Need computer help

[josh817]

Alright so as some of you read, my laptop took a dump on me. Screen went out. I'd like to sell it so I obviously need to clear the hard drive of all the por-.... I mean Datsun stuff.

 

So I have the program that deletes things multiple times so it can't come back. I took the hard drive out of the laptop and plugged it into the desktop. This is what I see:

 

In red is the hard drive, which is split for a recovery partition. Here's my question, how can I delete everything so there is no trace of personal information, while maintaining the Windows operating system so whoever gets the computer will be able to boot it up like it would straight from the store? As of right now I'm deleting everything that I know I added to it (Program Files >>> games, etc) but I know for a fact that programs like AIM and user log ins and passwords are saved in the registry. I'm tempted to just delete everything off the one partition ("I" drive) and then see if the Recovery partition has Windows on it. When I open the Recovery, it has nothing in it so they must be hidden files or something that can only be used with the BIOS?

 

The only thing stopping me is the usual Windows folder in the I drive. There are also factory programs in the Program Files folder:

 

On my old computer I would be able to hit F11 to get into the BIOS and reformat. Obviously since the laptop screen/graphics card is dead, I can't see anything even if I plug another monitor in. So with all that in mind, is there any way I can reformat this hard drive back to factory specs while its plugged in (USB) to my desktop (essentially acting like an external hard drive)?

Edited November 13, 2010 by josh817

[JSM]

If just the screen is dead can you plug in an external montior and run of it instead? Then you can simply do a system restore and wipe the data.

 

On a side note I am looking for a Hardrive for a laptop? Is it IDE or SATA? How much you want for it?

 

Which program do you have to do the wipe? If your going to use it, it will likely do a complete low level format and wipe the entire drive, unless you can specify the partion which I'm not sure you can?

 

EDIT: Just read the monitor part.

Edited November 13, 2010 by JSM

[josh817]

Ehhh its a hard drive from a DV7 1285DX, and that computer has a SATA port on the side so I guess that's what it is. Looking to keep the computer complete though.

 

The program I have is "Eraser" supposedly deletes it 35 times over. Takes forever.

[Tony D]

So I take it you want the magnetic media intact for the next user then...

Otherwise a hammer works well.

 

C:Format several times, and a BIG magnet tends to wipe it pretty clean of everything as well. I set a hardrive in the degaussing coil we use for rotors and that worked too...

[BLOZ UP]

If you have recovery discs, use dban (http://www.dban.org/). Otherwise, delete everything personal on it, and use sdelete (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897443.aspx) to clean the free space.

 

Or, since it's Vista, just let the next person purchase Win7 for themselves.

Edited November 13, 2010 by BLOZ UP

[josh817]

If you have recovery discs, use dban (http://www.dban.org/). Otherwise, delete everything personal on it, and use sdelete (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897443.aspx) to clean the free space.

 

Or, since it's Vista, just let the next person purchase Win7 for themselves.

Considered a magnet. My buddy did that all the time... I guess I should go with what you said Nick. Windows 7 student version should be pretty cheap. I was stupid enough not to make a recovery disk.

 

I've gotten everything personal however if there is anything in the registry, that's still there. Also programs like Microsoft Office are on there so obviously I don't want people using my purchased version.

 

Nick....... you wanna trade work, such as welding, for computer...

 

 

I'm curious if there is some way to make a recovery disk for this hard drive while its plugged into the desktop, and use the desktops DVD burner.

Edited November 14, 2010 by josh817

[19762802+2]

Just delete System 32, It fixes everything. (but really don't it will mess it up)

[Eva]

That recovery partition on the hd should contain the orginal operation system for the laptop.

If you can hook a monitor to the laptop and find the recovery manager in windows somewhere, it should totally reinstall windows to how it was when you bought it.

[blue72]

That's what I'd do, use Eraser, CCleaner, etc... to remove any and all personal info you can think of and then do a reformat and load windows fresh for the next person in line.

[Tony D]

you guys must keep a LOOOOOOOT of intimate and personal stuff on the computer that you are this paranoid about someone looking up your porn proclivities...

 

Hot Goat Meat Dot Com may titillate you, but chances are when I buy a used computer the first thing I do will be C:Format and start fresh with my own load of O.S.

 

if you're selling to someone who depends on YOUR prior license to run the O.S. chances are they won't be smart enough to find anything you left behind, and if they DID find it, they wouldn't know what they were looking at anyway...

 

if it bugs you that much, drill/smash the H.D.

sell it without the H.D.

They're cheap.

 

Otherwise, it can be recovered.

Edited November 14, 2010 by Tony D

[BLOZ UP]

Considered a magnet. My buddy did that all the time... I guess I should go with what you said Nick. Windows 7 student version should be pretty cheap. I was stupid enough not to make a recovery disk.

 

I've gotten everything personal however if there is anything in the registry, that's still there. Also programs like Microsoft Office are on there so obviously I don't want people using my purchased version.

 

Nick....... you wanna trade work, such as welding, for computer...

 

 

I'm curious if there is some way to make a recovery disk for this hard drive while its plugged into the desktop, and use the desktops DVD burner.

 

 

Ya RLY, if the screen is dead just use dban on the disk, and be done with it.

 

 

[(goldfish)]

Erase the main part. "I". The recovery part can boot on it's own and will let windows get re-installed.

[mario_82_ZXT]

Like others have said, if it's just the screen can't you plug in an external one?

 

Otherwise if this is so important to you why not sell it without the HD?

 

It's not like you're going to get much for a broken laptop anyways...

[josh817]

I'm just paranoid.... Not about all my porn being recovered but I have school documents, money information, contacts, etc. Of course these files are locked multiple times over but if a brainy dude gets the computer then ruhroh. I'll just clear the whole thing out.

 

I used Eraser but broke down to delete it only 10 times over rather than 35 since it took so long. Left it running this weekend while I did a Porsche Club event. I'm all Porsche'd out. I don't want to see another one within the next month or I'll puke. I'm just going to wing it and delete all the I drive stuff. If the recovery partition doesn't do whatever it's suppose to do then I'll clear that too and as all you guys have stated, install your own OS.

 

Really it's just me trying to penny pinch. $1100 laptop (my only graduation gift) dies after a year when its suppose to last at least 4... I had to buy another computer so I'm trying to rebound the cost of this desktop setup ($700). I'm hoping maybe $400-$500 for this laptop. I can take a $200 hit.

 

 

And Tony, don't be talking about my porn, you turkey:

Hahahahahahaahaha

 

I don't want people to see the ridiculous movies I watch. There's a Z car in this one:

Edited November 15, 2010 by josh817

[BLOZ UP]

$400 with a busted screen?

[josh817]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOyjmppAMI4

[josh817]

Screen isn't busted, the graphics card soldering points are messed up because it got too hot. In my dead computer thread, someone posted a link to youtube with a guy showing how to fix it. Basically you take apart the computer and heat the graphics card chip thing up to 210º so the soldering points make better contact. I can try this myself or that guy does it for $120 or something. That's why I can't plug a monitor in, because the graphics card is funky right now.

 

For the $120, the guy also installs a better heat sink too I think, or maybe it was an extra fee for that. Anyway it's either I try to do it and maybe kill it or have the next owner try to do it themselves or send it to that guy. Otherwise you have to replace the whole motherboard which is like $250 for the cheapest one I saw. $300 is the normal price.

Edited November 15, 2010 by josh817

[Tony D]

" if a brainy dude gets the computer then ruhroh"

 

Brainy dudes don't buy broken laptops. People selling broken laptops don't have anything worth stealing if you DID find anything on their trash.

 

Seriously, you must really be a snoop when you get the opportunity---this level of paranoia has got to stem from something you do. I would never think of this. A broken laptop can be had here for parts cost, maybe...

 

FAR too many hot laptops that FUNCTION FLAWLESSLY and are reformatted and unlocked for $2-300 that the ONLY reason anybody buys a busted one around here is to salvage a screen or keyboard, or something like that. I bought a laptop without a hard drive once...it was $50. Bought it for my son, the hard drive was more than I paid for the laptop!

[JSM]

Screen isn't busted, the graphics card soldering points are messed up because it got too hot. In my dead computer thread, someone posted a link to youtube with a guy showing how to fix it. Basically you take apart the computer and heat the graphics card chip thing up to 210º so the soldering points make better contact. I can try this myself or that guy does it for $120 or something. That's why I can't plug a monitor in, because the graphics card is funky right now.

 

For the $120, the guy also installs a better heat sink too I think, or maybe it was an extra fee for that. Anyway it's either I try to do it and maybe kill it or have the next owner try to do it themselves or send it to that guy. Otherwise you have to replace the whole motherboard which is like $250 for the cheapest one I saw. $300 is the normal price.

 

If your willing to ship it to me, I know a repair guy local who does awesome repairs. He fixes / replaces at the component level.

 

If you can give me the model number, brand, all pertinant information I can see if he can get you a quote.

[JSM]

FAR too many hot laptops that FUNCTION FLAWLESSLY and are reformatted and unlocked for $2-300 that the ONLY reason anybody buys a busted one around here is to salvage a screen or keyboard, or something like that. I bought a laptop without a hard drive once...it was $50. Bought it for my son, the hard drive was more than I paid for the laptop!

 

100% right. The reason they sell are the parts. If Company "X" makes 10,000 units they only make enough parts for 1000.

 

I pick from the trash constantly, tvs, laptops, computers, etc. and sell on ebay / craigslist.