Windows 7: Safe Delete info ?

As I don't use my old Windows XP Laptop I know a girl who would like it and I'm happy to give it to her, but I need to delete some files first (my bank info etc) so can any members please suggest any application that will completely delete files (so they cant be recovered ?) appreciate any advice ... thank you

Well, well, Ciara has a skilled badge. congrats
What you are looking for is software to do a zero format. Regular format is thought to erase everything and it does; unless you have special equipment etc.
If it were mine and I wanted to give my puter away, I would format twice, if possible.
If you are concerned,we need to look for zero format software.

Dban may be good
http://www.dban.org/

I was just looking at This the Laptop is XP SP3 and its only certain files I need to delete ... what do you think ?

Thank you for the link

That seems to be fine.
Why not use the new computer and just change paswords, etc.
Then just format.

If I format the hard drive on the Laptop I loose XP and I don't have a XP OS disk to reinstall XP so I need to hand over the Laptop with the OS intact

You are correct. Nice to give a compuer that has an OS LOL.

Any file shredder that makes multiple passes (I think that the government standard is ~30 passes) will do the job for eliminating specific files. However, if you have had that laptop long, chances are that there is other sensitive info that you have deleted previously, and is still accessible via certain recovery programs. If the latter may be the case, you would be better of following Richc46's advice and scrub the entire drive. If I wanted to scrub the drive, I wouldn't settle for just reformatting, I would use DBAN or something similar, which will actually overwrite old data.

Hi seekermeister

My banking info I have in one folder and there are a few pictures (holls etc) so I think Eraser should do the job, the girl is only 14 that I am going to give the Laptop to so she will need an OS.

If you are concerned, there are some apps which will clear free space.

Thank you SIW2, I was looking at Paragon Backup today they make quite a lot of software I see