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Anything Else I Should Do?

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abstibus | 18:29 Thu 16th May 2013 | Computers
15 Answers
I am giving my laptop (Windows 7) to a friend. I have moved all files and folders to the external HD, deleted all cookies and browsing history (not that I visit any dodgy websites).
I have MSE and Malwarebytes and run regular scans.
Someone mentioned CC Cleaner.
Should I download and run this?
Is there anything else I should do?
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Get the crumbs out from between the keys?
You may run CCleaner if you wish. But you seem to have done most clearing up by hand already. You could run apps that completely obliterate deleted files from the hard drive if you wish.
As it's going to a friend, you have done all that is necessary.
Running CCleaner is also a good idea.
I don't know the age of your laptop but I would consider performing a Factory Reset for these reasons:
It will wipe and reinstall the laptop to it's original factory conditions.
It will make it faster.
It will wipe any personal data that you have on there.

The only downside is that it will take a while to do as you will need to wait while it does it and then even longer so that it can download all the updates that it will need.
I would certainly do a factory restore, you can let it get on with it overnight and it leaves the laptop exactly as it was when you bought it (except for the updated OS).

Makes the laptop a lot quicker, too.
Just tell your friend they are not allowed to use your credit cards which they might come across to shop, and neither are they allowed to peep in your bank to see how rich you are. :)
if it is so easy how do these forensic thechnologists like on NCIS always manage to find exactly what was on there
Because they are forensic techies with access to hardware, software and programs unavailable to the hoi polloi, and the knowledge to use it properly.
I know of at least one company that will dissemble the disk and recover data, even from a disk that has crashed.
It will cost you upwards of £300 though.
As it's a friend... just create another user account with admin rights and then delete your current user account (saying don't retain the files)
"saying don't retain the files"

Is this ^^^ the wording in the option of deleting the current user account?
It's similar.. been a long time since I've done it.

It asks you if you want to save the user files or not, in the words of Zamo from grange hill, just say no.
I should say you need to login as the new user account you've just created first.
-- answer removed --

"(not that I visit any dodgy websites)"

well abstibus, this site here could be viewed as questionable :-D
Question Author
Thanks everyone. Forgot about the crumbs... She'll know I love chocolate oaties.
Lol @ excel!
Thanks again,
a-m

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