When selling your used computer...

[bagelred]

When you sell your used computer, what steps do you take to ensure your safety, that all your private information is erased and off your computer....

Is it as simple (although its not that simple) as reinstalling your operating system? Is that not enough?

Is there a link to steps to take before selling your computer? Thanks....

 

[gurusan]

Do a complete reformat and then reinstall windows.

 

[peterhuang913]

Use Killdisk

 

[bagelred]

Complete reformat? How do you do that?

 

[gurusan]

when you reinstall windows it will ask you which drive you would like to install to.

Then in that menu format the drive, create a partition, and install windows.

 

[bagelred]

when you reinstall windows it will ask you which drive you would like to install to.

Then in that menu format the drive, create a partition, and install windows.

Is there a link that will explain it step by step?

 

[motoxer4533]

Geek to Live: How to format your hard drive and install Windows XP from scratch - Lifehacker

 

[carnageX]

Don't just do a regular format. Do what peter suggested, and use either KillDisk or Boot 'n Nuke, as they completely destroy data that regular formatting does not. After you've used one of those utilities, then just re-install Windows =).

 

[phucng_10]

Research around for some programs such as Killdisk (as Peter has said) to destroy all data on your HDD. Regular format usually leaves some information behind.