Need to delete all user info--is there an easy way

janjanjan · Jun 30, 2010

I have to send my HP dv2-1030us to HP for a fan replacement. I am running Vista Home Premium x64, and have completed a backup using the backup function in Vista. Now I'd like to delete all my personal information without touching my installed programs.

I know I can simply find document folders and delete them, and I can empty my Mozilla passwords file. I think that I can get rid of my browser history, and I think that getting rid of cookies will stop websites from remembering my user id? What am I forgetting? Is there a simple one-step procedure to accomplish all of this?

Thanks in advance. I did search this forum and others and couldn't find a relevant post.

richc46 · Jun 30, 2010

I do not know of any way to do what you want, but I do know that you cannot completely remove the information by simple deletion. If someone wanted to get the information that has supposedly been deleted there are ways to do it.

The only way to completely remove the information is to throughly format, using a special process.
http://www.wikihow.com/Permanently-Remove-Files-from-Your-Hard-Drive

If you are like most users and the most sensitive information is the pasword to you bank accounts etc, bringing the computer in for repair will not be a problem; but you never know.

Bare Foot Kid · Jun 30, 2010

Hello janjanjan, welcome to Vista Forums!

I don't believe this is what you want but the forums have a very easy to follow tutorial with everything needed to do a secure erase, have a look at the link below.

How to Boot to do a Secure Erase

If you need a boot disc for Vista have a look at this link.

How to Create a Vista Recovery Disc

There's probably no way to do what you want.

Need to delete all user info--is there an easy way

janjanjan

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richc46

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Bare Foot Kid

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