Disposing of XP Netbook
Someone might get some good our of a working netbook, but obviously I want to remove any personal information. It has no CD/DVD drive. Is there a formatting option which will still boot up?
Forum Discussion
BruceMc wrote:
If you want to ensure you delete all your personal info, pull the hard drive and smash it with a sledge or drill hole through it. That's the only way to guarantee removing your data.
Then recycle the laptop, or donate ( http://www.computerswithcauses.org/laptop-donation.htm, for example) it to a group that will install a new HD & will load their desired OS.
X2
Easiest and most "secure" method.Chris Bryant wrote:
Most netbooks have a standard spinning disk type hard drive. Netbooks have been pretty much replaced by tablets and ultrabooks. I suspect that a computer running Windows XP will be old enough that solid state drives were quite rare.
Netbooks use solid state drives, which are easier to erase securely. If you can boot off a usb drive, I would use DBAN, alomg with installing Lubuntu.
Contact Acer again and tell them that the restore did not work. They may have other options.
If you can get a copy of Windows XP, there are ways to make a bootable USB thumb drive using a computer that has a DVD drive.
You could also buy an external USB DVD drive and boot from that.Tom_M wrote:
Most netbooks have a standard spinning disk type hard drive.
Ah- you're correct- I was thinking ultrabook... my bad.
I would still install Lubuntu on it though :).- YES..for yourself
he wants to clean it..then give it away (donate)
NOT install a new OS..somebody else might not be able to use MrWizard wrote:
YES..for yourself
he wants to clean it..then give it away (donate)
NOT install a new OS..somebody else might not be able to use
But it's a netbook, not a laptop, and lubuntu is easy for anyone used to XP, plus it is still supported and secure.Tom_M wrote:
Chris Bryant wrote:
Most netbooks have a standard spinning disk type hard drive. Netbooks have been pretty much replaced by tablets and ultrabooks. I suspect that a computer running Windows XP will be old enough that solid state drives were quite rare.
Netbooks use solid state drives, which are easier to erase securely. If you can boot off a usb drive, I would use DBAN, alomg with installing Lubuntu.
Not that uncommon. The DELL WIN XP Netbook I recently purchased has an SSD system drive. It also has an SDHC slot to expand additional storage space if so desired.- The netbook in question is a Acer Aspire One, which has a conventional hard disk drive.
TomG2 wrote:
The netbook in question is a Acer Aspire One, which has a conventional hard disk drive.
I have a 32-bit XP one of those - I replaced the spinner HD with an SSD. It is much faster to boot. As a Mac user, I didn't have much need for it but certain GPS applications were windoze only. I got a good deal on it and it got used a fair amount but now it gathers dust. I've moved on to Parallels/windoze 7 on the Mac, and to new hiking GPS hardware that is more Mac compatible. Magellan and I haven't gotten along for a few years...
The HD is very easy to access - remove a screw in the cover on the bottom & pop it open. One more screw on the HD bracket and the HD comes right out. A replacement 250Gig can be had for as little as $25 these days.- I am going to remove the hard drive and render it useless. I will probably have to pay someone to dispose of what's left of the computer. I am disappointed that the Acer restore method did not work for me.
