Will re-installing XP clean off my desktop hard drive?

Hey all,

Another question - my notebook which is on the way is a desktop replacement, meaning that I was planning on recycling my current desktop, after transferring some files, of course. I upgraded it myself from 98 to XP Home about a year ago, and since I bought it myself, I have the CD. If I reinstalled XP again and asked NOT to keep my personal stuff, would that clean it off enough to be safe recycling it, or do I need to get some other "erase" software to lose my personal info? If something else, what do you recommend?

Thanks!

 

best way to recycle it in my opinion...pull the harddrive out of the desktop. You can use it as an external hdd.

If you are giving your desktop to someone else and pulling the hdd is not an an option, I would use Privacy Eraser. They have a pro version and its not that expensive. I use it, and there is some options that will overwrite files several times to ensure that any personal data has been erased.

SG

 

I would use a HD scrubber especially if you have personal or financial data on it.

 

I bought a new external HD - the one in the desktop is just not big or fast - and I did buy my new notebook from Gateway's site. They offer a small rebate for old machines with an OS, and I feel better about doing that than just heading for the landfill... Plus, if someone can get some use out of it... I'll try one of the scrubber programs - thanks for the recommendations!

 

If you are giving the computer away and it does not need an operating system on it then go to www.killdisk.com and get the freeware to clean your drive.

Now if the PC needs to have an operating system on it. You should delete your partitions on your hard drive and recreate them, then reinstall windows.

 

That sounds good. I re-read the recycling "prep" rules, and they want the OS disks, but want it uninstalled. I'll try killdisk! Thanks again.