How to wipe out everything on computer?

I have an asus u45jc. I have many times used the Asus cd and reinstalled windows. However, each time that i done this, I still see old files that is left on the computer when i click programs. Can someone tell me the easiest way so i can wipe out everything on the computer so when i reinstall windows 7 again on my asus laptop... then it would be like brand new? I have checked online and tried some methods but those are very complicated and im not a computer person. Thanks.

 

Format the HDD?

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How do i format the HDD?


I have tried this by failed numerous times.


I have an asus u45jc windows 7 laptop.


I have followed the guidelines here but it doesnt work SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation - Windows 7 Forums

 

Do you have Windows on a CD? If yes pop in the CD, restart, go in to BIOS and make CD-ROM as #1 in the boot priority. Exit BIOS and it will start Windows installation sequence where you can go in to "advanced" mode where you can delete all partitions (files) and it will install Windows 7 on the clean HDD after that.

Other way is the ISO way. Basicly you are just replacing the CD with a flash pen or whatever flash device you have the Windows files on and you will install Windows from that instead of the CD. Just remember to use some software to make your flash device as a bootable device.

If you had system recovery CD shipped with your Asus notebook you pop in that CD, boot from CD (as the first step) and you will have options to recover the Windows on a clean drive.

 

i use Dban DBAN Download | Darik's Boot And Nuke which you burn to disk and then run on start up and it wipes the wholedrive.

heres a you tube walkthrough How To Delete and Wipe Your Data Securely With DBAN - YouTube

 

+ 1 for DBAN. My personal preference for quite some time now.

 

Do i have to purchase DBAN? I downloaded it and it says it can only delete up to x amount of mb only...

 

really, no its free. let me check.

this is the original place i downloaded from and it wiped my whole 320gb with no mention of cost. http://www.extremetech.com/computing/125619-how-to-wipe-a-hard-drive and heres the download page http://www.dban.org/

 

Not really necessary in this case, despite it being a good wiping utility.

Exactly! Wiping a drive ensures data cannot be recovered with your garden variety, end-user data recovery software. Windows formatting is simple and quick, and deletes everything still.

Cloudfire's walkthrough should help.

 

Use Cloudfire's way if all you want to do is overwrite those old files with a fresh Windows install.

If you really want that data to be absolutely gone, but still want to keep the drive, use DBAN.

If you **absolutely** must have that data completely, completely gone, there's only one way...

 

Why stop at the hard drive?

 

There goes an expensive piece of equipment. For why?!

 

Bah, looks like a C2D or older model. Realistically, it shouldn't be worth a lot at all (save for those who keep its price artificially inflated due to ego or something).

 

Cause...it's poetic.

 

its a mac so best place for it

 

Mac haters up in here, I see.

 

Nah, I don't hate Mac. What annoys me are some of the users .

A computer is just a tool, in my book.

 

A simple format from a disk. That is what I have done in the past on my computers.

 

me, nah, never. well ok then hehehe

never owned or used one but just hate apple software that ive had to use in the past for other people.

the stuff is a bit like the old dreaded AOL internet software from days of old which once on your system you could never get rid off unless you done a OS reinstall. i am going back a few years though when you had to be almost a millionaire to own a laptop.

as the saying goes, once bitten....