaded there will be a few options on the screen. The one you want says To set up Windows XP, press enter. So press enter.

   5. Follow the rest of the on screen instructions to finish formatting.

   6. Alternatively, if you just want to format a secondary hard drive you can go to My Computer, right click on the drive and press format and follow the instructions accordingly.

    * The best format option to choose is the Full format. The quick format isn't usually a good choice unless you know what you are doing.

Doing this will delete EVERYTHING on the C drive and it is pretty much gone, unless you send it to a data recovery place, and they are expensive. If you are formatting to delete sensitive data it can still be accessed. Use a data shredder in that case.

Things You'll Need

  * A Windows XP CD.

Answer 2

Any method of deleting files, deep formatting of hard drives, or any method of reinstalling an operating system DO NOT remove existing data. Neither do magnets. In all these cases, direct-reading of the hard drive will still reveal pieces of information - including complete pictures, data and programs from your original use of the computer.

Removing and physically shredding the hard drive - or electronically wiping [which is not simply erasing] the hard drive with a properly-designed security program - do make data unreadable - but then you can't show a working computer because of "no hard drive" or "no operating system".

Here's how to securely wipe your original hard drives and keep your computer working -  without taking forever - with everything legal for you AND the customer - and all for ZERO MONEY. I've done this - literally dozens of times - for myself, customers and friends.

You end up with a new OS and a full set of applications - so you just turn it on and show it to the buyer - or maybe even keep it for yourself!

First download and burn the ISO from Darik's Boot & Nuke. It will TRULY and SECURELY remove all information after you boot that Live Linux CD and follow the directions. Get the ISO [to securely wipe HD contents] at http://www.dban.org/download  Select "for CD and DVD media", download, then burn the ISO using ImgBurn [link below] to a CD or CD-R. Boot your new media on the old computer's CD drive (F12 lets you pick "boot from CD" on Dell). You are already running Linux, right from your CD drive! Pick the DBAN icon to start the program that can wipe ALL hard drives!

After Darik's done its job, you have wiped hard drives securely - but have a "dud" computer with no data, programs or operating system. That's no problem today. Just install Linux from a Live CD onto the wiped hard drive. For a more suitable permanent Linux install, grab the PCLOS Live CD [see below]. This takes less than 30 minutes from boot to completion - plus it includes the hardware drivers, will be Internet ready with Firefox and all security in place, and check out the menu full of an incredible array of applications ready to use! PCLOS [PCLinuxOS] is a great distribution for Windows users - because it works very much like Windows.

Compare "less than 30 minutes" to the many hours it takes for a reinstall of Windows - which can sometimes be illegal. Read the incredible Microsoft EULA at http://proprietary.clendons.co.nz/licens... and look closely at Item 4.  XP hasn't been available [except from existing inventory] since June 30, 2008.

After a few hours, you may be able to boot to a raw Windows screen - but leaving your computer with missing drivers. Most noticeably you'll be missing the video and sound card drivers. You may have no Internet either - but that's okay because you'll have no Internet security. You'll also have no useful software such as a word processor or CD writer - making it much harder or impossible to sell!

Get your PCLOS ISO (full version of Linux also usable from CD) here:

http://getpclinuxos.com/KDE/

To burn the ISO images recommended above, you can use this free Windows program:

ImgBurn [CD/DVD checking and ISO burning]:

http://imgburn.com

For a little hand-holding on the Live CD install, check out my article on how to dual boot Windows and Linux at http://www.ehow.com/how_2147183_add-linu...   Installing Linux on a computer - even when the hard drive is bare and unformatted - is faster than brewing a pot of java!

Good luck!

Answer 3

Go to add/remove programs

Answer 4

If I were you I'd remove the hard drive (and shred it in a mighty hard drive shredder) if you're not selling it to a trusted friend who won't decrypt the data and sell your identity.  

Or

Go to microsoft.com and search on wiping the hard drive, then follow the instructions.  I'm assuming it's not a Mac.

Answer 5

Go to your local hardware store such as best buy, frys ect.. buy a windows XP OS disk from them (or what ever you want the computer to be formatted to). It should cost roughly 80 something USD.

1) Pop the CD in your computer.

2) Restart

3) When restarted it should say "Boot from CD press any key"

4) Press any key.

5) Go through it and when you get to the part where it says c: parition click enter.

6) Do the FULL formatting. Do not do the quick formatting.

-Once you do this everything is wiped out of your PC.

Note: Your drives video cards sound cards will be wiped along with it since you dont have the factory restore disk. Just go to the brand of the computers website and look for the drives. It will ask for a service tag or such. Type it in and download everything.

Have fun! Any questions, just e-mail me.

Answer 6

Format with the windows cd and re-isntall the windows.

Answer 7

You take it in to a computer shop.

Answer 8

Format it.

Answer 9

http://www.dban.org/download

this and many other programs out there once burnt to a cd.

you can stick in your drive, boot from the cd at startup by holding f8 or whatever online key it says to push on startup, and run the onscreen instructions.

this one in particular will detect any hard drives and wipe them all clean of data.

Answer 10

Reinstall the OS (Operating System), like Windows.

Answer 11

Perform a System Restore.  

Answer 12

Stick magnets all over it. It deletes EVERYTHING.