Cleaning HDD Before Selling Laptop

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eracode

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#66320 17-Aug-2010 05:49

I'm selling a laptop and have cleaned up the hard drive as much as possible. There are lots of utilities that can be used to overwrite the spare space on the drive so that the new owner can't retreive anything other than what I want to leave on there. However there are so many of these utilities that it's hard to know a good one (and a simple one) - would be grateful for recommendations/comments. OS is Windows XP.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

rscole86

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#368495 17-Aug-2010 07:12

I cannot think of the app that I use of hand, but if you are worried, you are better off wiping the hdd before reinstalling the OS.

eracode

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#368504 17-Aug-2010 07:49

rscole86: I cannot think of the app that I use of hand, but if you are worried, you are better off wiping the hdd before reinstalling the OS.

Yes would do that but have lost the Win XP disc that came with the laptop when new.

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lurker

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#368509 17-Aug-2010 08:13

Ccleaner, in addition to cleaning up all sorts of stuff, offers a "Wipe free space" option. Can't vouch for how effective it is but it at least claims to do what you want...

wallop

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#368511 17-Aug-2010 08:27

If you use CCleaner make sure you go into options, settings and turn on secure file deletion. Then select either the 7 pass or 35 pass method from the drop down box.

eracode

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#368519 17-Aug-2010 08:49

wallop: If you use CCleaner make sure you go into options, settings and turn on secure file deletion.? Then select either the 7 pass or 35 pass method from the drop down box.

Fantastic - thanks and also to wallop. I have been using CCleaner for ages but did not know that it had this option. Only ever used its simple form. Will give it a go.

I have also now stumbled on a free open-source app called 'Eraser' from Heidi Computers that looks pretty simple to use. Anyone had experience with that?

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muppet

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#368521 17-Aug-2010 08:57

Eraser works fine as well.

"Studies have shown that most of today?s media can be effectively cleared by one overwrite" - Reference.

You don't need to overwrite more than once.

Audiophiles are such twits! They buy such pointless stuff: Gold plated cables, $2000 power cords. Idiots.

OOOHHHH HYPERFIBRE!