selling eee pc w/linux os need 2 clean out memory. How?

lbishop70 · 02-28-2008, 04:20 PM

I don't want my personal banking info. etc. to be available on my linux mini laptop. I've looked online and the only software that cleans out files on hard drives etc. is for windows. I need help ASAP because I have someone wanting to buy it from me tommorow and I haven't cleaned the OS up yet. I can't wipe off linux and reinstall because I don't have the OS discs. So I just want to clean it up as best as I can. I have a ASUS EEE PC series and when I called ASUS they said I don't have a hard drive to clean up. Just memory and I should call LINUX support for help but I can't find a number for them. So if someone else knows how I can clean up my laptop b4 I sell it that would be great.

oldmn · 02-28-2008, 07:56 PM

Hi lbishop70 Welcome to TSF
If you have a floppy drive you can use THIS
Of course you would have reinstall the OS or sell it with out.

lensman3 · 02-29-2008, 08:45 PM

My Fedora core 8 has a program already install called "shred". It does multiple writes to existing files and then deletes the file.

I'd kill my /home directory and the /etc/passwd file and /etc/group file. The problem you might have it that the machine might quit half way through wiping out the password file because the OS couldn't find a legal user. Booting up in single user mode might get around this.

OR

Just put your disk in a microwave oven and turn it on for a couple of minutes. Get the disk over the Curie point (Is the Curie point where magnetic material forget their magnetism or something else point)?

datechgeek · 07-05-2008, 04:39 AM

when u turn on your eee pc, hold F9 at the first eee logo and coose factory reset.

lensman3 · 07-07-2008, 07:51 PM

I would suggest "shred" too. It has been approved by the CIA/NSA to completely erase a file. Use the write three times to the same file option.

02-28-2008, 04:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
lbishop70 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1 OS: LINUX	selling eee pc w/linux os need 2 clean out memory. How? I don't want my personal banking info. etc. to be available on my linux mini laptop. I've looked online and the only software that cleans out files on hard drives etc. is for windows. I need help ASAP because I have someone wanting to buy it from me tommorow and I haven't cleaned the OS up yet. I can't wipe off linux and reinstall because I don't have the OS discs. So I just want to clean it up as best as I can. I have a ASUS EEE PC series and when I called ASUS they said I don't have a hard drive to clean up. Just memory and I should call LINUX support for help but I can't find a number for them. So if someone else knows how I can clean up my laptop b4 I sell it that would be great.

02-28-2008, 07:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
oldmn Hardware Tech Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Gig Harbor Wa Posts: 2,137 OS: XP Pro SP3 X 3 My System	Re: selling eee pc w/linux os need 2 clean out memory. How? Hi lbishop70 Welcome to TSF If you have a floppy drive you can use THIS Of course you would have reinstall the OS or sell it with out. __________________ AVG \| MEMTEST86 \| Zone Alarm \| XXCLONE \| Adaware \| Beyond Compare \| Everest If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Sorry no PM's for problems. Last edited by oldmn : 02-28-2008 at 07:57 PM.

02-29-2008, 08:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
lensman3 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Littleton, Colorado USA Posts: 412 OS: xp 64 sp2 Fedora Core 8 (vmware xp core 8 x32) Minix	Re: selling eee pc w/linux os need 2 clean out memory. How? My Fedora core 8 has a program already install called "shred". It does multiple writes to existing files and then deletes the file. I'd kill my /home directory and the /etc/passwd file and /etc/group file. The problem you might have it that the machine might quit half way through wiping out the password file because the OS couldn't find a legal user. Booting up in single user mode might get around this. OR Just put your disk in a microwave oven and turn it on for a couple of minutes. Get the disk over the Curie point (Is the Curie point where magnetic material forget their magnetism or something else point)?

07-05-2008, 04:39 AM	#4 (permalink)
datechgeek Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 6 OS: Mac OS X 10.4	Re: selling eee pc w/linux os need 2 clean out memory. How? when u turn on your eee pc, hold F9 at the first eee logo and coose factory reset.

07-07-2008, 07:51 PM	#5 (permalink)
lensman3 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Littleton, Colorado USA Posts: 412 OS: xp 64 sp2 Fedora Core 8 (vmware xp core 8 x32) Minix	Re: selling eee pc w/linux os need 2 clean out memory. How? I would suggest "shred" too. It has been approved by the CIA/NSA to completely erase a file. Use the write three times to the same file option.