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Possible Duplicates:
Best (preferably free) tool to wipe deleted files on an NTFS filesystem
Is there a program to truly delete all deleted files?
Erasing data before selling a computer

I'm selling my laptop, and I want to make sure no body tries to recover anything. Is re-installing Windows enough? or do I need to purge it? Please suggest me programs to use too, if needed.

Community
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Strawberry
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3 Answers3

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The best solutions is called DBAN. If you want to be sure dban it is =) Then install windows again.

Darik's Boot and Nuke ("DBAN") is a self-contained boot disk that securely wipes the hard disks of most computers. DBAN will automatically and completely delete the contents of any hard disk that it can detect, which makes it an appropriate utility for bulk or emergency data destruction.

Tamara Wijsman
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Use a file shredder and perform a deep format for your hard drive, then re-install Windows after repartitioning your hard drive. This will make it nearly impossible to recover any file.

sikas
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The only way to completely be sure that no-one can recover your data is to replace your hard disk. If you don't store EXTREMELY sensitive materials on your drive then a normal format should be enough to conceal information from someone that isn't looking hard for it. If anyone such as the police wanted to get information off the drive, they could regardless of the software you use... There are some very clever algorithms out there. There is plenty of software which will try and write over data a few (hundred) times to try and make it very inaccessible, such as Active @ kill disk. If you're just being paranoid, chill out and do a format or two ;)

Jay_Booney
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