Computer (pictures) question

Is it possible to get the pictures that I once downloaded onto my computer but deleted to come back?
I might be selling my computer and just want to know if anyone would be able to access my old deleted photos of my family, friends and my son.

Tia!!

Re: Computer (pictures) question

If you want to be super sure your nekkid pics don't end up on the internet wipe out your drive and then they can't. You can download programs that "zero out" your hard drive. They write all zeros to your disk so that any data that might have been recoverable gets overwritten.

If you decide to do this, make sure that you let your buyers know that the drive is zero'd out. They will need to install Windows (or OS of their choice) from scratch and will need a CD to do that (if you are not providing one).

You can also just reinstall the OS (Windows) and do a full format during the install. This is probably sufficient in MOST selling scenarios. Because they have to REALLY WANT to dig up your old data (and probably pay money to a recovery company) to get it after doing that.

Let me know if you have any other questions. I might have a program you can use to zero out if you want also.

Re: Computer (pictures) question

Very funny...

Thanks for the tips...

Re: Computer (pictures) question

It depends on how much effort you want to put into it, and how much effort you think someone else will put in to get any info. Even with zeroing out, it's possible to get some or all of the data off of it. However, it takes tremendous effort, and hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. The Department of Defense has software to erase a drive, but for Top Secret stuff, and even some Secret stuff, the drive must be erased thoroughly, then physically ground up.

The procedures that BabyAvocado mentioned will keep anyone from easily getting anything, and if they honestly go through that much effort to try and extract something, then there's not much you can do to stop them. I can't picture anyone spending hundreds or thousands of dollars to try and get something off of a drive that they don't know what it has.

Re: Computer (pictures) question

As dumb as this sounds...if you're getting a good amount of money for your computer, I'd just get a new hard drive for it. You can get them relatively cheap and they are pretty easy to install.

But that's just my paranoia talking...