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Ask Slashdot: How To Clean Up My Work Computer Before I Leave?

Posted by timothy on from the lysol-in-all-the-vents dept.

An anonymous reader writes "I'm leaving my current job for a new one. I've been at this job for 10+ years so I'm sure there is tons of personal stuff stored on my machine. Since I can't take it with me does any one have a suggestions of tools or practices to clean off all of that data. I've already got my personal documents and files. I'm most worried about CC, debit card numbers and web site passwords I've used in browsers. Does clearing the cache, cookies, temp files do a good enough job? BTW it's a Windows 7 system if that makes a difference."

6 of 547 comments (clear)

  1. Ask slashdot going way downhill by gr3yh47 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The quality of questions on slashdot lately is abysmal. You really need a slashdot answer to tell you to reinstall windows and reformat the drive in the process? or to nuke the drive with any easily-googable drive erasing tool and reinstall windows?

  2. Re:OK more seriously by funwithBSD · · Score: 5, Insightful

    His first mistake was using a company machine for private transactions.

    Use your smart phone/iPad/whatever to that sort of stuff. Browse all you like at Newegg, but don't buy it at work!

    --
    Never answer an anonymous letter. - Yogi Berra
  3. Re:Nuke it from orbit by lorenlal · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If the IT department doesn't reimage old machines, then original poster should be even more inclined to DBAN that thing.

  4. Re:Nuke it from orbit by logical_failure · · Score: 5, Insightful

    DBAN is the only thing I would recommend. Simply re-imaging the machine is not enough.

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    Sock Puppets: damn_registrars=pudge_confirmer=jimmy_slimmy=raiigunner=cml4524=a_klavan=red4men=ronpaulisanidiot
  5. Re:Nuke it from orbit by dAzED1 · · Score: 5, Insightful
    damaging the computer in any way (yes, I know the "nuke it" comment was a joke...but the other comments in the thread aren't) is a great way to lose a final paycheck, or otherwise have your former employer be very unhappy with you. You have work on your computer that shows your thought processes while you were doing certain tasks...notes, etc. If something goes wrong 4 months from now, they may want to check those notes.

    Why would your credit card info be on the box, again? I know I already asked, but...huh? What year is this...did I go back in time?

  6. Re:Nuke it from orbit by jellomizer · · Score: 5, Insightful

    For systems with limited access. Where Whipping the PC isn't an option. I would suggest the following.
    Delete Cache, and Cookies, Clear up your Document Folders.

    Then I would run a program that fills the disk with a large file ( or several large files, of random data)
    then Delete that file.
    Then Defragment the drive.

    --
    If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.