Taking Computer for service, security tips??

Jkirwin · 06-30-2007, 08:23 AM

Hi, I am taking my computer into the shop for repair ( the cooler fan has stopped working.) It is under waranty or i might try to do it myself.

I have a few questiosn and I searched but could not find any guidance ( maybe this could be a sticky tech tip?)

1> I have removed personal files like my tax returns, backed them up to a back-up hard drive. How do I make sure that they cannot be recovered. Any suggestions for cleaning software?

2. How do you remove passwords that windows remembers? ( and make sure they cannot be recovered)

3. If I delte cookies for any web passwords I have, can they be recovered.

4> anything esle I ned to do that I should be woried about???

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.

**Go The Power** · 06-30-2007, 08:49 AM

Hello Jkirwin

Quote:

1> I have removed personal files like my tax returns, backed them up to a back-up hard drive. How do I make sure that they cannot be recovered. Any suggestions for cleaning software?

Have you already deleted all the files of your computer?

Quote:

2. How do you remove passwords that windows remembers? ( and make sure they cannot be recovered)

What Passwords do you mean?, for example for MSN, Internet explores, user accounts?

Quote:

3. If I delte cookies for any web passwords I have, can they be recovered.

Not if they are wiped out completey

If you want to get rid of all your temp files and folders, follow the instructions below: (but this will complete get rid of all your temp data, and also everything in your recycle bin, Internet history and cookies.)

CLEANUP! version 4.52 – TEMP FILE CLEANING

Please download Cleanup! and install it.

*NOTE* Cleanup deletes EVERYTHING out of temporary folders and does not make backups.

Open Cleanup! by double-clicking the icon on your desktop (or from the Start > All Programs menu).
Set the program up as follows:

Click "Options..."
Move the arrow down to "Custom CleanUp!"
Put a check next to the following (Make sure nothing else is checked!):

Empty Recycle Bins
Delete Cookies
Delete Prefetch files (if present)
Cleanup! All Users
Click on the Temporary Files tab and uncheck the box for Scan drives for files matching if it’s checked.

Click OK
Press the CleanUp! button to start the program and reboot when prompted.

Jkirwin · 06-30-2007, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Go The Power

Hello Jkirwin

Have you already deleted all the files of your computer?.

Yes I have

Quote:

Originally Posted by Go The Power

What Passwords do you mean?, for example for MSN, Internet explores, user accounts?.

Yes these are the ones, some are remembered by windows, others seem to be cookies from the websites. How do you remove those in Windows?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Go The Power

Not if they are wiped out completey

.

And that is what the Program I will download will do?

**Go The Power** · 06-30-2007, 09:31 AM

Try Cleanup! as mentioned above, in my first post

Jkirwin · 06-30-2007, 10:08 AM

Thank you I did but the compuetr still remembers some of my passwords. I think these are the ones in windows.

**Glaswegian** · 06-30-2007, 10:47 AM

Hi

Open IE. Go to Tools > Internet Options > Content tab and click Autocomplete. Then click "Clear Forms" and "Clear Passwords" - click OK to confirm.

**Done_Fishin** · 06-30-2007, 11:57 AM

replace the drive .. make a new windows (or your favourite) OS install.

NEVER send a PC for service without backing up your files .. and if you're security minded, remove the drive entirely .. even with deleting / removing files a& stuff, the info is frequently recoverable if you know what you're doing .. if the tech needs an OS to do his job .. give him a fresh disk with a fresh install

I have seen too many people send in their PC's for service, with Large notices saying NOT to touch the hard drive contents , only to get the PC's back with a freshly formatted & newly installed OS .. with the excuse that it had problems .. and more often than not .. a totally new drive .. so that recovery of years of work is also impossible ..

**Kalim** · 07-01-2007, 01:58 AM

I'd heed the advice DF gave above me, as the tier 1 and 2 techs don't usually spend much time troubleshooting at all, and use the easy way to just format the system.

I have an application that will wipe out every area on your drive not in use; the files will be unrecoverable and the data on it undeleted will be untouched.

I can't find it around online at the moment, it is quite archaic to 2007.

O, here you go: http://www.brothersoft.com/security/...ner_15220.html

Cleaner 1.1.

After you delete the personal files, using Cleanup!, use this and the data is not restorable. When in use it will fill the unuused space with null bytes, so slowly it will start cramping up space upto 100% full. Don't worry, that's when it finishes as it's done the job.

It works fine on XP, I know from the developers since 2002.

06-30-2007, 08:23 AM	#1 (permalink)
Jkirwin Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 23 OS: XP	Taking Computer for service, security tips?? Hi, I am taking my computer into the shop for repair ( the cooler fan has stopped working.) It is under waranty or i might try to do it myself. I have a few questiosn and I searched but could not find any guidance ( maybe this could be a sticky tech tip?) 1> I have removed personal files like my tax returns, backed them up to a back-up hard drive. How do I make sure that they cannot be recovered. Any suggestions for cleaning software? 2. How do you remove passwords that windows remembers? ( and make sure they cannot be recovered) 3. If I delte cookies for any web passwords I have, can they be recovered. 4> anything esle I ned to do that I should be woried about??? Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.

06-30-2007, 09:31 AM	#4 (permalink)
Go The Power Moderator, Microsoft Support Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Australia Posts: 10,981 OS: Windows XP Home SP2 Blog Entries: 1	Re: Taking Computer for service, security tips?? Try Cleanup! as mentioned above, in my first post __________________

06-30-2007, 10:08 AM	#5 (permalink)
Jkirwin Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 23 OS: XP	Re: Taking Computer for service, security tips?? Thank you I did but the compuetr still remembers some of my passwords. I think these are the ones in windows.

06-30-2007, 10:47 AM	#6 (permalink)
Glaswegian Moderator/ Rangemaster TSF Academy; Analyst, Security Team; Oor Wullie; TSF Surgeon and Resident Comic Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Glasgow Posts: 25,465 OS: Win XP Pro SP3 / Win 7 Pro My System Blog Entries: 10	Re: Taking Computer for service, security tips?? Hi Open IE. Go to Tools > Internet Options > Content tab and click Autocomplete. Then click "Clear Forms" and "Clear Passwords" - click OK to confirm. __________________ Iain - Defender of the Haggis and all things Scottish. I don't help by PM - post in the Forums. PC Safety & Security::PC running a bit slow?::Donate::Photographers Corner

06-30-2007, 11:57 AM	#7 (permalink)
Done_Fishin Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brit living in Greece Posts: 7,502 OS: WinME, WinXP Pro SP3, Win7 Beta, Ubuntu 9.04 & Netbook Remix & CD2USB, Mepis 6.5, Fedora 10 My System	Re: Taking Computer for service, security tips?? replace the drive .. make a new windows (or your favourite) OS install. NEVER send a PC for service without backing up your files .. and if you're security minded, remove the drive entirely .. even with deleting / removing files a& stuff, the info is frequently recoverable if you know what you're doing .. if the tech needs an OS to do his job .. give him a fresh disk with a fresh install I have seen too many people send in their PC's for service, with Large notices saying NOT to touch the hard drive contents , only to get the PC's back with a freshly formatted & newly installed OS .. with the excuse that it had problems .. and more often than not .. a totally new drive .. so that recovery of years of work is also impossible .. __________________ . . I'm not old!! I'm age impaired .. D_F I DON'T PLAY GAMES How to mark your thread as solved HDD DIAG UTILS TSF's Photographer's Corner Last edited by Done_Fishin; 06-30-2007 at 11:58 AM.

07-01-2007, 01:58 AM	#8 (permalink)
Kalim Roaming To Help Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 5,642 OS: Many	Re: Taking Computer for service, security tips?? I'd heed the advice DF gave above me, as the tier 1 and 2 techs don't usually spend much time troubleshooting at all, and use the easy way to just format the system. I have an application that will wipe out every area on your drive not in use; the files will be unrecoverable and the data on it undeleted will be untouched. I can't find it around online at the moment, it is quite archaic to 2007. O, here you go: http://www.brothersoft.com/security/...ner_15220.html Cleaner 1.1. After you delete the personal files, using Cleanup!, use this and the data is not restorable. When in use it will fill the unuused space with null bytes, so slowly it will start cramping up space upto 100% full. Don't worry, that's when it finishes as it's done the job. It works fine on XP, I know from the developers since 2002.