Best way to make sure all information is safe when bringing computer in for repairs

[MrDingleDangle]

I need to bring my Dell 5100 Inspiron in for repairs, the Backlight seems to have gone out (no its not the inverter, I bought and replaced the inverter and it still has the same problems)

Whats the best way to secure all personal information before bringing it to a store? Is there anything in particular I should be doing besides the obvious (erasing any stored passwords from web browser)

 

[RBBRMADE]

Pull out your hard drive.
If it is the LCD they are working on, they do not need your hard drive.
Ron

 

[mechBgon]

Or back up your data, then run DBAN to obscure the data, and put a fresh Windows installation on using the recovery CD.

 

[nervegrind3r]

create a directory in the root of the hard drive called n0rp, and put all your porn in there. They will never look because they'll think your some foreign retard.

warmest regards

 

[mastermynd27]

honestly the best ways would be to either pull the drive or to back up all personal data beforehand and then delete it off the drive. I am a computer tech and I can say for a fact that we sometimes browse around just to see whats on the drive. and god knows there are some strange people out there with the stuff they have on the computer!

 

[MrDingleDangle]

Originally posted by: RBBRMADE
Pull out your hard drive.
If it is the LCD they are working on, they do not need your hard drive.
Ron

i feel like a dumbass for not thinknig about that...thanks!

 

[erikistired]

nobody cares about your data unless it's porn or nude pictures of your wife or something, which is technically porn.

 

[sieistganzfett]

yes, what you can do is not give the hard drive, that is the easiest way, or you can save your data then format and reinstall, but why spend 3 hrs on that if it takes just 3 minutes to take a hard drive out where you will not have to reinstall everything you want

 

[ForumMaster]

dude, just take out the hdd. they don't need it. it is almost impossible to totally protect your data unless you are going to melt the HDD using a pH lvl 1 acid. not that i suspect you of having anything illegal or anything...

 

[sgentry6]

Call Gary Glitter. He was great at hiding his data

He had so much child porn on that box that a 6 year old probably crawled out of the case when they opened it up.

 

[deathwalker]

Originally posted by: fisher
nobody cares about your data unless it's porn or nude pictures of your wife or something, which is technically porn.

A response in Bad Taste..and "not" true!