Deleting Files - New For Old Computer

[David48]

Deleting Files - New for old Computer

I wish to gift a 2 or 3 year old netbook and need to know how effectively remove the existing files.

It has a genuine Windows Operating System (XP or 7) so I don't wish to 'slate' the drive.

Any suggestions how to easily do this?

Anything else to consider?

... I did search this topic here but didn't find the question asked.

If someone has written about this before, then please point me to that Post please.

Thanks ...

[JohnC]

Replace the hard drive is the only guaranteed way to preserve your security.

[David48]

^^ WOW ... fast reply and thanks.

But it's a net book, hence no physicial hardrive.

Also wish to keep the costs down so don't wish to have that expense of replacing the SSD.

[Tywais]

If you are not willing to reformat and install due to missing keys then you will have to run the uninstall (Control Panel > Programs and Features) for each program you want to remove. Then run ccleaner to clear out temp files, caches, etc.

[buenavad]

There are some "File destroyer" software around internet... I've never use one before but Google can answer that.

[David48]

If you are not willing to reformat and install due to missing keys then you will have to run the uninstall (Control Panel > Programs and Features) for each program you want to remove. Then run ccleaner to clear out temp files, caches, etc.

Humm ... It's not that I don't wish to start again from blank.

It's a net book, the product keys are actually written by Microsoft on the back of the computer.

They don't come with a disk, hence a hassle to reinstall the operating system ??

The computers are going to my gf's nieces if they are proficient at school.

Hope the additional info helps.

I'll butt out and let you guys reply.

Thanks again to the early responders and those who will further down.

[pbeieio]

try Garmin Utilities it's free

[WhizBang]

Well, even though you don't have the CD's, do you have a restore (or something similar) partition? Those are designed to restore the computer to the state it was in when it left the factory. It will wipe out everything on the computer, replacing it with the original factory installed system.

[Dork]

If you are not willing to reformat and install due to missing keys then you will have to run the uninstall (Control Panel > Programs and Features) for each program you want to remove. Then run ccleaner to clear out temp files, caches, etc.

Humm ... It's not that I don't wish to start again from blank.

It's a net book, the product keys are actually written by Microsoft on the back of the computer.

They don't come with a disk, hence a hassle to reinstall the operating system ??

The computers are going to my gf's nieces if they are proficient at school.

Hope the additional info helps.

I'll butt out and let you guys reply.

Thanks again to the early responders and those who will further down.

It is easy & perfectly legal to download a copy of Windows to do a fresh install as long as it is the same version as came with the netbook originally.

You'll find at least one place to download by googling "mydigitallife windows 7"

The download will be a single ISO file so you will need to extract that to a USB drive for the installation. You can download "windows usb/dvd download tool" from Microsoft or elsewhere to do that.

Make sure you install with the original product key and you should have no trouble activating afterwards.

[lungbing]

CCleaner, as mentioned earlier, has a built-in tool to wipe free-space only on a drive.

You can make 1 or 3 or 7 or 35 passes passes to make sure the data is gone.

[RKASA]

If you removed your personnel files and un wanted programs then just de frag it then run ccleaner and then wipe the free space with file shredder one pass is fine or any wiper as they write 1' then 0 over all the old empty space and nothing is left - all free programs.