If you delete you internet history and cookies, are the files permanently gone?

Question

I am donating my computer and was wondering if the files would be accessible in any way? If so, how can I get rid of any files indicating my previous internet activity?

Answer 1

Unless the hard drive is formatted, your files can still be found even if deleted. There are loads of free downloadable programs available that can retreive these files. If you have your windows disc, put it in the computer restart the computer and press 'any key' to boot from CD. Then follow the steps to format and reinstall Windows. This will clear everything and you can hand it on safely. If you don't have a disc you can take it to a shop and just ask for them to format the hard drive. Should be real cheap for them to do.

Answer 2

The only way to get rid of previous data on the hard drive is to "wipe" the drive with software that over-writes all sectors with "0" or some random meaningless data.



If you are donating your computer, are you also giving the original factory-software discs too, so the recipient can reinstall the factory software if they have a problem with things like a malware infestation?



If you do have some kind of factory-software discs, then you can "wipe" the hard drive and it is bye-bye to whatever data was on the hard drive. Then you can use the factory-software discs to reinstall the software and the next user will have a computer ready-to-use like it was just out of the box, assuming the hardware has not changed in the meantime.



If you don't have the factory-software discs, find out how to create them (if the computer is able to) or obtain them. Otherwise the only people who will want your computer are Linux people. Ubuntu is getting very popular with some people and they might like having a computer to work with it on.



You can get a free disk-wiping program from



http://www.killdisk.com/



at this link:



http://www.killdisk.com/downloadfree.htm



I got this version :



"Download Bootable ISO Image of Active@ KillDisk to burn CD"



because I could make a bootable CD with it and just pop it into the CD/DVD drive and reboot and select the option to wipe the entire drive.



The site also has some generic instructions here:

How to burn CD from ISO image file ?

http://www.ntfs.com/iso-burning.htm



Most CD/DVD burners these days come with software that can burn ISO images My burner came with Nero and it has that ability.



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The killdisk program on the CD also has the ability to erase only the unallocated space on the hard drive, that is, it erases what used to be the deleted files' data from the surface of the hard drive without erasing the existing files from the hard drive. I've tried it twice and it seems to work (I used a file-recovery program called Recuva to see if it left anything interesting behind for me to recover). That's an option for you to consider if you use the killdisk program, but it's not easy to find on the menu.

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Answer 3

Honestly, im not quite sure how to delete them permenently. But when you delete the browsing history and cookies its just deleted to where you cant pull them up. However, if you go in the computer files lets say for example if somethings wrong with your computer and they have to check the memory, people can see where exactly you've been. If you want to get rid of everything maybe taking it to the computer store and have them erasing the memory may work.

Answer 4

Well for all you intend to do Yes. BUT! there are recovery programs out there and are available for free some cases, that can do a forensic run and pull up a lot of data still on your drive. If you have a concern however Google "file shredders for free" and you can download programs that do a Government Wipe, that is delete on top of delete like 5 times.

Answer 5

No they are still on your PC. You have to perform a "secure delete" to remove information permanently. This is the only real way to erase information off of magnetic media. This works by encrypting the data and deleting it many times over until its nothing more than unreadable code. Shredding is another technique but not nearly as effective. Also. The US Dept of Defense endorse "secure delete" as the only way to permanently remove data. Check out this link.

http://www.delete-computer-history.com/secure-file-deletion.html

Answer 6

Well in internet options on the control pannel there are three options deleate cookies #1 Deleate files #2 now deleate files if you do nothing there they stay .Deleating the junk here is good as they slow down your box . If I can recommend another thing defrag your drive . go to start then programs slide over to system tools then slide over to disc defragment , then hit OK it will start then hit show details . after which you will see disc defragmentation complete do you want to quit hit yes then you will see warp drive speed [ all the junk will be gone ] all the best G. Singh

Answer 7

in case you have been applying your laptop for some months, you may evaluate doing extra effective than deleting your information superhighway Explorer historic past. yet this is the kind you delete your information superhighway Explorer historic past: (a million) click the initiating Orb (2) If information superhighway Explorer is your default information superhighway browser, its icon seems on the main suitable suited of the left-hand panel of the initiating Menu. suitable-click it. (3) From the context menu that seems, %: information superhighway residences. (4) the internet residences applet will seem. it is going to open with the 'familiar' tab being the single you notice first. (5) seem for the surfing historic past area of the 'familiar' tab. it could have a button labelled 'Delete'. click the 'Delete' button. (6) A 'Delete surfing historic past' window will seem. seem for the button labelled 'Delete all'. click the button labelled 'Delete all'. (7) A window confirming your request will seem. it could have an extra option-checkbox with text cloth beside it that reads: "additionally delete archives and settings saved via upload-ons". click that option so as that a examine-mark seems interior the container. (8) click the button labelled 'definite'. (9) a clean window will seem that asks you to attend together as the surfing historic past is deleted. while it particularly is complete, that window will disappear, leaving the 'information superhighway residences' window exhibiting. click the button labelled 'ok' and the 'information superhighway residences' window will disappear.

Answer 8

yea and no. they are removed but still can be recovered with software from the hard drive.there are still traces of it on your hard drive. nothing to worry about with the average user.