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Author Topic: Wiping Computer Memory  (Read 1748 times)

Offline MosheP

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Wiping Computer Memory
« on: January 08, 2013, 10:44:50 AM »
I am selling an old laptop. How can I permanently  delete any personal information I have stored?

Documents
Browsing History (cookies, cache, saved paswords etc.)
Downloads
Etc..

Will shift+delete permanently delete documents and downloads? Will clearing browsing history in Chrome, Firefox and IE permanently clear history?

What else should I make sure to delete?

TIA
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Offline Name Changed

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Re: Wiping Computer Memory
« Reply #1 on: January 08, 2013, 10:56:02 AM »
Best off do a factory restore.

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Offline MosheP

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Re: Wiping Computer Memory
« Reply #2 on: January 08, 2013, 10:59:05 AM »
Quote from: Name Changed on January 08, 2013, 10:56:02 AM
Best off do a factory restore.

I need to give it over with everything still on the computer besides for personal information.

Its a long stroy....
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Offline Name Changed

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Re: Wiping Computer Memory
« Reply #3 on: January 08, 2013, 11:01:44 AM »
Quote from: MosheP on January 08, 2013, 10:59:05 AM
I need to give it over with everything still on the computer besides for personal information.

Its a long stroy....
Oh.

So you somewhat put yourself in a pickle.

What you could easily do is, create another user account, then delete the first one, and choose the option to also delete all its files.

In truth unless a computer is fully wiped, even with simple data recovery software a lot of files could be recovered.
Sorry for scarring you
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Offline DH Data Recovery

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Re: Wiping Computer Memory
« Reply #4 on: January 08, 2013, 11:38:43 AM »
There's a few options how to do that - It all depends if you are concerned that they may try to recover what you deleted or not.
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Offline AJK

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Re: Wiping Computer Memory
« Reply #5 on: January 08, 2013, 01:39:03 PM »
The only way to ensure they won't get your info is to wipe it (scrub it), and then reload the OS.
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Offline DH Data Recovery

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Re: Wiping Computer Memory
« Reply #6 on: January 08, 2013, 02:36:35 PM »
You can use secure delete for specific file if you want, you don't have top wipe enitre drive
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Offline MosheP

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Re: Wiping Computer Memory
« Reply #7 on: January 08, 2013, 02:39:44 PM »
Quote from: DH Data Recovery on January 08, 2013, 02:36:35 PM
You can use secure delete for specific file if you want, you don't have top wipe enitre drive

Is that shift+delete?
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Offline DanH

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Re: Wiping Computer Memory
« Reply #8 on: January 08, 2013, 02:42:40 PM »
Quote from: MosheP on January 08, 2013, 02:39:44 PM
Is that shift+delete?
No.  That just bypasses the recycle bin.  You need to use a 3rd party program.
Such as: http://eraser.heidi.ie/
« Last Edit: January 08, 2013, 02:46:18 PM by DanH »
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Offline DH Data Recovery

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Re: Wiping Computer Memory
« Reply #9 on: January 08, 2013, 02:44:36 PM »
No I'm referring to this

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897443.aspx

Sdelete is a utility thats added within the hard drives it's made by the drive manufacturers. There has been almost no successful recovery done after using this
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Offline DanH

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Re: Wiping Computer Memory
« Reply #10 on: January 08, 2013, 02:46:02 PM »
I figured you meant that, but didn't think CLI would be good for him if he's asking such a question...
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Offline DanH

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Re: Wiping Computer Memory
« Reply #11 on: January 08, 2013, 02:47:07 PM »
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Offline MosheP

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Re: Wiping Computer Memory
« Reply #12 on: January 08, 2013, 03:26:25 PM »
Quote from: DanH on January 08, 2013, 02:46:02 PM
I figured you meant that, but didn't think CLI would be good for him if he's asking such a question...

+1 I agree. The OP obviously is is a noob when it comes to computers, data recovery etc.
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Offline MosheP

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Re: Wiping Computer Memory
« Reply #13 on: January 08, 2013, 03:28:09 PM »
Quote from: DanH on January 08, 2013, 02:42:40 PM
No.  That just bypasses the recycle bin.  You need to use a 3rd party program.
Such as: http://eraser.heidi.ie/

Thanks. How can I permanently wipe Chrome history using this?
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Offline DH Data Recovery

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Re: Wiping Computer Memory
« Reply #14 on: January 08, 2013, 03:31:41 PM »
The benefit of sdelete is that it doesn't show the deleted files even if you try to run a recovery. It will not show deleted names etc and wont leave a space where the file was if you check.
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