[Retsof]

Okay, I have this old computer that is never used, so I am going to give it to a friend.  Now, I have all the disks and such for a system restore, but I'm assuming there's a better way to format a computer than clicking the C drive and pressing delete.  So, what would that way be?

[iamzack]

rub some strawberry jam on it

grape will work in a pinch, but strawberry is best

[Bobboau]

well, that won't do it at all, the best thing to do would be to put the disk in the cd drive and reboot the machine, you might have to fiddle with the boot order so it boots from the cd, but once it boots from the cd, just follow the directions when it asks about partitions delete everything then make a new one that fills the disk and say use that one.

[Nuke]

i used to use delpart, but it has trouble with newer hard drives. these days i normally plop in freedos cd and use xfdisk, or use some linux live cd and use its dick partitioner (cant remember what its called). of course most of the time you can delete and recreate partitions with the windows installer. regardless you just want to delete the partitions, and let the installer for the os decide what do do with your drive.

also really depends who you're giving it to, if you're giving it to a computer geek i wouldn't even bother, they would probably just re-format the drive and install some linux or partition the system in a way they can use. giving it to somone who doesnt really know a whole lot and just needs a net box, a basic restore is enough. now if its a computer with one of those restore cds and not a whole lot else, and your giving it to somone who is really dumb on tech, id go into the os and idiotproof the **** out of it. 

[Bobboau]

also, don't forget to delete your transvestite midget horse porn.

[Fearless Leader]

rub some strawberry jam on it

grape will work in a pinch, but strawberry is best

I saw a video on the internet (several years ago) that said mountain dew also works, it that still valid? What year did it switch to jam?

[BloodEagle]

/fdisk

[jr2]

Boot from a linux live cd or hiren's and use the minixp.  Open Disk Management or GParted for linux and delete the partition.  Then install.  Although the restore cd usually formats for you anyways...

[Nuke]

as much as i usually hate linux, i really like live cds, simply on the grounds that you can boot and run diagnostics and partitioning tools without having to resort to a dos shell and archaic dos utilities.

[Flaser]

Depending on how paranoid you are and how technically competent your friend is, you might want to *Secure Delete* whatever you want to get rid off:

http://eraser.heidi.ie/

[BloodEagle]

Of course, if you really don't want anyone looking at your old <insert fetish> pr0n folders checking your private files, you could always take a strong magnet to the HDD platters.

[jr2]

Yeah but would that damage the heads?

[Topgun]

Of course, if you really don't want anyone looking at your old <insert fetish> pr0n folders checking your private files, you could always take a strong magnet to the HDD platters.

Don't do this if you want to reuse the drive

[Retsof]

well, that won't do it at all, the best thing to do would be to put the disk in the cd drive and reboot the machine, you might have to fiddle with the boot order so it boots from the cd, but once it boots from the cd, just follow the directions when it asks about partitions delete everything then make a new one that fills the disk and say use that one.

Did this one, thanks people.