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    clearing all cache without reinstall

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by hpl912, Nov 18, 2007.

  1. hpl912

    hpl912 Notebook Consultant

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    is there a way to completely clear any cache saved in windows without reinstalling the OS?
    it's for the purpose of selling a laptop to someone without having to do reinstall a fresh copy of windows
     
    hpl912, Nov 18, 2007
    #1
  2. vaio2k7

    vaio2k7 Notebook Evangelist

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    If you are going to sell your laptop to someone else, you need to do some serious work. I dont even know all the details but surely many here do and will tell you how to really wipe your HDD clean, because thats vital before selling any laptop.
     
    vaio2k7, Nov 18, 2007
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  3. ScifiMike12

    ScifiMike12 Drinking the good stuff

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    If you're going to sell your laptop, then use Darik's Boot and Nuke (DBAN). I use it every so often before a reformat to bring my HDD to it's optimal performance.

    http://dban.sourceforge.net/
     
    ScifiMike12, Nov 18, 2007
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  4. scythie

    scythie I died for your sins.

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    Yup, clearing the cache is simply not enough. If the person who buys your laptop has the knowledge, he can still find something you thought was "permanently deleted".

    A full wipe using DBAN is necessary, IMO.
     
    scythie, Nov 18, 2007
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  5. Nocturnal310

    Nocturnal310 Notebook Virtuoso

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    i sold my old laptop to a friend so didn't delete movies n songs...i still think i should have formatted
     
    Nocturnal310, Nov 18, 2007
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  6. Ingvarr

    Ingvarr Notebook Deity

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    If you want to be *sure* that no sensitive information leaks, a wipe a must. Take note - a *wipe*, not a format (though "hdd re-initialization" aka modern "low-level format" will do too in most cases). You dont want some of your password hashes to be left intact and god knows where various apps store em :)
     
    Ingvarr, Nov 18, 2007
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  7. hpl912

    hpl912 Notebook Consultant

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    ah ok.. i think i'd do a complete fresh windows install then..
    thank you guys
     
    hpl912, Nov 18, 2007
    #7