Electronics

[sipp]

Anyone remember how to set laptop back to original factory settings so personal info is removed ? ( see my other post)   TIA

[Nuttmeg]

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@sipp wrote:

Anyone remember how to set laptop back to original factory settings so personal info is removed ? ( see my other post)   TIA

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http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Other-HP-Consumer-Products-and-Technologies/how-do-i-reset-my-laptop-to...

[jackthebear]

I usually take out the Hard Drive and destroy it

[gardenman]

To totally remove personal data it must be overwritten multiple times with fresh data. That's not generally practical for most users. In order to do that you'd have to identify the exact sectors on the hard drive where the personal data was stored then direct the hard drive to overwrite those specific sectors multiple times. 

In the real world it's just not practical for most users. The good news is unless you're a Kardashian, fabulously wealthy, or someone who warrants intense scrutiny, your data will likely be just fine going to a factory authorized service center. There are easier ways for the bad guy/gals to get data. 

[chickenbutt]

Short of pulling the hard drive out and smashing it to smithereens with a really large hammer, there is no way to make your personal information 100% inaccessible.

There are people who have programs that can extract stuff that was deleted and overwritten many times over.  

I knew a guy who worked for the gov't who actually had pieces of a hard drive and was still able to get data from them.  

[ChynnaBlue]

It depends on why you're doing it.

If I am doing it to give away, sell, or throw away, then I remove and destroy the hard drive. That's the only way to be 100% sure all of your personal data is inaccessible to others.

If I am doing it because I've had too many issues and want to start clean, I back everything up and then reinstall the operating system. That's usually a last ditch effort before I replace a computer.