How do i do a complete wipe of a harddrive?(computer)

[awesomeClaw]

Long story short, i bought a used computer and the previous owner didn´t delete all his stuff. The Jackass. Anyway, how do i do a complete harddrive wipe?

Anyone who helps me gets a internet cookie.

 

[Trivun]

What operating system is it? If it's Vista, then there should be something in the Control Panel, called Full Destructive Recovery. It basically resets the computer back to the factory settings, so all that's left is the basic system as it would be if the computer was bought new. I narrowly avoided doing that myself (and losing all my files) recently after problems whenever I started my laptop up.

But yeah, Full Destructive Recovery. I dare say it's something similar for other Windows operating systems too, though I can't be sure since I don't use any others. If you have a non-Windows OS though, then I can't really help you here, sorry.

 

[awesomeClaw]

It´s a windows 7.

 

[wordsmith]

Use a magnet, guaranteed to wipe the hard-drive.

 

[Cain_Zeros]

It´s a windows 7.

Was he nice enough to include the disk and CD key?

 

[Motoko Minato]

Long story short, i bought a used computer and the previous owner didn´t delete all his stuff. The Jackass. Anyway, how do i do a complete harddrive wipe?

Anyone who helps me gets a internet cookie.

Usually, you can put the Windows/Mac/Linux install disc in and it will delete it for you. To do this, put the disc in and restart your computer. When you start it back up, you want to hit F8 or some other key to access your boot menu. Once in the boot menu, you want to select the option to boot via a disc. Once you do that, you should get a menu for your OS of choice and that should guide you from there. If all else fails, usually with Windows you can chose to delete the partition, which will in fact, delete the stuff on the hard drive. If you don't want to reinstall an OS, then you might want to delete everything in the Program Files (NOT THE FOLDER ITSELF)\ Registry, although, I'm not sure on the name it has with the Mac/Linux OS's. OR you can use a system restore to factory settings(?).

 

[awesomeClaw]

Use a magnet, guaranteed to wipe the hard-drive.

Even though i don´t know much about computers, this statement seems suspious.

 

[awesomeClaw]

Was he nice enough to include the disk and CD key?


Nope, he didn´t. As i said, this guy was a real Jackass. I shouldn´t have bought the computer off of him.

 

[Eliam_Dar]

Well, if it is sensible data *suspicious look* and you want to erase not just the information, but any chance of recovery, you'll need to a low level format. If not just erase the bits you don't want to have.

Was he nice enough to include the disk and CD key?


Nope, he didn´t. As i said, this guy was a real Jackass. I shouldn´t have bought the computer off of him.

well that complicates everything since if you format it, you'll need an OS to reinstall.

 

[Trivun]

Use a magnet, guaranteed to wipe the hard-drive.

Even though i don´t know much about computers, this statement seems suspious.

It is. You don't know what files will be wiped by a magnet, especially considering a lot of system files will be left on there that are vital to the successful running of the computer. If you did that, you'd potentially have to spend money again to either get it repaired or to get a new copy of the OS to reinstall directly onto the system. A magnet is an idiotic way of doing it, so don't listen to him.

 

[awesomeClaw]

Well, if it is sensible data *suspicious look* and you want to erase not just the information, but any chance of recovery, you'll need to a low level format. If not just erase the bits you don't want to have.

Was he nice enough to include the disk and CD key?


Nope, he didn´t. As i said, this guy was a real Jackass. I shouldn´t have bought the computer off of him.

well that complicates everything since if you format it, you'll need an OS to reinstall.

Actually, i kind of suspect it was stolen now that i think of it. Great, i unknowingly bought a stolen computer off of a inner-city scumbag.

 

[awesomeClaw]

You know what? Screw it, i don´t want to have stolen stuff in my home, it´s against my ethics. (And if the police somehow trace them, im gonna have it hot around my ears.) But what should i do with the computer? I doubt anyone would want to buy it.

 

[Darktau]

You know what? Screw it, i don´t want to have stolen stuff in my home, it´s against my ethics. (And if the police somehow trace them, im gonna have it hot around my ears.) But what should i do with the computer? I doubt anyone would want to buy it.

How much did you pay for it?, and I would try for a return.

 

[awesomeClaw]

You know what? Screw it, i don´t want to have stolen stuff in my home, it´s against my ethics. (And if the police somehow trace them, im gonna have it hot around my ears.) But what should i do with the computer? I doubt anyone would want to buy it.

How much did you pay for it?, and I would try for a return.

Around 450$. Maybe i should return it, good suggestion.

 

[Kpt._Rob]

You know what? Screw it, i don´t want to have stolen stuff in my home, it´s against my ethics. (And if the police somehow trace them, im gonna have it hot around my ears.) But what should i do with the computer? I doubt anyone would want to buy it.

What you might want to do is take it to the police, explain the situation to them, and that you believe it was stolen. You probably still won't be able to get back your investment... but at least you might help them put this jackass in prison so he can't rip anyone else off.

 

[kingjoey52a]

all you need is DBAN(Darik's Boot And Nuke). Run this, put it on a thumb drive or a CD and reboot your computer. It rights random 1s and 0s on the entire hard drive so everything is gone and no one can recover it.

 

[awesomeClaw]

You know what? Screw it, i don´t want to have stolen stuff in my home, it´s against my ethics. (And if the police somehow trace them, im gonna have it hot around my ears.) But what should i do with the computer? I doubt anyone would want to buy it.

What you might want to do is take it to the police, explain the situation to them, and that you believe it was stolen. You probably still won't be able to get back your investment... but at least you might help them put this jackass in prison so he can't rip anyone else off.

Naw, i don´t want to get involved in that kind of stuff. I think i should just drive for a refound.

 

[MisterShine]

You know what? Screw it, i don´t want to have stolen stuff in my home, it´s against my ethics. (And if the police somehow trace them, im gonna have it hot around my ears.) But what should i do with the computer? I doubt anyone would want to buy it.

Well, trying to sell off something you think to be illegal is pretty dubious.

Check the documents folder, see if there's anything signed with a name or organization or something. Then contact the police, see if anything similar has been reported stolen lately.

 

[blankedboy]

Here's an idea. Go to a computer technician, pay them 20 bucks and have them do it for you.
It's anyone's best shot.

 

[jixser]

I'm not sure about the law on this, but assuming the computer isn't stolen, does he not own the windows 7 product key on that machine? You could extract the serial key and reinstall using that key after formatting. Of course that would require downloading or borrowing a copy of windows 7 somehow (not gonna get into that).....