Re: Cleansing my computer

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

From: Bruce Chambers (bruce_a_chambers_at_h0tmail.com)
Date: 09/05/04 

Date: Sun, 5 Sep 2004 08:24:58 -0600

Harry wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> Forgive me if I am in the wrong newsgroup for these questions.
>
> I am thinking of giving away my old computer. Before I do this
> however I want to make absolutely sure it is cleansed of all
> personal data I have ever entered.
>
> That includes secret caches, encrypted data bases, and any other
> files that contain sensitive data I may have added or downloaded.
>
> In short, I want to make it as pristine as when I bought it.
>
> I would prefer to leave the existing software (that I added) on the
> machine so I don't want to re-format the hard drive.
>

    To quote an old Downeast punch-line, "You cain't get thar from
heah."

    There is no practical way to completely "cleanse" a hard drive of
all personal information while still leaving the OS and applications
intact. The only possible method would be for you to manually find
and delete _every_ single file (not just data files, as some
applications embed your name, etc., during installation) that might
contain such information, and then for you to manually scan each
individual registry entry for the same. If you've got several free
days coming up to dedicate to the task, and are confident that you
won't overlook something, go for it.

    To protect your personal information and data from any future
users of _average_ skills, you should, at the very least, format the
hard drive and reinstall only the OS and those applications whose
licenses you are selling along with the computer. If you wish to do a
more thorough job of protecting your personal data, WipeDrive 2.2.1
(http://www.accessdata.com/Product07_Overview.htm?ProductNum=07) meets
U.S. DoD standards for securely cleaning surplus unclassified hard
drives, and could be used before formatting and reinstalling the OS
and applications. 

-- 
Bruce Chambers
Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. - RAH

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