computer info on desktop windows 7 image
Seeger
I want to sell my used ASUS desktop. I don't want to erase everything. Like my Windows 7, normal apps it comes with, and things the computer needs to operate. How do I just get rid of all personal info and anything else you don't want people getting their hands on?
Can I just sell it without the HD? Or is that where everything is stored? All the apps and stuff? I really want to sell it but I have bought stuff with a credit card and my address is on it. What can I do exactly?
Answer
You have a few options, depending on what you want to accomplish:
1. Remove the HDD (that's the safest, but your machine is not worth as much with no HDD).
2. Leave the HDD in but format it - this erases everything, including the OS (Win 7 in your case) - worth more than #1 but not as much as if it had an OS.
3. You can erase everything but the OS, but this is indeed a technical and tedious process which can take lots of time. If you have Windows installation disc/s, it's much easier. you just format the drive then reinstall Win 7. I suspect you don't.
If you made Recovery discs when you first got your machine you can format the drive then return it to "factory settings" with the Recovery program (this is NOT a "Restore"). Another option would be to make a Windows boot disc, then format the drive, then download the same version of Win 7 you had and reinstall that way, and then you have to reauthorize it (see Microsoft instructions for this).
Whichever of these last options you take you will undoubtedly learn much about your computer in going through the process - I did. It's way too much to go over here, but there are many online resources to help you through it.
You probably know that just deleting programs and files will not be enough - even when files are deleted, they still exist until they are over-written. There are programs that do this (in fact some over-write the space you indicate multiple times to be certain about it).
One free program that will get a start on this process is Ccleaner from Piriform - See here:
http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/download
One of the tools it has is called Drive Wiper, which has the option of erasing all free space or erasing the entire drive. It's a great program to have on any machine for maintenance (deleting .tmp - temporary - and other junk files that Win needed once but no longer does), Start-up program control, etc. There are Pro upgrades at a cost but the free version is very useful.
For more info search [wipe HDD but keep OS]. Hope this helps...
You have a few options, depending on what you want to accomplish:
1. Remove the HDD (that's the safest, but your machine is not worth as much with no HDD).
2. Leave the HDD in but format it - this erases everything, including the OS (Win 7 in your case) - worth more than #1 but not as much as if it had an OS.
3. You can erase everything but the OS, but this is indeed a technical and tedious process which can take lots of time. If you have Windows installation disc/s, it's much easier. you just format the drive then reinstall Win 7. I suspect you don't.
If you made Recovery discs when you first got your machine you can format the drive then return it to "factory settings" with the Recovery program (this is NOT a "Restore"). Another option would be to make a Windows boot disc, then format the drive, then download the same version of Win 7 you had and reinstall that way, and then you have to reauthorize it (see Microsoft instructions for this).
Whichever of these last options you take you will undoubtedly learn much about your computer in going through the process - I did. It's way too much to go over here, but there are many online resources to help you through it.
You probably know that just deleting programs and files will not be enough - even when files are deleted, they still exist until they are over-written. There are programs that do this (in fact some over-write the space you indicate multiple times to be certain about it).
One free program that will get a start on this process is Ccleaner from Piriform - See here:
http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/download
One of the tools it has is called Drive Wiper, which has the option of erasing all free space or erasing the entire drive. It's a great program to have on any machine for maintenance (deleting .tmp - temporary - and other junk files that Win needed once but no longer does), Start-up program control, etc. There are Pro upgrades at a cost but the free version is very useful.
For more info search [wipe HDD but keep OS]. Hope this helps...
How can I tell if this processor will work with my computer?
Angela S
So, I have a Lenovo Desktop computer, before I get onto the question, here are its specifications:
Operating System: Lenovo Desktop Windows 7 64bit
Processor: Intel Pentium CPU G620 2.6 GHz
Memory: 6 GB Ram
Hard Drive: 1TB
Graphics Card: AMD Radeon HD 6670
I know the basics of computer specs, but I'm not a genius so I don't know what my mother board is, nor how to figure it out. I do know that in order to upgrade your processor you will most likely have to get a new motherboard. So my main question is will this processor:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115233
Work with my computer? Also will I have to get a new motherboard, and what kind of motherboards would you recommend?
Thanks
Like I said, I don't know what my motherboard because I'm not sure how to obtain this information. Also, my power supply is about 500-600 Watts, I kinda forget, but I know I had to upgrade my power supply when I bought the amd graphics card
I think I found out what my motherboard is, ideacentre k330b
Answer
The G620 is an 1155 socket Sandy Bridge CPU.
Core i5-3570 is an Ivy Bridge CPU in the 1155 socket.
The CPU should be compatible with the motherboard, but may require a bios update.
You would not need a new motherboard, and if you change the motherboard, you lose the Windows License and would need a new copy of that.
These are the 1155 Core i5's
http://pcpartpicker.com/parts/cpu/#xcx=0&k=14&s=12&sort=a6
If you are near a Microcenter store, they often have CPU specials.
Other stores have the i5-3570 delivered cheaper.
The question is whether the system bios that runs before Windows will properly recognize the CPU.
Lenovo should know that, but may not publish it, so a call to them is worthwhile.
Given that you are only at an HD 6670 for graphics, and you have a graphics card,
you might use a little lower performing i5.
i5-2xxx are Sandy Bridge and normally work without a bios update
i5-3350p without graphics is $179
CPU performance is on this list
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_list.php
Your power supply should be enough unless it is a very old design bad one.
If you shut down the system and unplug it and read the label inside the computer on the power supply, it is usually good to know what you have.
The critical info is +12V amps since that powers cpu, graphics, fans, disk drives
Your HD 6670 is about 65 watts which is 65/12 = 5.4 amps
If the computer had a version with an i5 released, the best thing to do is buy that exact CPU.
You can search the model number of the computer (look at its label) for similar systems with i5's.
The G620 is an 1155 socket Sandy Bridge CPU.
Core i5-3570 is an Ivy Bridge CPU in the 1155 socket.
The CPU should be compatible with the motherboard, but may require a bios update.
You would not need a new motherboard, and if you change the motherboard, you lose the Windows License and would need a new copy of that.
These are the 1155 Core i5's
http://pcpartpicker.com/parts/cpu/#xcx=0&k=14&s=12&sort=a6
If you are near a Microcenter store, they often have CPU specials.
Other stores have the i5-3570 delivered cheaper.
The question is whether the system bios that runs before Windows will properly recognize the CPU.
Lenovo should know that, but may not publish it, so a call to them is worthwhile.
Given that you are only at an HD 6670 for graphics, and you have a graphics card,
you might use a little lower performing i5.
i5-2xxx are Sandy Bridge and normally work without a bios update
i5-3350p without graphics is $179
CPU performance is on this list
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_list.php
Your power supply should be enough unless it is a very old design bad one.
If you shut down the system and unplug it and read the label inside the computer on the power supply, it is usually good to know what you have.
The critical info is +12V amps since that powers cpu, graphics, fans, disk drives
Your HD 6670 is about 65 watts which is 65/12 = 5.4 amps
If the computer had a version with an i5 released, the best thing to do is buy that exact CPU.
You can search the model number of the computer (look at its label) for similar systems with i5's.
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