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Questions about selling my laptop

post #1 of 11
3/29/07 at 3:37am
Thread Starter 
So I'm planning on selling my laptop as I need the funds to upgrade the desktop. Anyway, I wanted to sell it with basically all my additional programs uninstalled, but I'm wondering how I would be able to take my name off the computer. Like for example it shows up in Documents & Settings folders. I checked the User Accounts thing in control panel but it didn't change anything but the start menu name beside the picture. Hopefully someone can shed some insight

Is there anything else I should make sure I remove without uninstalling XP or formatting?
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post #2 of 11
3/29/07 at 11:48am
you should probably do format and install windows clean

there are more things than you are aware that will be given to the new buyer.
e-mails, websites visited, personal stuff
its all over the windows...
just do reformat and install again (assuming that u have the disk)
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post #3 of 11
3/29/07 at 5:31pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by AirForceElite
you should probably do format and install windows clean there are more things than you are aware that will be given to the new buyer. e-mails, websites visited, personal stuff its all over the windows... just do reformat and install again (assuming that u have the disk)
I'm pretty sure I've taken care of anything personal, I've cleared history's, cache's, temps/temporary internet files - never used outlook, so I'm not worried about emails and such. I've basically scoured the laptop to get rid of anything that was once mine, but even if there are things left behind, its nothing important. Im really not trying to reinstall windows/format - I do have the CD, but I'm not sure if I have all the other cds and acer programs/drivers. So really I am just trying to allow the future buyer not have to see my name on the documents/setting folders and maybe the system info (where it says who it was registered to, but I realize that might be impossible to change unless I reinstall). Thanks for the input so far.
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post #4 of 11
3/29/07 at 11:34pm
Use the recovery DVD from ACER
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post #5 of 11
3/30/07 at 2:30am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pete Natas
Use the recovery DVD from ACER
.
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post #6 of 11
3/30/07 at 11:33pm
Put in a smaller blank HD ;-).
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post #7 of 11
4/2/07 at 10:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by destrukt
I'm pretty sure I've taken care of anything personal, I've cleared history's, cache's, temps/temporary internet files - never used outlook, so I'm not worried about emails and such. I've basically scoured the laptop to get rid of anything that was once mine, but even if there are things left behind, its nothing important.

Im really not trying to reinstall windows/format - I do have the CD, but I'm not sure if I have all the other cds and acer programs/drivers.

So really I am just trying to allow the future buyer not have to see my name on the documents/setting folders and maybe the system info (where it says who it was registered to, but I realize that might be impossible to change unless I reinstall).

Thanks for the input so far.
just because you click "delete cache" doesnt mean its gone, there is a program out there that the CIA uses to wipe drives 10 million times with 101010101010010101's or somthing near 10 mill anywho, you can download it for free i think

lots of hackers love ebay for the hard drives ^__^ people think delete is safe

just use the dvd recovery like dude man up there said

soulsaver
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post #8 of 11
4/4/07 at 5:52pm
If you're worried about privacy, you're going to want to format/reinstall. It's that simple. For good measure, it wouldn't hurt to do a single-pass wipe of the disk with the freeware version of KillDisk before you do the format/reinstall, that will mean that the average user couldn't get anything off your drive.

Say I bought your laptop, and you'd just went through and erased data, and emptied the recycle bin. It's far too easy for me to dig up a copy of BadCopy Pro, or some other worthwhile program, take your hard disk, and do a "just-for-fun" scan to see what comes up. Windows doesn't really "erase" files when you delete them; they are still there but the area on the disk they occupy can be overwritten (once that area is overwritten it's harder to get them back) which is why an unerase program can easily recover recently deleted files. Always look at it this way: is any of your data imporant enough (financial data, account records, personal identification) or embarrassing enough (like that picture your friend took of you during that frat party) that you wouldn't want anyone else to have it?
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post #9 of 11
4/4/07 at 6:08pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by LoneWolf15
If you're worried about privacy, you're going to want to format/reinstall. Is any of your data imporant enough (financial data, account records, personal identification) or embarrassing enough (like that picture your friend took of you during that frat party) that you wouldn't want anyone else to have it?
Maybe on my desktop lol...but on my laptop all I really had on there was school work; like essays, notes, presentations. Aside from that not much, music/movies? That's why I'm not really worried about someone 'finding' my old data, I'm done school and none of that stuff is important to me anymore. If they want to use my old school work, go for it - I wrote a pretty mean essay lol. Thanks for the input thus far everyone.
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post #10 of 11
4/5/07 at 11:35am
Second suggestion. If privacy isn't hugely important, erase all data you can find that is private, and then use a program like Eraser (or another secure-erase program) to do a one-pass wipe of the free space on the disk. It won't take as long, and it will at least give you the security of knowing that anything you have deleted can't be gotten back.
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post #11 of 11
4/5/07 at 2:36pm
I'd say reformat the system anyway, last thing you need is a pissed off buyer that's mad because he/she has an old XP Install. Most all manufacturers should have Drivers available for download. Some are loads more difficult to obtain than others. (Dell and HP are easiest, Thinkpads are a bit harder, and Sony's and Toshiba's are a pain in the butt)
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