Help on deleting info on old Computer hard drive.

[Deanna-01]

I am getting rid of an old tower system windows 98 computer and would ask how I ensure all input from myself is deleted.
Can anyone help?
Novice computer user so I thank all in advance for any help.

[VHG]

The problem with deleting files off an old computer is that you cant do it from within Windows because Windows does not fully delete a file and old files can easily be recovered.

So the only way is to "boot" a computer from a diskette or CD and then run the program from there. The diskette or CD then has exclusive access to the hard disk and can write rubbish over it thousands of time to erase anything that was on the hard disk.

The program that most people suggest is called DBAN (Dariks Boot and Nuke).

http://www.dban.org/

You need to download the file and then make a bootable diskette or CD.

You then need to boot the computer from this diskette or CD, then run the proigram.

You say you are a novice so you may need some help, but I did it a year or so back and dont remember it being that difficult.

Good luck.

[VHG]

Can I also congratulate you on being sensible enough to know you need to clear your hard disk before getting rid of your computer.

Many people (even large companies) sell or give away computers with all sorts of personal and sensitive data on the hard disk.

In this day of identity theft some criminal types even buy old hard disks and computers JUST to get the personal data off them.

[ChuckFickens]

When you say getting rid of how do you mean?

If your dumping it remove the hard drive and drill a couple of holes right through it.

[Hymie]

I would strongly recommend you take a drill and hammer to the drive to ensure any data contained on the disk cannot be retrieved.

Should you be giving the computer away, the new owner will need to purchase a replacement disk drive and install the OS and drivers � they may have to limit the drive capacity (via jumpers) due to limitations in the BIOS (my old PC would only recognize drives up to 30Gb).