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You’ve
just purchased a new computer and now it’s time to retire or pass on
the old workhorse. Many people simply take the old PC to the tip or
pass on to a friend or local school. However before doing so there are
some precautions you should take to ensure your personal information
does not travel with it, exposing your privacy or even opening a risk
of identy theft.
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Even
if you are passing on to friends or family your data may still be at
risk when they come to dispose of it. Many people are unaware that
deleting a file from your PC is not enough. Deleting a file will mean
it’s not visible but an identity thief may still be able to recover
them. Until that section of the hard disk is re-written the data is
still physically there and can be read with the right software tools.
Removing Data
If you don’t mind a bit of DIY and are taking your Computer to the tip
or recycle centre then the easiest option and one that is often
overlooked is to simply remove the hard disk.
For
older computers you will need a screwdriver but many newer ones just
require opening a couple of clips, catches or thumb screws. Once
removed you can keep the hard disk at home as a backup of your previous
data or destroy the disk with a hammer or screwdriver. This option
won’t suit everyone although you may find it to be quite therapeutic if
your old PCs been misbehaving. If you have particularly sensitive data
then this is the one sure way no one will ever read it again.
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Disconnect the power.
Open the case and disconnect the data and power cables to the drive. (just pull them out)
Remove retaining screws or clips
Slide out the drive and store
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Options for securing your data when disposing of your PC
- Disk destroying or removal
- Pros: Quick and easy if the computers not going to be used again
- Cons: Need to get the tools out, computer can’t be reused.
- Disk Cleaning
– This is a process whereby you delete any personal data and then use a
disk cleaning utility to clean areas of the disk where this data was
stored.
- Pros: Fairly painless when passing on to close friend of family member.
- Cons: Difficult to be sure you have deleted all files
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Disk Wiping
– Here the disk is completely wiped clean. This works well but will
mean that Windows and other programs will need to be reinstalled if it
is to be reused.
- Pros: Good if you are donating to charity or a school where they have a technician to rebuild software.
- Cons: Time consuming and difficult if you need to reinstall software yourself.
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Factory Restore
- Some computers come with a factory restore disk or utility which
allows you to set your computer back to how you received it. Although
this method may delete all data different utilities work in different
ways. To be absolutely sure run Sure delete on the new installation.
- Pros: Best method if available and the computer is to be reused.
- Cons: no point if it’s going to the tip
- Local Computer Shop - Take your PC to a reputable local computer shop / repair centre and ask for the work to be done there.
- Pros: All work completed with little or no work and no technical knowledge necessary.
- Cons: Expensive and possibly mixed results depending on the shop.
Files you should remove before disposing of your computer
Once
you have deleted all files, you will then need to run Sure Delete –
Disk cleaner. This will clean all empty space and ensure that deleted
files cannot be recovered. Download this free utility from the link
below. Sure Delete can be run at anytime to clean area of the disk.
Free Windows disk-cleaning utilities
- Sure Delete – Cleans files and empty space on the disk
- Active Kill Disk – Cleans disk (wipes everything)
- Disk Cleaner – Cleans disk (wipes everything)
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