Burloak

I will soon be selling a laptop and am wondering what is the most effective way to purge it of all personal files and information while retaining all the software. Tiger is the current OS. Is it enough just to trash the Home folder, or is some kind of system re-install necessary?

Thanks

eMacMan

Best bet is to reinstall the system. This will also rid the computer of any software that you do not wish to include as part of the sale and give the new user a nice clean start.

Before blowing the system, I would do a secure erase of any personal files especially banking or accounting items.

Just do a basic OS install. Be sure to give the new owner the original install disks and original iLife disks. If the computer shipped with Panther and you are selling it with Tiger you should also include the Tiger install disk.

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Adrian.

Just reinstall with your tiger discs. The computer will have a fresh OS.

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fyrefly

If you're paranoid, you can also choose a 7-pass install or a 32-pass install (I think those are the numbers) in Disk Utility on the installer CDs - this will write 0000's to the HD either 7 or 30 times (depending on your choice) to further protect against the possibility of someone recovering your Data later on.

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