Hi,
Iv got an oler laptop, not that old it uses XP, and when i plug it into the mains it doesnt charge, so i cant turn it on. But i need to sell it before Christmas, but without turning it on how can i delete all my files off the hard drive? like Photos,Music ECT.

Is there anyway i can do this?
Thanks
Josh

Hi Josh and welcome to D-A-L.

...without turning it on how can i delete all my files off the hard drive?

Is there anyway i can do this?

Sure. But first, let me commend you for having the foresight to delete all your files. All to often folks forget there is likely sensitive data on the hard drives that should not get into the hands of the wrong people. And sadly, many assume simply deleting, or even formatting the drive removes the data, but that is not true. The data is still on the drives, the pointers to it are just cleared in the file tables of the drive. The drive does not know where to go to retrieve the data, but programs that search the tracks and sectors on drives for, and to retrieve data are readily available. So rather than just deleting, or formatting the drive, you must "wipe" the data off of the drive and this is done by actually writing a bunch of 1s and 0s where your data used to be, making several passes doing so. Each pass reduces any residual traces of your data until even the most sophisticated forensic tools (that includes Hollywood's! ) cannot retrieve what was there.

So what you need to do is (1) copy any data you do not want to lose, and (2) "wipe" the drive. If you trust the person you are selling this to, you may want to wipe just your data files, and leave Windows in tact. However, since your personal data could be stored almost anywhere, I generally recommend wiping the whole drive, then the new owner can install Windows with the disks that go with the computer, or they can buy a new license of Windows, or install Linux.

You don't need to power up the notebook at all. The best way to "wipe" that hard drive is to install it in another computer as a secondary (not boot) drive, or into an enclosure attached to another computer. Then you can copy your important files and wipe the drive easily. If you don't have an enclosure, you can get an inexpensive Notebook to IDE Hard Drive Adapter, and install the drive as a secondary drive in another computer. It will just appear as another drive letter (or more if partitioned).

Then use Eraser to wipe the drive.

Hi, Thanks alot for the info. Very fast reply and very helpful.
Am i right in thinking if there is no hardrive then nothing is saved on the computer. So for instance if i had 20 gigs of music on a laptop, took the hard drive out, Then got a brand new hard drive, there would be nothing on the laptop, and would be as new? Thanks again for the help.
Josh

Yeah that's a very safe and secure way to ensure the next owner does not get any of your old data. It would not have Windows or any other programs on it, so I would not say it would be as new.

I thought it was December not April 1st.

Who do you think is going to buy a laptop that you cant turn on?

It would turn on, run the POST (power-on self test), check RAM, and load up the BIOS where it would check for the first boot drive's location, then just stop and report "no operating system found".

Lot's of people buy computers without software on it. Just understand that if you do not give the Windows disks, license, and CD Key that originally came with that computer, then you need to at least format the disk to remove Windows anyway.

... and when i plug it into the mains it doesnt charge, so i cant turn it on.

The AC adapter doesn't work? (... when i plug it into the mains ...)

If it does then;

It would turn on, run the POST (power-on self test), check RAM, and load up the BIOS where it would check for the first boot drive's location, then just stop and report "no operating system found".

If it doesn't;

Who do you think is going to buy a laptop that you cant turn on?

to which I'd have to agree.