Your personal computer holds critical and sensitive information that needs to be protected, even when you no longer have a use for the computer. The choice to donate old computers to a charitable organization offers tax-deductible benefits and a sense of satisfaction knowing that you are helping others. Prior to donation, you must prevent others from accessing your sensitive information. Simply deleting files is not sufficient for your protection. You must wipe the hard drive of your personal computer clean, which is called formatting or reformatting. Formatting a hard drive will remove all files, programs and the operating system.

Preparation

First you must save any of your valuable files, documents and images to another location. This can include copying files to your new computer, a floppy disk, a removable disk drive or burn to a compact disc. Check and recheck all locations on your hard drive to be certain you have saved everything you could need or want at a later date. Check your desktop for valuable files or folders, as these may not be included with your My Documents or other folders.

Reformatting in Windows XP

Shut down all open programs including your Web browser. If you have not previously removed the Reformat function from your System Tools menu as a security measure to prevent children or others from accidentally removing all data, then this will be the easiest method. Go to your Start menu in the bottom left-hand corner of your screen. Under Accessories look for System Tools. System Tools will have a drop-down menu item named Reformat. Click on Reformat and follow through with the prompts when requested. When finished, your disc drive will be blank.

Reformatting with Start-up Disc

Restart your computer with your start-up disc. Start-up discs are most often on floppy discs, so you will need to have this in your floppy drive or Drive A. When prompted type: Format: C Answer "Yes" to the warning about wiping out all data. After reformatting the hard drive you must remove the floppy disc. Your hard drive is now blank. The following step is optional. If you choose to re-install the operating system, put the installation CD into the CD drive and follow the prompts to complete installation.

Tips

Because reformatting the hard drive will remove the operating system, you should plan to reinstall the operating system after you have stripped the hard drive clean. Non-profits and individuals served by the non-profit may not have the means to purchase a new operating system for installation. The computer will be of a greater service if you take the time to reinstall the operating system. Re-installation will require the original installation disc or you can create a bootable disc prior to reformatting the disc drive.

Warnings

Reformatting your disc drive is permanent and not reversible. You must save all valuable files to another location before you begin the reformatting process.

Source:

Reformat hard drive in Windows OS

Create a Windows XP disc

Create a bootable Vista disc

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Reformat hard drives for Mac OS

Create a bootable CD for Mac OS X

Wipe a Windows hard drive