Quick Question for the Gurus

[Shook]

Need some quick help.... Heads up this is about a Toshiba Laptop running Windows XP SP3.

I'm selling the thing locally to a guy, and was wondering of a good quick way to delete my personal information off of it. Anyone know of a free program that does it or anything like that?

Or should I just reload XP using the install disks that came with the lappy?

Thanks in advance!

 

[kurahk7]

Need some quick help.... Heads up this is about a Toshiba Laptop running Windows XP SP3.

I'm selling the thing locally to a guy, and was wondering of a good quick way to delete my personal information off of it. Anyone know of a free program that does it or anything like that?

Or should I just reload XP using the install disks that came with the lappy?

Thanks in advance!

It is better to reload XP simply because it helps restore the performance and settings to the default.

 

[joel406]

Unless you use a special software that will do a military grade overwrite data can be recovered. Even from a formated HD. So if there is anything that you can go to prison for on your HD you should do a seious overwrite. I can't think of the name of it but there is a program that will do it for free out there.

Be aware that a military grade(7 passes) will take a long long time. Prehaps days.

 

[Ryan2320]

@Joel406
Is this the one Darik's Boot And Nuke | Hard Drive Disk Wipe and Data Clearing
That would be good, if you want to make sure everything is off of it.

Usually just formating the Drive and the re-formating and reloading the OS would also work.

Hope this Helps...

 

[gregrocker]

If you don't need to deep clean the HD or want to reinstall XP, then just create a New User or Computer Owner account and delete your named account(s) including its files.

Any personal programs you don't want to migrate to the new owner should also be removed in Control Panel.

Later the new owner can change the name on the replacement account you created if desired.

 

[IggyAZ]

Need some quick help.... Heads up this is about a Toshiba Laptop running Windows XP SP3.

I'm selling the thing locally to a guy, and was wondering of a good quick way to delete my personal information off of it. Anyone know of a free program that does it or anything like that?

Or should I just reload XP using the install disks that came with the lappy?

Thanks in advance!

It is better to reload XP simply because it helps restore the performance and settings to the default.

I also agree by doing a full new install of WinXP is your best bet.
That includes a long reformat by Windows install disk.

 

[Shook]

Wow thanks for all the help guys! Think I'll run some killdisk and then reinstall. Only a 20GB HDD so shouldnt take too long

 

[Shook]

Actually decided against Killdisk and even formatting. Just manually deleted everything I could find (wasn't much). One question though..... when looking at system info, the "Registered to: MY NAME" ....... any easy way to remove my name from there???

 

[gregrocker]

Click the link there to change name. I would put Computer Owner.

Did you remove your named User Account? This will remove all of your user files with it.

If you removed the files manually, then you can change User Account name to something like Computer Owner also.

New Owner can change these to what he/she wants.

 

[Shook]

Click the link there to change name. I would put Computer Owner.

Did you remove your named User Account? This will remove all of your user files with it.

If you removed the files manually, then you can change User Account name to something like Computer Owner also.

New Owner can change these to what he/she wants.

I dont see a link to change name... on XP you know? under "System Properties" and the General tab

 

[DocBrown]

I had a program some time ago "BTM Change owner" maybe if you google it ????

 

[Bill2]

Click Start,click Run, type regedit,and then click OK.

Locate the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion

To change the name of the registered owner, do the following:

In the right pane, double-click RegisteredOwner. Under Value data, type the name that you want, and then click OK.

To change the organization name, do the following:

In the right pane, double-click RegisteredOrganization. Under Value data, type the name that you want, and then click OK.

Click Exit on the File menu to quit Registry Editor

 

[gregrocker]

Change Name link should be on rightclick My Computer>Properties

Changing a Computer Name in XP: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/295017

 

[HMonk]

I'm not a guru but I have a suggestion:

Go to Eraser and DL their free app. It has several levels of secure erasing as well as simultaneous writing over erased data. Outstanding open source app.

Monk

 

[Shook]

Click Start,click Run, type regedit,and then click OK.

Locate the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion

To change the name of the registered owner, do the following:

In the right pane, double-click RegisteredOwner. Under Value data, type the name that you want, and then click OK.

To change the organization name, do the following:

In the right pane, double-click RegisteredOrganization. Under Value data, type the name that you want, and then click OK.

Click Exit on the File menu to quit Registry Editor

That worked! Thanks man. Also thx to you too Doc. Always amazed at the number of people that reply offering help. Love 7Forums!