How do I "erase" my computer

[DOGSPEED]

I bought a new laptop a few months ago and am unhappy with it. It is the slowest POS i have aver had. I want to return it and get something different. I am concerned about access to my personnel info after its gone. How can I get rid of everything on it except what it came with?

[joemama]

take the hard drive out and bring it to the range.

[jeremyy]

Well that's the tricky part... You can't wipe it clean if you want to put it back to factory. Some reset to factory keeps your personal items there just encase. New dell laptop's do that.

Now if you're came with a restore DVD then you might have a better chance.

I'd personally wipe it clean and still return it.

[gcvt]

take the hard drive out and bring it to the range.

9mm or 45acp?

[Skoonie]

9mm or 45acp?

we all know 22lr will do the same job with correct shot placement

[joemama]

9mm or 45acp?

multiple rounds of each just to be sure.

[DOGSPEED]

Well that's the tricky part... You can't wipe it clean if you want to put it back to factory. Some reset to factory keeps your personal items there just encase. New dell laptop's do that.

Now if you're came with a restore DVD then you might have a better chance.

I'd personally wipe it clean and still return it.

So how would one go about wiping it clean? Don't remember if it came with a dvd or not.

[Mr.Hipp]

$20 program at any computer store called drive scrubber. It overwrites all the info. Location? If in s.d. you can borrow mine.

[SonofWWIIDI]

You must reformat the hard drive. More than once. And you will probably still leave some small bits of info on the drive that someone with a bit of knowledge and the equipment could collect. I don't really know if it would do anyone much good, or be worth it though.

You should reinstall the entire system back to its original configuration using the systems disks that came with it, or however the manufacturer suggests.

I may be wrong, I haven't done that in many years. Might be that a whole new process has come into use.

[stilly]

OP if you live in riverside I can help you...

Else go ask in the correct forum here, the technology forum. You will receive proper reccos on what programs to use.
No funny guys telling you to take it to the range.

Of course this IS OT so If those answers did NOT get said then I would have thought something was wrong here...

[DOGSPEED]

$20 program at any computer store called drive scrubber. It overwrites all the info. Location? If in s.d. you can borrow mine.

Thanks for the offer,but I am nowhere near SD (Monterey area). I will see if I can find drive scrubber at a local store.

[DOGSPEED]

OP if you live in riverside I can help you...

Else go ask in the correct forum here, the technology forum. You will receive proper reccos on what programs to use.
No funny guys telling you to take it to the range.

Of course this IS OT so If those answers did NOT get said then I would have thought something was wrong here...

Thanks, hadn't noticed that there was a tech forum on here.

[SoberClurichaun]

Magnets? Lol

[kps300k]

I used this for some computers I had awhile ago.

http://www.dban.org/download

[Mr.Pickles]

1. What make and model.
2. Should have something in the very beginning of the start up to reset to factory. There should be something in the owners manual about this. after that you should be done.