How do I wipe the computer clean (on the inside) for selling?

Hi, I want to sell my computer, but want to delete everything first and don't know how to do it. Can someone please help me with this? I have searched on the net but theres nothing that can help me do this, any suggestions? Thanks

delete everything?

including the operating system?

hmm Im not sure, just enough that the person I sell the computer too wont find any personal information hidden inside the computer, but Im gonna give them the CD's and stuff that comes with the computer so I dont know if I should delete the OS or not

what cd's came with the computer?

a full install cd of xp? or was it pre-installed with recovery disks?

It came with the Drivers and Utilities CD's, the Application CD,and the XP OS CD, they are pre-installed on the computer, but I have the CD's with me.

Do you have the manual?
It should have instructions to use those CD's to Restore the computer to a Factory "state".

This would eliminate everything other than the operating system.

Before hand you might want to manualy remove all programs, files, documents, etc.

There are programs that will do this. It all depends on how far you want to go in wiping. The general rule is that only destroying the drive will completly erase it. The # of times it is "written" over makes it harder for someone to read it.

Point being how sensitive is your data & who would want it & what's it worth etc.

If you dont have the manual what is your comp make & model?
we can look it up.

If you see how to restore to factory state & still want a wiping program let us know.

No, its not really important info lol, so Im not worried that there gonna "sell my info", I just wanted it to run fast and have it "like new" condition where none of my info is in there, its an old computer (3 years old), but yea I do have the Owners Manual, but I dont see where it says to restore it to factory state, I do see the part where it says "Reinstalling XP", and "Reinstalling Drivers and Software" part of the book, does that erase the info I had on the computer? If not then if I erase the drive, do I then reinstall all the Software I have back on the computer and then it will wipe out the info? thanks for the help

Most likely running those 3 CD's will elimanate everything you have ever done.

If you want to share the make & model we could look up the manual ourselves but it should tell you what it will do.

If you follow the instructions to Reinstall "all" & anything remains of your own; then we could go into further wiping.

At some point in the reinstall process you will probably be told that you will be deleting all data (save the O.S. which you are reinstalling)

If you had a full XP CD you could totally wipe the drive the reinstall XP; but since it is an OEM installed XP you need to work with their disks. It depends on the manufacturer as to what those disks will or wont do.

If you want us to check out the manual post the make & model & we can find it online.

oh ok I see, Im looking at the manual now and it does say about the erasing information on the "reinstalling part" of the book, I will try it, also I have software like mcafee and zonealarm installed, will it erase that too or do I have to uninstall those aswell? Thanks again for your help

Most likely it will restore the computer to the way you got it.

Anything you added will probably be gone.

All updates & service packs as well.

Tell the new owner to check windows update first thing.