Computer Hope

Microsoft => Microsoft Windows => Windows XP => Topic started by: dhanna506 on July 25, 2016, 11:57:14 AM

Title: wiping computer including OS. No disc
Post by: dhanna506 on July 25, 2016, 11:57:14 AM

Have an old computer which i am going to bin/recycle. I have taken the files i want off it. now i want to completely wipe the computer of everything including the operating system although i dont have the windows disc anymore.

but hitting snags everytime.

Any ideas? help greatly appreciated.

thanks
David

Title: Re: wiping computer including OS. No disc
Post by: Salmon Trout on July 25, 2016, 12:43:44 PM

If it has a CD or DVD drive you can boot off, and you also have another computer with a cd or dvd writer, you can download a free Linux ISO such as Knoppix or even better for this purpose, Gparted Live, burn the ISO to a blank disc, and then you can wipe the hard drive in the computer you wish to recycle. Or if the computer is headed for the trash, just take out the hard drive and smash it.

Title: Re: wiping computer including OS. No disc
Post by: SuperDave on July 25, 2016, 12:50:33 PM

What kind of snags are you running into?

Title: Re: wiping computer including OS. No disc
Post by: patio on July 25, 2016, 09:37:46 PM

Remove the HDD...then there are a bunch of creative ways of destroying it...

Title: Re: wiping computer including OS. No disc
Post by: dhanna506 on July 27, 2016, 05:48:15 AM

tried using gparted live, but it doesnt burn to a disc,reaches about 80% then aborts.
tried burning the iso using another computer, it burns. but when i put it into the computer, i want to wipe, nothing happens, and the gparted options dont appear on the bios menu either,

Title: Re: wiping computer including OS. No disc
Post by: Allan on July 27, 2016, 05:51:04 AM

You can use a strong magnet

Title: Re: wiping computer including OS. No disc
Post by: Rustys on July 27, 2016, 05:39:01 PM

1.  Do the system that you are attempting to wipe have a CD or DVD player installed in it?
2.  When you burned the ISO did you use a DVD or CD?
3.  Pull the HDD and connect it VIA USB adapter to another system and wipe.

Title: Re: wiping computer including OS. No disc
Post by: patio on July 27, 2016, 06:53:41 PM

Quote from: patio on July 25, 2016, 09:37:46 PM

Remove the HDD...then there are a bunch of creative ways of destroying it...