I would like to sell my PowerBook, but for my security I would like to wipe the hardrive. Any suggestions?
826525
Boot off the system CD and reformat your hard drive - multiple pass and zero data. Use Disk Utility. Would take a good amount of time depending on your comps' speed but it will securely erase ur hard drive.\n\nYou will need to re-install the system (since EVERYTHING is erased) then the comp is good to go.
97356
Norton SystemWorks has a nice utility which has a Government Wipe feature called Wipe Info (Note: for a effective wipe of a file windows system restore should be disabled other wise it’s still on your computer in some form..this is also the case with Norton Go Back after the file is deleted you should re enable windows system restore or Norton Go Back )
820478
You really seem to have a need to get rid of the data on that hard drive. Hmmmmm.................
1147956
Why not just reformat it, and take it outside and beat it with a sledgehammer? (make sure to wear eye protection and gloves!)\n\nReformating it alone will not entirely remove the information! If someone still wanted to get to your info after that, it's possible, so reformat for good measure and physically destroy it on your own!\n\nEdit: You're not going to get anyone to help you if you're being rude to those who are already trying to - if you know so much already, why are you asking for help? We're trying to tell you how to do it completely without paying someone, which I think is better advice than shelling out cash for something you can do yourself.
1002051
Yes you can. There are two ways to do this using a computer. One, delete the items you do not need anymore. Or, you can format the floppy disk to completely erase everything that has been stored on it.
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.
504821
Nah, just format D:, assuming you don't have anything there you want. If you do, you'll either need to move what you want to keep off of it first, or you can just go through and delete it manually. As long as you're booting from C: it shouldn't be using any of the windows files on D:, so you wont have any problem deleting them.
118107
Only if it's a rewritable cd.  Otherwise no.  If's it's a cd-rw (rewritable), then windows can clear it for you.
649466
Formatting would be your best bet. Though there are certain commercial softwares which do this for you and then rewrite junk on the drive so that all previous info is lost but since nothing important is there a simple reformat would do. In order to do it you would have to boot into the command prompt. if you are using a certain brand like Dell or HP they have system restore which allows you to reset your computer to the day you bought it thus in effect starting out on a clean slate for any new user.\nI would personally recommend this(provided of course you have this feature)\n\nCheck out the link on Cnet about deleting data, it also has some links for softwares which will help you erase your HardDisk.
773023
Contact your local Computer Guy, there are ways to get the disk and the data out of your laptop without powering it up.
31383
1. Wipe harddrive\n2. Install Windows 2000 or XP\n3. Wonder why you didn't do this sooner
609756
try ccleaner. it can clean up all the forms and passwords without problem
179940
If you want to whip it out clean(your entire hard drive), then reboot your system with the windows boot disk and type "format c:" this will whipe out all data from the drive.\n\nif you need to preserve your data then you may have to do it manualy with the with the deltree command from the dos prompt. You will also have to reboot using the win98 boot disk because you will get an error saying someting like "Can't  remove directory, X file,already in use by windows"\n\nalso please make sure you copy deltree.exe onto you bootup\nfloppy. I beleive that the windows boot disk does not set the path to the windows directory, so doing a deltree from the prompt will not work with out the deltree.exe program on your floppy.\n\nThe command from your A:prompt should look like this\n\nA:>deltree c:&#92;windows\n\ndeltree c:&#92;windows, is the actual syntax to type at the prompt.\n\nyou can then from there use anny method you choose to delete any windows swap files.\n\nNotes:\n\nuse the dir command to see any hidden files left over by windows\n\nFirst use dir/? to get the correct syntax. dir will let you see the hidden files and the attrib command will let you change the attributes of a file from hidden to archive so that yo may delete any hidden windows files on your hard drive.(attrib/? for syntax)\n\nif you need more info,E-mail me, Thanks for the question!\n\nThe first answer is wrong. Do not do a low level format. A low level format is done at the manufacture NOT the user.
44426
You can format the hard drive by taking the disk that came with it and putting it in at start up. Doing this will wipe out EVERYTHING on the computer.
69260
I don't see why you would want to... but go to Start > Run and type C:&#92;WINDOWS and select NOTEPAD.EXE and delete it.
53738
Well, it won't be in the trash bin because it recycles to the hard drive, so unless you want to waste 200 bucks taking it to a technician that will merely use high-tech equipment to restore it, I suggest you just don't bother.\n\nBesides, clearing your history can be good, the less space used on your computer the better!
766042
Start > Run > Type: regedit\nThe OK\n\nBUT BE VERY CAREFUL!\n\nDeleting stuff out the registry is risky stuff, could mess up windows!\n\nYou have been warned.