Hi Everyone

I'm in the process of purchasing a new laptop. When this happen, my current desktop will be given to one of my relative. Before this take place, I want to clean both the hard drive & brownsers(internet explorer & netscape 6.0). Can any of you recomend a great software(s) that I purchase for this job? The price range should be between($50-100). You can post your reply on this site or email them to me at([email protected]).



                                     THANKS!!!

Hello Hunter,

If all you want to do is clean your old desktop from personal information, the best thing you can do is re-format the hard drive.  It will clean everything away.  The only thing left on the hard drive would be the current operating system, and related files.

Now if you wanted to tranfer the data from your desktop to your laptop ... that is another issue altogether.  There is a software called laplink that allows you to do that.  You will need appropriate cables, and the software for the transfer.

Now, if you have Microsoft XP, this functionality is built-in.  All you need is the XP running on both machines, and the requisite cables.  The instruction for doing this are as follow:

Using the Files and Settings Transfer WizardThe Files and Settings Transfer Wizard helps you move your data files and personal settings from your old computer to your new one, without having to go through much of the same configuration you did with your old computer. For example, you can take your personal display properties, folder and taskbar options, and Internet browser and mail settings from your old computer and place them on the new one. The wizard will also move specific files or entire folders, such as My Documents, My Pictures, and Favorites.

Open the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.

Notes

To open the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.
For more information, click Related Topics.


If you have a CD burner, you could create a backup CD of the data from your desktop, and then restore it on the new laptop.

Hope this helps ...



-- Modified on 6/30/2002 3:20:45 PM

Hey BlueThrill

What I'm looking to do is clean both the hard drive & browsers of all the websites that I visited and emails I send. How do I go about re-formating & defragmenting the hard drive? My operating system is WINDOW ME.

If you have to be abolutely positively sure that no personal information gets passed on with the computer.

You could also remove the old hard drive, and put a new clean one in, though if you have the ability, Fdisking it and reloading windows would be slightly cheaper.

you are buying the laptop, maybe for free.
Laptops are expensive, so the sellers might joyfully do this for you at no charge to get your biz, or for around $50.
The reason I suggest this is that I was in the same boat with an extra computer, and the buyer thought I had cleaned it up far too much. I simply know too little to understand because I had followed cleaning directions to the T, I thought.
A techie can do it right, quickly.

I would advise more than fdisking/re-formatting if you have the time/money.  Use the Norton Utilities to actually "write over" those parts of the disk that are not a part of the operating system and your applications, e.g., Microsoft Word, you are passing on.  This may be a little extreme, but it's a practice I follow myself.

Norton is a quite capable product in your budget which should keep your secrets safe from all but the FBI and determined IT professionals.  
Now when are you going to visit LA?
AKRO

ok, how about just deleting the files only.  you want to keep the core of everything intact, just delete the files you surfed and any type of cookies/pics/history dealing with surfing the web.

just send me an email and i'll tell you how to do it.  5 minutes.  I used to have to show women I worked with at hospitals how to get rid of all the data when i was software support.

Hello Hunter,

When you reformat your desktop's hard drive, it will automatically remove all of your other applications, including your web browser and e-mailing applications.  

If you want to be extra extra cautious, you may want to remove those applications prior to re-formating your desktop's hard drive.

I have attached a Microsoft support link that will walk you through the process of re-formatting your drive.

Hope you find it useful.

Cheers,
- bluethrills

Got To Tucows (www.tucows.com) and look for a product called Internet Cleaner. If you click on the link, it should take you to the download site.

That being said, reformatting the hard drive (f disk command) is the sure way to go. It makes the disk as if no data has ever been put on it.

Are you still in LV, Hunter?

Hey TheLostSchlong
Thansk for the advice, but I'll be purchasing the new laptop from Dell.com. I don't think their sale people offer what I want done to my old PC. I've gotten excellent advice both here on the board and via email on what softwares to purchase for the job. Thanks again everyone. I really appreciate.

P.S. If any of you happen to be in the Vegas area before September & have a chocolate craving, look me up.


                                        Smooches! !