Filed under: Clean Up Computer
I bought a new computer and it has software issues so I have to return it. How do I 'clean it up'?
May 4, 2011
2 thoughts on “I bought a new computer and it has software issues so I have to return it. How do I 'clean it up'?”
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Clean Registry and Optimize PC
You can use crap cleaner, which should clean up every trace and remove all history. It’s capable of over-writing up to 35 passes. It’s a shredder for computers.
It can also uninstall programs and clean out your registry. Be sure to back up your registry when given the option.
http://www.mrbass.org/freeware/crapcleaner/
Depends on the condition they want it returned in:
The easiest way to clean, is to use a tool called Darik’s boot and nuke (DBAN) – http://www.dban.org/ to fully erase the drive, but this will leave the system totally wiped, and needing re-install, though if it comes with re-install media that DOES NOT NEED DRIVE CONTENT, then a full wipe and re-install is the best cleanup – but some re-installs use an image on another partition of the drive.
If there is a "factory restore" option, then using that should return the system to as supplied, but may leave deleted data, so the next step would be to use "Eraser" http://eraser.heidi.ie/index.php to erase free space (erasing free space must be done from an administrator account).
If there is no factory restore, and full wipe is unacceptable, then you have the toughest cleaning job, as you will have to remove your stuff, piecemeal.
Ccleaner may be useful for part of the job, but is designed to remove junk – you will still have to clear many things which would be needed in normal use.