There have been a lot of good suggestions posted.
If it were me, I'd first check if it has the Dell Data Wipe option in the BIOS: 1. Get into the BIOS. Press F2 at the Dell logo on boot? 2. Look for a data wipe option at Security, or Advanced > Maintenance 3. If it exists, you can use it. If not, I'd download DBAN from https://dban.org/ and burn it to a CD, boot from it, and erase. Note: DBAN is an .ISO file. You would need to create a CD *from* the .ISO image, not a CD that *contains* the .ISO file. You're supposed to be able to do this in Windows 11 without 3rd party software: right click, more options, Burn disk image -----Original Message----- From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List <IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU> On Behalf Of willie bunter Sent: Monday, November 4, 2024 7:59 AM To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU Subject: Re: OFF TOPIC - DELETING ALL FILES SOFTWARE FROM A LAPTOP Michael, Model : Dell Studio 1737, with WINDOWS VISTA The Laptop boots and is usable. It is just slow and I cannot load any updates to the softwares that are installed. I use this laptop for documents and browsing Internet. I want to destroy all the files before I put the 5 lb sledge hammer to it (as suggested). I appreciate everybody's comments and hints. It has OS on the C drive It has a boot It has a CD rom external There is a USB flash drive It is used for personal use. Much obliged Willie On Friday, November 1, 2024 at 03:10:42 p.m. EDT, Schmitt, Michael <michael.schm...@dxc.com> wrote: Questions: 1. What is the exact model? 2. Does it have an OS on it? Which one? 3. Does it boot? 4. Does it have a CD-ROM drive? If not, do you have an external CD-ROM drive? 5. Do you have a USB flash drive? 6. Is this for personal use, vs. business? Reason for the questions: 1. Some computers have a drive erase function built into the BIOS. For example, an HP Zbook had it, but the ThinkPad I'm using does not 2. Some versions of Windows have an erase-everything function built in. 3 - 5. Determines options for erasing by booting from something. 6. Some software is only free for personal use. I used to use Darik's Boot and Nuke (DBAN), https://dban.org/ But now it is only for personal use Last erase I've done is via BIOS and via Windows 10. Oh, and I pulled one drive, put it in an enclosure, hooked it up to another computer and erased. -----Original Message----- From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List <IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU> On Behalf Of willie bunter Sent: Friday, November 1, 2024 12:57 PM To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU Subject: OFF TOPIC - DELETING ALL FILES SOFTWARE FROM A LAPTOP Good Day To All, Can anybody suggest how I can delete all the files, software etc. from an old laptop before I scrap it? The laptop in question is a DELL VISTA. I asked the experts at DELL but they couldn't tell me because of a lack of documentation. Thanks. Willie ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
