How to wipe a computer?

wwe · 04-01-2012, 13:30

Hi my friend wants me to wipe his computer as its so slow. He backed up everything he wants. So how do I go about wipeing it?

**Russ** · 04-01-2012, 13:35

Mr Sheen and a damp microfibre cloth?

In fairness if you don't know what you're doing, do you really think it's a good idea to even attempt it?

wwe · 04-01-2012, 13:39

I've not done it in years I remember doing it to mine but this was like years ago

lordofangels · 04-01-2012, 13:40

A fresh install of the OS would wipe all, for a real wipe use the following...http://www.dban.org/

Peter_ · 04-01-2012, 13:43

Some machines have a recovery partition or come with recovery disks to reinstall the operating system and unless you are armed with these you will very likely just brick his machine and it will need the services of a professional to sort it back out if at all.

So it could turn out to be very costly mistake on his part.

Do you have a friend who you know to be good with computers if so let them check it out before you try anything.

wwe · 04-01-2012, 14:45

He got this tech guys power to go recovery disk installed on pc but it needs a serial number and he does't know what it is.

Peter_ · 04-01-2012, 15:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by wwe

He got this tech guys power to go recovery disk installed on pc but it needs a serial number and he does't know what it is.

Do not touch it then and get a person who knows what they are doing to look at it otherwise he may not be your friend for much longer.

Halcyon · 04-01-2012, 15:24

To wipe a computer for good and not have a single trace, bash it to pieces with a hammer as any software that truly wipes data off will write millions of bytes of data a zillion times over and over again so fast that you will actually most likely worsen the life of your hard drive.

I take it that recovery CD is for that computer system as if not you will most likely be installing drivers and files not intended for that machine.

If you simply want to put a fresh version of Windows on there and start a clean slate, buy a copy of Windows and boot from it.
When prompted remove any allocated partitions and get windows to reformat the drive and install.

DaiNasty · 04-01-2012, 15:28

Not *nearly* enough information. What OS is he using? Does he have a license sticker on the PC with a serial number? Is it a home-built or commercially-produced machine?

These are all factors that are important. To get drivers for a clean installation can be difficult when it's a home-built pc. I'd go with the earlier suggestions and find someone that has the disks and the knowledge to get it right. Mind you I'm biased as that's part of what I do. But another part of what I do is fixing other people's well-meaning attempts...

Peter_ · 04-01-2012, 15:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaiNasty

Not *nearly* enough information. What OS is he using? Does he have a license sticker on the PC with a serial number? Is it a home-built or commercially-produced machine?

These are all factors that are important. To get drivers for a clean installation can be difficult when it's a home-built pc. I'd go with the earlier suggestions and find someone that has the disks and the knowledge to get it right. Mind you I'm biased as that's part of what I do. But another part of what I do is fixing other people's well-meaning attempts...

Give him your phone number you might get a job out of it.

Waldo Pepper · 04-01-2012, 17:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by wwe

Hi my friend wants me to wipe his computer as its so slow. He backed up everything he wants. So how do I go about wipeing it?

All OEM installations of say Win7 will come full of crap you will ever need and turn a new machine into a pig. Get an original copy of Win7 with the activation key, put the DVD in the drive and reboot. Select a clean install.

1. You will be left with an installation that works but you will after have to find drivers for the specific hardware like sound and video.
2. If that fails, get a new friend. They are cheap enough on Facebook.

Godd luck!

martyh · 04-01-2012, 18:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by wwe

Hi my friend wants me to wipe his computer as its so slow. He backed up everything he wants. So how do I go about wipeing it?

How do you know it is the OS that is at fault ,if it is a hardware fault i.e ram,hd or processor then a new install may not be possible or won't make a difference .Have you (or anyone) ruled out hardware problems

---------- Post added at 18:35 ---------- Previous post was at 18:32 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waldo Pepper

All OEM installations of say Win7 will come full of crap you will ever need and turn a new machine into a pig. Get an original copy of Win7 with the activation key, put the DVD in the drive and reboot. Select a clean install.

1. You will be left with an installation that works but you will after have to find drivers for the specific hardware like sound and video.
2. If that fails, get a new friend. They are cheap enough on Facebook.

Godd luck!

It may be his facebook friends that broke his facebook machine ,with all the junk on facebook at the moment