How would you price this old computer??

[bicker]

That's correct... just reformatting the drive does not protect your data.

A four year old desktop computer, especially, is unlikely to command much interest, even as a give-away. They have advanced greatly in recent years, and come down drastically in price. You may actually have to pay to have someone take it off your hands.

It's a new world.

 

[Imzadi]

So, are you guys saying that even reformatting the hard drive is not a way to get rid of the info on it? Just wondering, since I have several computers that are in the same situation as OP. I have just kept them, since I am not sure giving them away would be safe(for my information)

Marsha

You have to download and run a program called a harddrive ERASER. It basically overwrites each byte of your hard drive wth gibberish so that any old ifo can't be extracted in any recognisable form.

 

[agnes!]

Actually, it's my understanding that the hard-disk "erasers" don't. And the best thing to do is to physically destroy the hard-drive (like with a sledge-hammer).

agnes!

 

[bicker]

There are some programs that will write data to every storage location on the hard drive, something like seven times. Presumably that means that you basically need Abby Sciuto to read the data off of the disc. However, a sledgehammer is still more reliable.

 

[agnes!]

*And* more fun , too.

agnes!