what is the best way to wipe out everything i've done on the computer? Will installing the rescue disk do this? thanks

Hi bobsacamano,
Firstly, welcome to the CompuForums Community! It's great to have you here. I hope you visit our site and post often in the future, and that you add yourself to our member map.

It depends on why you want to wipe the computer. Do you just want to restart your computer with a fresh operating system, or do you want to completley destroy the data on it so nobody can read your files?

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hello,

Welcome to CompuForums,

What Operating System do you have, knowing this will help us determine how to help you. Also what manufacturer is your computer? Did the Operating System come with your computer, or did you buy it seperate?

Also, thank you for signing up, please add yourself to the member map so we know where everyone is from, we also hope you become an active member of the community.

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thanks

I am more concerned about just getting rid of any files or anything of "questionable" material that may have made it onto the computer. My SO is going to be using the pc from time to time and she likes to snoop around if you know what I mean

If it's your wife that you are worried about, as long as she dosen't have an extensive knowledge of computers, then you can delete any 'private' files you may have such as images and videos and then empty the recycle bin.

If you want ALL of your cookies and visited websites cleared, run Crap Cleaner - it's a great little program, and it's free [and unlike most other "hard drive cleaners" and "history erasers" out there, it doesn't come with a load of malware]. You can get it from CCleaner.com.

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Ash
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yea it is and she does know her way around the pc, more so then me I'm afraid. I just want to make sure there isn't a chance of anything bein left on there because she'll freaking kill me. Regardless of how stupid it is

Crap Cleaner will get rid of it all. Just be sure that when deleting files, you also empty your recycle bin. Without using complex data recovery tools [often expensive] then the files won't be found.

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Ash
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sweet. I used to have yahoo im on there as well but got rid of it a long long time ago. Those conversations aren't saved anywhere are they? If they are would this get rid of them?

If you uninstalled it the logs should have gone. However I do not use it myself and can't be sure. I'm sure someone else on the forum who does use it however will be able to inform us - and I will also check on the web.

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cool, thanks for all the help

It's no problem, we're here to help

We just ask that you help us by visiting often and posting.

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Ash
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I don't think that will be a problem.

Yahoo! Messenger IMs are stored on your computer in C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Messenger\Profiles\username\Archive\M essages. If you have uninstalled Yahoo they should be gone but check and make sure. IM's stored on your computer cannot be read unless the person has your yahoo user name and password OR a little program that is designed to crack Yahoo IM's - pretty basic but very effective! Don't want to sound patronising but a lot of people just delete the desktop shortcut and THINK they have uninstalled programs. You should always use Control Panel-Add/Remove Programs to uninstall programs properly.

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