How to remove personal information from computer before selling

Hey, you're thinking about removing personal information from computer before selling huh? That’s smart, but there are a few downsides you should keep in mind based on my experience and what I've seen folks run into:

1. Even if you want to remove personal information from computer before selling, some data recovery tools can sometimes still pull stuff out of the drive unless you do a thorough wipe or physical destruction. So, if you’re super paranoid, just deleting stuff isn’t always enough.

2. Properly removing all traces of your data — especially if you're doing it the right way (like low-level formatting or physical destruction) — takes time. You gotta be patient and careful, or you might miss something.

3. If you go the physical destruction route, like drilling or smashing, you’re risking damaging parts of the drive or other components. Plus, handling tools like drills or hammers can be dangerous if you’re not careful.

4. In some cases, if you’re destroying data that might be legally sensitive or contain personal info of others, physically destroying the drive might be the only safe route— but it’s also irreversible, so double-check what you’re doing.

5. After destruction, you’ll need to dispose of the drive properly. Not all places accept shredded or smashed drives, and improper disposal can be an environmental issue.

6. If you forget to back up important files before wiping or destroying, you’re out of luck. It’s a pain to lose stuff you meant to keep.

In a nutshell, while destroying the drive is the most secure way to ensure no one gets your personal info, it’s also a bit of a hassle and not without risks. Just make sure you’re ready for that and double-check that you’ve saved everything important first!