I need computer help
- Thread starter big joe
- Start date
Bigjoe,
Are you trying to completely restore the hard drive back to its original "out of the box" status or just wipe out the sites you have been to on the internet?
If you are looking for the first, then you will need the software that came with the computer (easiest) or another type of software,
if you just want to delete the history of where you have been then RIGHT click on the internet explorer icon on your desktop (assuming you are using IE) then click properties, then click delete files and it will run for a minute, then click on clear history and reply yes and the history for all workable purposes will be gone. Someone with even a little more than average computer knowlege can still find out where you have been, but they have to be looking and know what they are doing.
Hope this helps, if not then give me some more info on what you want and I can probably help.
penguinfan
Are you trying to completely restore the hard drive back to its original "out of the box" status or just wipe out the sites you have been to on the internet?
If you are looking for the first, then you will need the software that came with the computer (easiest) or another type of software,
if you just want to delete the history of where you have been then RIGHT click on the internet explorer icon on your desktop (assuming you are using IE) then click properties, then click delete files and it will run for a minute, then click on clear history and reply yes and the history for all workable purposes will be gone. Someone with even a little more than average computer knowlege can still find out where you have been, but they have to be looking and know what they are doing.
Hope this helps, if not then give me some more info on what you want and I can probably help.
penguinfan
Thanks, I do have IE, and here's what I need to do,,
I am returning my laptop to my company and getting a new one.
I don't wan't my gambling sites to show up on my old computer if they scan the hard drive. I've heard they do this, so they can clean it and hand out for someone else to use.
So, they'll know how to do this and I just want to hand it back in clean of all history.
thx
I am returning my laptop to my company and getting a new one.
I don't wan't my gambling sites to show up on my old computer if they scan the hard drive. I've heard they do this, so they can clean it and hand out for someone else to use.
So, they'll know how to do this and I just want to hand it back in clean of all history.
thx
tools + internet options + clear history
but, you can't totally erase your hard drive. if the FBI wanted to know what was ever put on your computer, they can get it. i don't know if your company can do that though.
they probably want a cleared history.
you might want to go through windows explorer (directory by directory) and see if there's any personal stuff in there as well.
when i get rid of this computer, the hard drive gets smashed so nobody will ever see what was in my files. this thing has ALL of my personal information (banking, credit cards, sports betting, etc).
but, you can't totally erase your hard drive. if the FBI wanted to know what was ever put on your computer, they can get it. i don't know if your company can do that though.
they probably want a cleared history.
you might want to go through windows explorer (directory by directory) and see if there's any personal stuff in there as well.
when i get rid of this computer, the hard drive gets smashed so nobody will ever see what was in my files. this thing has ALL of my personal information (banking, credit cards, sports betting, etc).
This should cleanup everything on the internet explorer side.
If you use Internet Explorer after cleaning everything up you will have to repeat these steps if you've been anywhere you don't want someone to know about. Jack is right - the powers that be can find out where you've been after doing this but not the average computer nerd.
Open internet explorer - on the task bar go to tools - then to internet options then click delete cookies.
IE - Tools - Internet options - delete cookies
then
IE - Tools - Internet options - delete files
then
IE - Tools - Internet options - clear history
then
IE - Tools - Internet options - settings - view files
If there is anything in here you will want to delete it - notice how it doesn't ask if you're sure about deleting it because it is temporary internet files.
Now go to the start button - then programs - then windows explorer
Once in Windows Explorer click the + next to windows then the + next to temporary internet files and then the + next to contentIE5 (or whatever your version is)
you should see some incoherent numbers and letters that make up the folders. I went ahead and deleted the whole folder by clicking on it and pressing the delete button. It tells you that this is a windows system folder and that one or more programs might not work if you delete it. But as you can see I'm back here typing. If you open IE up again new folders will be created under contentIE5.
Before I started, I went to Start - find files or folders and typed in madjack to show me where any occurence relating back to the site was located and after completing the steps above it could not be located on my computer.
I sure hope this helps
If you use Internet Explorer after cleaning everything up you will have to repeat these steps if you've been anywhere you don't want someone to know about. Jack is right - the powers that be can find out where you've been after doing this but not the average computer nerd.
Open internet explorer - on the task bar go to tools - then to internet options then click delete cookies.
IE - Tools - Internet options - delete cookies
then
IE - Tools - Internet options - delete files
then
IE - Tools - Internet options - clear history
then
IE - Tools - Internet options - settings - view files
If there is anything in here you will want to delete it - notice how it doesn't ask if you're sure about deleting it because it is temporary internet files.
Now go to the start button - then programs - then windows explorer
Once in Windows Explorer click the + next to windows then the + next to temporary internet files and then the + next to contentIE5 (or whatever your version is)
you should see some incoherent numbers and letters that make up the folders. I went ahead and deleted the whole folder by clicking on it and pressing the delete button. It tells you that this is a windows system folder and that one or more programs might not work if you delete it. But as you can see I'm back here typing. If you open IE up again new folders will be created under contentIE5.
Before I started, I went to Start - find files or folders and typed in madjack to show me where any occurence relating back to the site was located and after completing the steps above it could not be located on my computer.
I sure hope this helps
