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General discussion

permenantly deleting files

Apr 6, 2004 1:10AM PDT

I'm considering donating my computer and I heard that some things can still be on your computer after you delete them. Does anyone know how I can permenantly delete things to protect any personal information?
Thanks

Discussion is locked

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Re:permenantly deleting files
Apr 6, 2004 1:21AM PDT

1. Deleting a file only deletes the file's entry in the directory and not the content of the file. Read http://www.x-ways.net/winhex/forum/messages/6/12.html?1039253269 about WINHEX which from memory will write zeros or patterns to such space.

2. If it's in a file that you don't know about, then that's an issue...

3. Many donate machines with some OS installed, but fail to supply the OS and its license. This can be a confounding problem to the recipient. "Do I have a license to this OS? or not?"

Maybe you should just zero fill the drive, install some Linux on it so they can see it boots?

Bob

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Re:permenantly deleting files
Apr 6, 2004 6:57AM PDT

Does anyone know how I can permenantly delete things to protect any personal information?
--------------------------

If your talking about a novice a simple delete of the file will work fine.

If your talking about a pro then take the hd out an destroy it.

A step in the middle is to format and reload the OS this will just make a pro work a little harder.

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format c: /select/u
Apr 6, 2004 10:26AM PDT

Supposedly, this code will destroy a HDD.