How do I permanantly erase personal data on my computer in order to sell it?
402543
http://www.mcdpri.com/mcdpri/data-destruction-standards.htm
938965
WipeDrive\nCompletely eliminate\nhard drive data\nhttp://www.whitecanyon.com/wipe-your-hard-drive-help.php\nDESTROYING COMPUTER DATA\nhttp://www.howtowipeyourdrive.com/
281733
If you are using it on another computer of your own, just plug it in as a slave drive and then if using Win XP, just go to My Computer and right click on the drive. Then select format and it will wipe it clean for you. \n\nIf you are just going to install windows on it then just format at windows setup.\n\nIf you are not going to be the user of this computer and want to protect your privacy use a tool from http://www.download.com to do a deep format - one in which data cannot be recovered.\n\nGood Luck
890720
It is not a matter of deleting software. It is a matter of staying off the internet if you don't want undesirable information on the computer. You have to clear the history, which is under Tools then Internet Options. Click on Delete cookies, then go back into Internet Options and clear history. If you intend to continue on the internet, you probably need to set the history at 1 or 2 days. The default is 10 days. That's too long to keep history, which tells any one who looks at it, exactly what you have been looking at. \n\nIf the computer has Windows XP, you can clear all unwanted junk by clicking on Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools then select Disk Cleanup. Follow the instructions to clean up the hard disk, and this will get rid of stuff in the Recycle Bin, temporary internet files, etc. \n\nAgain, if you  don't want junk on the computer, stay off the internet!
47291
use a good shredder.\nit completely removes the data
820478
You really seem to have a need to get rid of the data on that hard drive. Hmmmmm.................
740006
you could cover all your tracks, if you so wish, with a simple little program i use called CCleaner\n\nYou can download it at ccleaner.com, it's free, and it works really well to get rid of ALL your internet viewing history\n\nFrom the CCleaner Site:\n   "CCleaner is a freeware system optimization and privacy tool. It removes unused files from your system - allowing Windows to run faster and freeing up valuable hard disk space. It also cleans traces of your online activities such as your Internet history. But the best part is that it's fast (normally taking less than a second to run) and contains NO Spyware or Adware! :)"
907656
Go to your DOS prompt (in Accessories) and type in FORMAT C:&#92;\nThis will erase everything. A verification message will ask if you really want to do this, and perhaps even a second asking is possible. If you format your hard drive, it will erase it all. Forever. Just be sure to Backup all you think is important!
200101
Using a program such as Partition Magic you can accomplish your goal. Bad news though, Many times people lose all their data when attempting to do what you are talking about.  Partition Magic if used correctly will not do that.  Using this program if you are not computer saavy could be a disaster.  A computer shop should be able to do it for you at a cost of 25 to 50 dollars.\n\nPerhaps you should just tranfer most of your files and programs to the D: drive.\n\nHave a Great Day
1004540
This would seem an unlikely program. What personal files are on the system? Usually, deleting everything in the my documents folder and deleting all temporary files including cookies will take care of most files that might have personal information. You could also delete all files from a search of .doc, .xls and other known extensions. Would be better if you just reinstall the OS and hardware drivers, and any programs you actually want to keep.
854298
You should be able to do that.  \nTry the System Restore which takes you back to a time when your computer was working good. Go To: \nstart\nprograms\naccessories\nsystems tools\nsystem restore\nThis process is completely reversable. And does not remove your personal files.  Just go back one checkpoint at a time until your puter is working good again.\nE
1135135
I Hear you can put an ad in your local newspaper to take old computers off someones hands for  a minimal fee,so it does,nt end up in the landfill, & then you can recondition it if you have the technology for that thing.
150688
backup what you want to keep and then use this to wipe the disk clean: \nhttp://www.killdisk.com/
976322
Yes, you can search the internet for a multitude of removal programs out there.  Or just do it yourself.  Windows is a putty that can me molded and shaped to your liking.
760752
try Eraser : http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/\n\nSimply formatting your drive won't completely delete your files. Any UNDELETE programs out there can restore your files. \n\nWhat is Eraser? \n \nEraser is an advanced security tool (for Windows), which allows you to completely remove sensitive data from your hard drive by overwriting it several times with carefully selected patterns.
577772
Use the program C-Cleaner it will remove the .dat files in there. Even though you clear history, someone with a .dat reader program can see the information..You can set up the program to run at every startup.\n\nhttp://www.ccleaner.com
971358
http://www.executive.com/undelete/undelete.asp\n\nAt that link is a nice, free trial of a program that can help in most situations. Undeleting data is easy, as long as the space it occupied hasn't been overwritten by something else.