Getting ready to sell my computer to get a new one. I want to wipe
clean the hard drive for privacy reasons. I thought I might simply use
the recovery CD to restore the computer to it's original state, that
is, the way it was when I bought it, with the hard drive containing
nothing added after I nought it.
As I understand it the use of the recovery CD wipes clean the hard
drive and reinstalls the operating system (XP Pro) and the applications
that came with the computer - nothing else. Is this sufficient to
insure that any data added after the computer was bought by me is gone,
including my browser tracks, etc., or do I need to use something like
Eraser to be sure everything is gone?

Thanks.

In article <1133870831.183890.301480@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups .com>,
Tranqility <polarbearjack@yahoo.com> wrote:

You'd be fine just doing what you planned.
You certainly can use those other tools, if you are concerned. But you
were far FAR more vulnerable using the computer than anything that is
likely to happen from soem new user getting it.

On 6 Dec 2005 04:07:11 -0800, Tranqility wrote:

<snip>

It depends. Re-formatting is not enough if you ask me.
Using "disk-wiping" software is a good a idea, and if you're really
worried, there's always the hammer ...


--
My E-mail address in ROT-13
vf ab ybatre gurer, abg rira ng ubgznvy.

"Rob K" <some@nodomain.invalid> wrote in message
news:dn3vf6$s0m$1@inews.gazeta.pl...
What is the best "disk-wiping" software? How and on what, is it best to use
it for maximum security.

Data recovery specialists say that the only way to make sure someone will
not be able to recover data is to reduce the hard disk to dust, or melt it
so that is becomes a liquid.


"Rob K" <some@nodomain.invalid> wrote in message
news:dn3vf6$s0m$1@inews.gazeta.pl...

On Tue, 6 Dec 2005 14:21:22 +0200, kenny wrote:

It's true that data recovery specialists can do amazing things. That's why
the good old hammer is at least a basic precaution ...

--
My E-mail address in ROT-13
vf ab ybatre gurer, abg rira ng ubgznvy.

On Tue, 6 Dec 2005 12:21:06 -0000, Nowhere wrote:


That's a matter of personal preference. Start here:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...iping+software

--
My E-mail address in ROT-13
vf ab ybatre gurer, abg rira ng ubgznvy.

"kenny" <nope@at.all> wrote in message
news:4395827e_3@newsgate.x-privat.org...

Melting won't do it. Remember the metal guy in the Terminator who would melt
then reconstitute back into his original self.....

Patrick

Tranqility polarbearjack@yahoo.com, wrote in message
133870831.183890.301480@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.c om:
http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/

--
zombie computers.Inc
zombie computers.Pty.Ltd
zombie computers.Ltd
zombie computers.LLP
zombie computers.AG
zombie computers.Plc
zombie computers & Co

reminds me of my previous "companion" post...

I was waiting for someone to reply to that post with something like:

"MS companion has a bug, it farts all the time but it will be fixed in the
next service pack."




"Patrick Cleburne" <mgcleburne@csa> wrote in message
news:79ednZjRPYHqFwjeRVn-ig@comcast.com...

On 6 Dec 2005 04:07:11 -0800 If you fall from a tree,leave your anger
on the branch and then "Tranqility" <polarbearjack@yahoo.com> sent
this :

Remove partitions and re-format.

HTH



--
Free Windows/PC help,
http://www.geocities.com/sheppola/trouble.html
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page...m?bandID=88558

kenny wrote:
The Department of Defense standard is:

Using three passes, overwrite all addressable locations with a
character, its complement, then a random character.

Degauss with a Type I degausser followed with another deguass
with a Type II degausser (assuming you never want to use that
disk again).

Kind regards,
Nancy



--
Flame War is over ... If you want it
nrudins@ncsa.uiuc.edu

the data can still be retrieved with distortion of spacetime


"Nancy Rudins" <nrudins@ncsa.uiuc.edu> wrote in message
news:11pb7opnp37ga7@news.supernews.com...

"kenny" <nope@at.all> wrote in message
news:4395b4dc_1@newsgate.x-privat.org...

On Tue, 6 Dec 2005 14:21:22 +0200, "kenny" <nope@at.all> wrote:

My nephew was in charge of security in a finacial firm. He used to
take all PCs to a site where he could put them through a stone
crusher.

At my own business drives I haven't been able to wipe get opened up
and the disk hit with a hammer. Normally I use killdisk then give the
old kit to local institutions or skint students.

For some reason I was unable to use my recovery CD's (something about
media failure), so I tried Eraser. It took a long time but finally
finished. I ran Disk Investigator before and after and searched for a
particular nasty word. Found a bunch both before and after. Not sure if
it found he same number after as it did before I ran Eraser. I didn't
take note when I first ran Disk Investigator.

Sort of makes me think Eraser didn't erase anything. Is that possible?

"Tranqility" <polarbearjack@yahoo.com> wrote:


It depends on how secure you want to be.

If you want to prevent unsophisticated users from recovering your data
then what you propose will be sufficient. However persons with
computer skills may still be able to recover files or portions of
files with relative ease using an "unformat" utility.

If you want to prevent most users, including those with considerable
computer skills, from recovering anything from your hard drive then
you need to use a disk wiping utility as described in the other posts.
However computer experts with sophisticated resources (and large
budgets) will still be able to recover files from the computer.

If you want to prevent computer experts with sophisticated resources
and large budgets from recovering your files then you need to
physically destroy the hard drive.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

My main concern, of course, is data and my browser tracks. I use IE,
Firefox, and Opera. I want to make sure I wipe them as clean as I can
off the drive. Are these tracks to be found in the so-called "unused
disk space" of the drive or in folders. If folders, which folders
should I select to erase my "tracks?"

What trick, what device, what starting-hole on Tue, 06 Dec 2005
08:24:37 -0600, canst thou now find out, to hide Nancy Rudins
<nrudins@ncsa.uiuc.edu> from this open and apparent shame?:

I thought the DoD standard was 7 (6 +1)
--

"The Borg assimilated my race, and all I got was this crummy tagline."