Freeman3030 Posted March 11, 2011 Report Share Posted March 11, 2011 Hi,I'm planning on selling my desktop pc, but I don't know who's hands this pc is going to end up in. So to protect myself and all private and confidential information on my pc... (Credit card numbers and passwords are my main concern) how do I get rid of this information?I've been researching and thought about restoring my pc back to factory settings. But I feel this won't be enough.I've seen software that overwrites all data on the hdd to make recovering information almost impossible, but I'm afraid I won't be able to reinstall windows. What will I need to do this and is this something that someone with a small knowledge base on computers can do?Just to help, I'm running windows vista.If anyone can suggest anything, it would be much appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted March 11, 2011 Report Share Posted March 11, 2011 I suggest you use the Open Source tool :-Darik's Boot And NukeDBAN FAQs :- http://www.dban.org/faqBackground to DBAN- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DBAN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted March 11, 2011 Report Share Posted March 11, 2011 I suggest you use the Open Source tool :-Darik's Boot And NukeDBAN FAQs :- http://www.dban.org/faqBackground to DBAN- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DBANWhat happens to the bios, does that disappear too?No - this only wipes the H/D which can then be used by someone else with adequate guarantee that they can't access the previous data on it :) Boris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MANEMAN Posted March 11, 2011 Report Share Posted March 11, 2011 What happens to the bios, does that disappear too? No andsome. - What actually happens in the due course of events after you have used the tool that Boris has advised is, - - the Bios becomes compressed. - And then as a natural progression it of course becomes a, - "Small BIOS".This is then re-cycled into a product aptly named "Baby Bio" which is used as a plant food.Dont forget to tell people that you heard about this cutting edge technology at.............Windows Forum.Org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MANEMAN Posted March 11, 2011 Report Share Posted March 11, 2011 Sensible answer now. :) The BIOS remains intact. It retains no personal data.It is purely basic input/output system - (BIOS) - stored on a ROM chip on the Motherboard.(More or less, set in stone for the life of the Motherboard.)The chip can be upgraded, (Firmware upgrade) and infectation by virus via the internet etc, is very,very rare.In very simple terms, the settings of the BIOS are held in place by a small battery on the Motherboard. (Little flat, round, shiny silver thing.) If this battery should go flat, or fall below workable voltage, you may at times find that the computer will not boot (Have to press F2) or that the date and time will start to behave strangely.In a "Complete Wipe" of a computer the BIOS doesn't really come into the equation at all.If folks want to know more head over ** HERE ** Sorry Andsome. - Just couldn't resist it. :lol: :lol: John. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freeman3030 Posted March 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2011 So after I've wiped the hdd, I put the vista disk in and it will install windows? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted March 11, 2011 Report Share Posted March 11, 2011 Yes - but first make sure that you have the drivers for the PC - may not all be on the Vista DVD (even if it is a genuine Microsoft disk, rather than a manufacturer's recovery disc)NB On re-reading your original post it would appear that you may have a manufacturer's Recovery disk rather than an actual Microsoft Vista DVD ? If you wipe the Hard Drive it will remove whatever hidden Recovery Partition is on the H/D.What make is the PC ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted March 12, 2011 Report Share Posted March 12, 2011 I get very annoyed when I hear about these recovery discs. Not much use are they in a situation like this. All the more reason for insisting on a full installation disc when buying a computer, or refuse to buy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freeman3030 Posted March 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2011 It's a hp, I think I made the recovery disks when I first got the pc. But have lost them! What can I do? Will I have to buy a new vista disk? If that's the case, I really aught to upgrade it to windows 7 as it might make it a little more sale able. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted March 12, 2011 Report Share Posted March 12, 2011 Are you sure you will be able to sell your old machine? It would be unfortunate if you spent any amount of money or effort making it saleable if nobody wants to buy it.It used to be that old computers were as desirable as a second hand Kleenex so I would suggest you have a definite buyer before you go to any trouble or expense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freeman3030 Posted March 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2011 I was just going to stick it on eBay. It's got a quad core processor, a 1gb gpu and a 1tb hdd. So I thought it would be quite desirable. But now you've got me thinking that perhaps that might not be the case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted March 12, 2011 Report Share Posted March 12, 2011 Make a new set of recovery disks ?See :-/>http://www.pctechbytes.com/hp/hp-recovery-cd-creation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted March 12, 2011 Report Share Posted March 12, 2011 If your HP computer did NOT originally come with disks, it is quite possible that the recovery files are on a hidden partition on the driveSee this for recovering from the hidden partition :-/>http://www.pctechbytes.com/hp/hp-recovery-in-windows-vista Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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