Help the computer to

You intend to replace, sell, or donate the computer you are using to others. Not only do you have to ensure your personal data is securely deleted, but you must also provide the full functionality and software that users need, but still ensure copyright.

One very important thing is that you need to remove personal data safely. You have to remember that the files you delete by hand are not really lost, which can lead to the possibility that your sensitive information will be recovered with data recovery utilities. Please refer to the article How to save deleted data on your computer. The consequences of losing such important information are hard to imagine.

Therefore, the information you should delete before giving or selling computers:

1. List of partners (Email contacts)
2. Email messages (Email messages)
3. All documents
4. All files in Recycle Bin
5. Internet files are temporarily stored
6. Do not transfer copyrighted software (Most software can be transferred to others if you have the original disc and the copyright of the product).

Here are some software that allow you to permanently delete data, no utility can recover this data anymore:

Weberaser Demo permanently deletes unwanted files such as History, Internet caching, cookies, images, e-mail . Web Eraser will automatically delete selected files. Weberaser improves the delete and interface functionality, supports the latest versions of IE, MSN, Yahoo, Netscape, AOL, and Opera.

Clean Disk Security 7.32 deletes files securely, ensuring that deleted files cannot be recovered. Not only that, this program also deletes both the swap files of Windows (swap file), deletes temporary files on the hard disk such as the browser cache files, Recycle Bin files and deletes all files. believe in 'recent files' list. Clean Disk also allows viewing hidden files in the hard disk through Direct Disk Viewer.

Sure Delete Sure Delete permanently deletes the data from the hard disk. When you want to completely remove sensitive information or need to get more free space from the hard disk, Sure Delete is your choice. Not only is it easy to delete files on the hard disk, this program actually "destroys" all of this data. The utility provides a simple graphical interface. Sure Delete supports FAT12, FAT16, FAT32 and NTFS.

If you find it difficult, use the following options:

1. Call the technical support of companies that manufacture or sell computers and ask how to remove the safest personal files (maybe your computer has a warranty period).
2. Please take the hard drive to reputable vendors because they safely overwrite data on the hard disk.

After deleting the personal data safely, what to do next?

Perhaps no one is not using software like word processing, antivirus programs. If you remove copyrighted software, it's best to replace them with free software. OpenOffice is a good alternative to Microsoft Office. Free antivirus programs AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition, D32, BKAV . are good choices to replace Norton Antivirus, MacAfee.

One thing is equally important. You need to remove the software and drivers that come with the hardware that your old computer may not need. When you have removed hardware such as printers, faxes, scanners, digital cameras, PDAs, MP3 players, card readers and other removable devices . you should also remove the parts. Soft, drivers come with them.

Finally, collect all the books and program discs that come with the computer. This is necessary because new users need to guide installing, deleting programs or updating to newer versions in the future. If your computer is still in the warranty period, put all the documents and warranty cards for new users.

Minh Phuc