Accepted Answer

If the reason for cleaning your computer is to remove all unnecessary programs that have been accumulating and using up disc space and slowing down your system, then you should reformal and reinstall windows using your windows installation cd.

If on the other hand the reason for cleaning your computer is because you intend to sell it or give it to another person, and you want to make sure that all traces of your sensitive and personal information are removed, then you need to use special trace removal programs to completely remove such information (reformatting alone will still leave traces that can be recovered using special software). Here are two programs that will remove all traces for that purpose. The first is free, but may not do as good a job as the second which is a commercial program.

http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/

http://www.detto.com/wipedrive-erase-hard-drive.html

Hope this helps.

 

Expert:	John D
Pos. Feedback:	99.1 %
Accepts:	2846
Answered:	6/29/2007

BS Degree in Engineering.

25 years experience in computer programming and troubleshooting. Planning & Construction Management