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    Clearing out my computer/hard drive

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by bryan123, Jan 28, 2015.

  1. bryan123

    bryan123 Newbie

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    Okay, so i have a new laptop. And i wanna give my old laptop to my mom. But i want all my files and stuff off it. Kind of like a reformat. How would i go about that? Even if i use the return to factory settings option.. i heard some files and settings might be recoverable...

    I heard i should use DBAN (dariks boot and nuke) program...
     
    bryan123, Jan 28, 2015
    #1
  2. KnightofDight

    KnightofDight Notebook Enthusiast

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    One option is to order a new HDD off the internet (even a 1TB HDD is pretty cheap now with SSDs becoming popular), swap them out, and put a fresh install of Windows on it. Then you can keep your old HDD as an external storage drive or something.
     
    KnightofDight, Jan 28, 2015
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  3. t456

    t456 1977-09-05, 12:56:00 UTC

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    You must have a very tech-savvy mum then :) ... and those files would be 'recoverable'-ish because a regular delete just removes their index, but not the content itself. Much like destroying a library's index/database does not destroy the actual books.

    Anyway, assuming you've deleted all personal files; resize existing partition(s) to make it fit the remaining amount of used data. Create new+temporary partition out the available space and use ' format /p:1' on said partition. That'll wipe every sector to '0', only NSA-ish type organisation could recover then (requires physical disassembly of drive). Delete the temporary partition and resize the existing partitions to their old size.
     
    t456, Jan 28, 2015
    #3
  4. MrDJ

    MrDJ Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Dban every time, and its free. data is recoverable if you know what you are doing even after a factory install.

    [video=youtube;lwCCim2V_Jw]

    since update weve lost the direct links to youtube but if you can get link to work its a dban walkthrough.
     
    MrDJ, Jan 29, 2015
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  5. ajkula66

    ajkula66 Courage and Consequence

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    DBAN is my weapon of choice as well, presuming one is dealing with a conventional hard drive and not an SSD. With the latter, secure erase is the way to go.
     
    ajkula66, Jan 29, 2015
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  6. StormJumper

    StormJumper Notebook Virtuoso

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    Just do Factory REcovery format from the hidden Partition or Factory REcovery media to factory install and that more the most will wipe clean the drive and a big plus it be ready to go for your Mom to use. That way she doesn't come to you and ask how come the computer you gave me isn't working like when you had it. This is the most less painful way to go especially to get your mom into computing faster. Also she isn't NSA and that would be her last concern right now-get her connected to the computing world and both of you will be more happier with each others' company.
     
    Last edited: Jan 30, 2015
    StormJumper, Jan 30, 2015
    #6