computer questions??

[NOKUY]

just a cpl. quick computer questions that I know some of you can help me with.

I'm giving one of my 2 crappy computers away to a needy friend. I was wondering how to make sure that I erase any incriminating files/pics?

I dont save pics and crap to my computer ever (just to disk) but I know things show up here and there "somehow" cuz I find things in odd places.

I'm getting a new comp, but also wanna cleanup my other old one.

so my next question ....what programs are "generally" OK to delete w/ out screwing things up for internet access (thats all its used for)?....and what ones must I be sure NOT to delete?

both of the computers in question are crappy HP Pavilion desktops

thanks for any advice guys

 

[Guest]

http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Best/free-drive-wipe.html

 

[Ruosk]

Just burn a cd with install files for firewall, anti-virus software, browser etc, them format hard drives and re-install OS.

 

[masterlow37]

Interesting

Interesting

Just burn a cd with install files for firewall, anti-virus software, browser etc, them format hard drives and re-install OS.

completely lost me bro, can you break it down (laymans terms) ??? thanx

 

[NOKUY]

I dont understand any of that either

 

[Guest]

According to many people, you can never completely rid your hard drive of certain files. Your best bet is probably what Will said and get software that will wipe out your HD. Now, just because the files "aren't REALLY gone" from your computer doesn't mean that your buddy is going to be able to actually see those. He'd have to do alot of work recovering those files, and more than likely won't really give 2 shits about recovering your old stuff. As long as you have a Windows CD, you can always just format the hard drive, and reinstall windows. As far as cleaning up your old one, check out your control panel and go to "add/delete programs". You'll pretty much be able to tell what you do/don't want on your computer. This will, of course, only uninstall files that were installed, and not stuff that was unzipped or just downloaded. You can also just search for *.jpg"(as well as *.gif, *.wmv, *.mpg, etc, etc.). And delete these most of these files. A computer doesn't need images/videos to run, but I'd stay away from the windows/system folder if I were you (unless you're like me & you hide files in there)

 

[NOKUY]

Thanks GMB that def. helps.

 

[Trancerman]

You can always format the drive, but you don't want to do this is you don't have a windows disk.


To do a full wipe of the cookies and every .dat file on your computer..

http://www.acesoft.net/te6.exe <<< check this out, i love this program.


edit: Tracks Eraser will NOT render your computer un-usable...it just gets rid of the spills left behind in the 'abyss of the cache'

 

[mangled]

reformat the hard drive. but like said above you will need to install windows again so you'll need the cd