Private Info on a PC

[Paul 2000]

I've got an old PC that I'm giving to a school and want to make sure I don't leave any confidential info on the PC. Is there an easy way of doing this, other than wiping the hard drive and reinstalling the OS? The sort of stuff I'm worried might be lurking on the drive is passwords and credit card details. PC is running Windows98.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Cheers, Paul

[Plotloss]

Internet Explorer>Tools>Internet Options

On the first tab click Delete Cookies then Delete Files (Check box to delete all offline content)

The on the content tab click AutoComplete and then click Clear Forms and Clear Passwords.

The search the harddrive and look for anything with an extension of .PWL and delete them all.

That should sort it.

[Paul 2000]

Thanks for the advice Matt.
Paul

[Podie]

..and empty c: emp

>> Edited by Podie on Thursday 22 January 14:15

[Paul 2000]

Podie said:

..and empty c: emp

Thanks Podie

[simpo two]

Is it really that easy? I've many stories about Windows hiding stuff in .dat files, locked files, etc etc.

[Plotloss]

Not for sensitive data though really. The sort of stuff thats stored by the shell into the internals is more to do with user information than storing things like credit card numbers.

Theres nothing you cant get to though...

[jam1et]

I think the above advice is adequate for what you want to do. However just for general information, most info on a disk can still be read even after its been deleted and overwriten once or twice. The only way to overcome this to get a piece of software called Evidence Elliminator. There are loads of others claiming to do the same thing but this is the only one that works properly. It's only really neccessay if you've got something sinister to hide from the police or really sensitive data. Mind you, if I was ever in either of those situations I'd just burn the damn thing and bury the remains

>> Edited by jam1et on Thursday 22 January 14:53

[jam1et]

Just to add, I've tried giving away old work PC's to schools but none of them want to touch second hand PC's. Aparently its too much risk/hassle and most of them sign up for a specific hardware and support package from County anyway.

[anonymous-user]

I think some of the reason schools are loath to accept donated second hand computers is that all second hand equipment to be used in schools have to be subjected to an electrical inspection.

[puggit]

Personally I'd take the HDD out and replace it with a similar 2nd hand model (or new ones are down to £40 now!).

The only foolproof way to destroy data on a HDD is to burn it.

[Paul 2000]

Thanks for all the advice. There's nothing 'dodgy' on the computer that I need to seek and destroy other than any passwords for internet banking and possible credit card numbers from ordering things via the internet. I've done what Plotless and Podie suggested and also deleted Internet Explorer and Outlook Express plus a few other programs.
Anyone want a cheap PC - one careful owner

[JonRB]

Personally I'd take off and nuke it from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

Alternatively, low-level format the HDD and re-install Windows. That way you don't have to worry about accidentally supplying unlicensed software.

And make sure you actually own a transferable license for Win98 before shipping it with an OS, otherwise supply it without anything on the HDD and make them responsible for sourcing an OS.

[slinksport]

another pretty sure fire way to remove old files completely is to delete them and then defragment the drive...

[_DJ_]

If the school don't want it and it's not _that_ old, I'll have it! My mother works at a help the aged old peoples home and recently one of her residents' computer broke (serial port died). She's currently getting it looked at by a local computer expert who claims it could be unfixable. I'm planning to travel over there sometime soon and attempt to fix it, but she's become quite attached to her PC and I don't really want her to have to buy another.