How do I completely clean out my computer? I want it as if it were brand new.?

Question

I'm giving my computer to someone as a gift and want it like the way it was when I bought it. How do I do this ?

Answer 1

you can do a secure erase of your hard drive.. thats all what is needed.



software like acronis supports this including doing soo much more..

Answer 2

Ah, depends what you mean. Do you mean remove all the data or physically clean the dust and bread crumbs out?



System restore won't do much at all. The only way to get it 'like new' is to reformat your hard drive. This will wipe *everything* off. This is OK as long as you have the Windows Operating System on CD and have the product/license key.



Info here: http://www.ehow.com/how_6026_format-hard-drive.html



You'll also need info on how to see up the BIOS, this usually comes with motherboard. If you don't have it, find out which mobo you have and look on the manufacturers website.



To remove the dust, bread crumbs, etc: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial118.html

Answer 3

Depends on the computer, Desktop or Laptop and who manufactured it. Some computers have files that you make recovery cds with and can restore it to original, other computers don't have these file. I would check for those files first before wiping the hard drive clean.

Answer 4

ALL of the above are wrong.IF you format a HDD you can still get some -credit card NR.,bank info, etc.-info back( with a free tool from the net ) .NO I WILL NOT TELL YOU THE NAME OF THAT TOOL.

The best thing to do is OVERWRITE your HDD, that's what Pros use or the Gov.

I use "dban" and the Gov. also.It overwrites your hard drive 27 times and -no way-are you going to get any info back from that HDD.OK it takes time to do that -but it's the safest way.

About 4 hours for a 160 HDD.

Its free and you can download it from the net and put it on a Floppy.Just boot from Floppy and fallow instructions.

Answer 5

op. system install / re-install steps







print a copy of this file



print a copy of computer notes



export browser Fav's / bookmarks



back-up files, programs ;



power down



disconnect network and external drives



power up



delete tif files ( temp internet files ) and cookies;



un-install programs;



delete folders;



delete accounts



empty recycle bin



restart computer



Go to BIOS and set boot order with CD boot 1st



place O.S. CD in CD drive, 'cept don't close it



power down



close CD drive with O.S. CD in it



restart computer



format primary HDD;



( Fn + F10 ) = disc eject ( DELL )



install op. system;



adjust screen resolution;



load software for external drives and hardware;



test for internet connection;



install additional programs as necessary





If your computer is several years old, consider buying a new hard drive for the fresh install of the op. sys..



When re-installing the o.s., allocate 15gb (15000mb) of space for the op. sys.. Format in NTFS. Then, after you boot, you can allocate / format the rest of the hard drive under disk management;



>(r-clik) my computer

> manage

> disk management



Allocate +/- 15 to 20 gb of space for each partition, format in NTFS.



Install additional software (printer, wireless adaptor, office suite, web browser, widgets,etc.) to a partition. AVOID installing to the partition that host's the op.sys..

download to a partition, install software and all other files to another partition



leave at least one partition unused, for migration. At least once a year, migrate your stuff to a unused partition, especially if you do a lot of editing, then format the abandoned partition, for the next time.



With only the op. sys. on the hosting partition it will be easier for your computer to run the op., and easier to run everything else.



And, with your files and software on other partitions, your stuff is already in back-up, and the next op. Sys. Re-install will be already half done and much easier to do and you will only have to format the host partition and not the whole hard drive



Also, increase your RAM to at least double of mfg. Configure or even max it.



http://www.gtopala.com/siw-download.html





Get widgets to monitor the RAM load and CPU load to determine if you need to increase the RAM capacity



http://downloads.yahoo.com/









pg

Answer 6

You should reinstall windows and make sure that you do a full format to make sure that none of your information is still on the hard drive.

Answer 7

back up your data files and do a clean format using your os cd's.

Answer 8

system restore will make it as if right out of the box, start/programs/accessories/system tool/ system restore

Answer 9

buy new