Donating Computer - Want to erase data

[Amishman]

I am donating my old computer to charity. What is the easiest way to delete all the info on it?


Also, would this improve the speed of the computer? It seems to be running slow lately. There is alot of crap on it.

 

[4W4K3]

Well, if you wipe the entire drive including the operating system...it won't run at all lol. You'll get past POST and get an error message.

To completely wipe the drive there are several programs you can use. I like "WDCLEAR" because it's simple and free to download.

If you want to keep the operating systme on there and just get rid of all the data...well I wouldn't suggest that at all really if you are donating it. Wipe it entirely.

 

[DCIScouts]

The easiest way to get rid of the info would be to reinstall the OS and format the hard drive.

 

[leetkyle]

Boot and Nuke.

 

[belfong]

Yap, Re-format the whole damn thing.

 

[Archangel]

well.. you can still recover data after 6 times formatting.. what HD do you have? If its a Western digital, i suggest the program 4W4K3 suggested

 

[leetkyle]

Boot and Nuke totally wipes absolutely everything off the drive. It is an extremely dangerous program as the data you erase is TOTALLY nuked.