Reinstalling an operating system does not (automatically) wipe your hard drive. Even formatting the hard drive does not actually wipe the content of the hard drive. There are tools that can retrieve data on the hard drive after re/formating.
The only sure way if you want to keep or resell the hard drive is to use a program to write zeros, ones and random zeros and ones to the drive itself. If you are going to toss it, a hammer is just fine.
Change your details. And learn from this.
But... You also din`t answer. You have a list of people to turn into the police who want that password_
I wouldn't be paranoid either, if everyone wasn't out to get me.
Thanks PhiMeow
As I am just getting rid of it, a hammer seems to be the simplest option. For some of us who were born in the first half of last century, it's also the solution I can understand.
What laptop is it? Brand and model.
To take a hard drive out - and put another it - is usually not that difficult.
Is it a old piece of junk you want to get rid of anyway or could it still be useful for you?
Instead of using a software like DBAN, I would recommend using a certified erasure software to ensure that your hard drive is completely wiped. I've always used a program called WipeDrive by WhiteCanyon Software. http://www.whitecanyon.com/ConsumerWipeDrive I've never had any problems with them.
Thank you all for your various suggestions.
I have now dismantled as much as I can and bashed what's left with a hammer. That I feel should do the trick.
The issue is if someone really wanted the information you probably could not do anything to stop them recovering it. That said the effort to getting the information is probably too much for the average petty thief or scammer. Its really just about making it not worth their time to try.
so yes the hammer would have been one way.
