How do I remove the operating system altogether and earing the hard drive making it easier for the buyer of the computer. I want him to just be able to insert the DVD and install Windows 7 when he bought the computer.
Formatting is the quick and easy way, but is not very secure as the data can be recovered using widely available software.
Completely wiping the hard drive with Old Man Emu's suggestion or DBAN will mean the new owner won't be able to use data recovery software. This is the safer option if you've ever had any private data on the drive, like documents, photos, passwords, etc. that you don't want to risk being compromised.
Formatting is the quick and easy way, but is not very secure as the data can be recovered using widely available software.
Completely wiping the hard drive with Old Man Emu's suggestion or DBAN will mean the new owner won't be able to use data recovery software. This is the safer option if you've ever had any private data on the drive, like documents, photos, passwords, etc. that you don't want to risk being compromised.
I misread freddiebox's intentions. Since he was trying to make things easy for the buyer, I thought the sale was to a friend. Of course the only way to truly remove all info is via Government Wipe.
The only 100% certain way to ensure that no-one has access to your data is to burn the drive, which will demagnetize the media and then smash it to little pieces. Of course, this drastic step is only appropriate for the most sensitive data. For the common user a format is probably sufficient. Few, if any, normal users have overly sensitive data on their computer and fewer are going to go to the time and effort to try to recover data bit by bit from a computer they purchased for home use.
If you wish to make it easier for the new user you will re-install and update the operating system before you sell the computer. Failure to do so might even thwart a sale as used systems are worth relatively little and there are many out there with intact operating systems and bundled software.
Just a thought but deleting the partition is a lot quicker and makes the recovery of data not possible and would leave the recovery partition in tact in most cases if you are worried about the recovery partition.
Just a thought but deleting the partition is a lot quicker and makes the recovery of data not possible and would leave the recovery partition in tact in most cases if you are worried about the recovery partition.
I am of a different opinion, Rich-M
There are plenty of software programs, even free software which will recover Data on a deleted partition. The new owner can without much effort recover data off the deleted partition drive sold on a computer.
This one is just one.
If you want to make it easy to sell the computer, delete the partition and then install Windows, do all updates, drivers etc. Then the new owner only has to install his favorite programs and personal files. Many people don't have Windows discs to install on a computer.
I think it would be better to install the os. first of all, it helps overwrite everything that may have been installed before. also not everyone knows how to install an os.
I think it would be better to install the os. first of all, it helps overwrite everything that may have been installed before. also not everyone knows how to install an os.
A computer will sell faster if the Windows OS is installed and the customer can test the computer. I take in computers and fix them up, install a HDD and install Windows OS update it etc and then resell them.
A computer will sell faster if the Windows OS is installed and the customer can test the computer. I take in computers and fix them up, install a HDD and install Windows OS update it etc and then resell them.
Probably the best way, then the customer can test it out straight away and make sure everything is working properly. Thanks for the tips everyone!
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