Forum Discussion
How to remove personal information from computer before selling
About how to remove personal information from computer before selling? Just deleting files or emptying the recycle bin doesn’t actually get rid of your data securely. Someone with the right tools could still recover it. Always go for a proper wipe or use trusted data destruction software. Some folks only erase their personal folders or certain files. But the rest of the drive might still contain sensitive info. Make sure you do a full disk wipe or reset to factory settings. After wiping, double-check that everything is gone. Boot up the machine and look for any leftover personal data or accounts. Better safe than sorry! For Apple products, it’s best to erase and reinstall the OS to ensure all your info is gone and the system is fresh for the next user.
In my own experience, I once thought just deleting files was enough — until a buddy showed me how easily recovery tools could bring back stuff I thought was gone. Now I always do a secure wipe and reset to factory settings. Better to be safe than sorry!