MK5 Golf GTI

General => Random Chat => Topic started by: Mk5 GTian on March 09, 2013, 06:15:59 pm

Title: Selling an old laptop - Any identity issues?
Post by: Mk5 GTian on March 09, 2013, 06:15:59 pm

I'm selling an old laptop, but am concerned that it's future use could be associated with me. Is this something I should be concened about, and if so is there anything I should do to protect myself?

I don't know much about computers, hence my career as an interior decorator! Is the ip address (whatever that is) just connected to your email account or your computer as well?

Thanks for your help,

The Luddite.
Title: Re: Selling an old laptop - Any identity issues?
Post by: camfollower on March 09, 2013, 06:17:17 pm
Sell it w/o a HDD to be absolutely sure.
Title: Re: Selling an old laptop - Any identity issues?
Post by: Mk5 GTian on March 09, 2013, 06:46:47 pm
Sorry Camfollower, but what is an HDD?  :confused: :confused: :confused:
Title: Re: Selling an old laptop - Any identity issues?
Post by: camfollower on March 09, 2013, 06:53:16 pm
Sorry Camfollower, but what is an HDD?  :confused: :confused: :confused:

Hard Disk Drive
Probably not a viable option for you, but the best protection if your concerned.
Failing that, you could get a data shredder for the most common sensitive files... web history, passwords saved in db's, document folder etc.
Title: Re: Selling an old laptop - Any identity issues?
Post by: GrayMK5GTI on March 09, 2013, 07:13:03 pm
Are you worried that someone will find out the websites you have been on and brand you a pervert?  :signLOL:
Title: Re: Selling an old laptop - Any identity issues?
Post by: bacillus on March 09, 2013, 07:23:27 pm
I would say reformat the hdd and reinstall the original OS.
Oh, I wouldn't worry about someone getting your IP address from yopur laptop as that isn't stored on the hdd.
Title: Re: Selling an old laptop - Any identity issues?
Post by: phil1975 on March 09, 2013, 07:28:46 pm
Are you worried that someone will find out the websites you have been on and brand you a pervert?  :signLOL:


All those pictures of susanna reid you mean!! :happy2:
Title: Re: Selling an old laptop - Any identity issues?
Post by: bigeyd on March 09, 2013, 08:09:16 pm
Yeah rip the hard drive out,they are easily removed.
Title: Re: Selling an old laptop - Any identity issues?
Post by: Jussa on March 09, 2013, 10:14:53 pm
Sorry Camfollower, but what is an HDD?  :confused: :confused: :confused:

 :signLOL: :signLOL:
Sorry Ian but that takes the biscuit, I think even my old dear knows that  :rolleye:

Where do you live, if u were local to me I'd sort it for you  :happy2:
Title: Re: Selling an old laptop - Any identity issues?
Post by: bacillus on March 09, 2013, 10:27:40 pm
Where do you live, if u were local to me I'd sort it for you  :happy2:

You just want to see all those pics of Susanna Reid stored on his hdd don't you!   :laugh:
Title: Re: Selling an old laptop - Any identity issues?
Post by: Jussa on March 09, 2013, 10:39:34 pm
Where do you live, if u were local to me I'd sort it for you  :happy2:

You just want to see all those pics of Susanna Reid stored on his hdd don't you!   :laugh:

 :signLOL: I was hoping for Jessica Alba and Milan Kunis!!  :jumping:
Title: Re: Selling an old laptop - Any identity issues?
Post by: edd666999 on March 10, 2013, 12:07:27 am

I'm selling an old laptop, but am concerned that it's future use could be associated with me. Is this something I should be concened about, and if so is there anything I should do to protect myself?

I don't know much about computers, hence my career as an interior decorator! Is the ip address (whatever that is) just connected to your email account or your computer as well?

Thanks for your help,

The Luddite.

For the average buyer of the laptop, re-installing windows on it will stop them getting at anything.

If you sold it to me, if still be able to get at some stuff because i know what im doing.

If you know an I.T based guy he could run a linux live disk and run a program that runs 1's n 0's across the drive in random patters which makes it almost impossible to recover data.

For the average user however 99% of people just re install windows.
Title: Re: Selling an old laptop - Any identity issues?
Post by: Jussa on March 10, 2013, 08:25:07 am

I'm selling an old laptop, but am concerned that it's future use could be associated with me. Is this something I should be concened about, and if so is there anything I should do to protect myself?

I don't know much about computers, hence my career as an interior decorator! Is the ip address (whatever that is) just connected to your email account or your computer as well?

Thanks for your help,

The Luddite.

For the average buyer of the laptop, re-installing windows on it will stop them getting at anything.

If you sold it to me, if still be able to get at some stuff because i know what im doing.

If you know an I.T based guy he could run a linux live disk and run a program that runs 1's n 0's across the drive in random patters which makes it almost impossible to recover data.

For the average user however 99% of people just re install windows.

Or u could just degauss and destroy the disk with a hammer!!!  :signLOL:
Title: Re: Selling an old laptop - Any identity issues?
Post by: Mk5 GTian on March 10, 2013, 08:27:04 am
Are you worried that someone will find out the websites you have been on and brand you a pervert?  :signLOL:

I don't know WHAT you mean Graeme!!  :signLOL:
Title: Re: Selling an old laptop - Any identity issues?
Post by: Mk5 GTian on March 10, 2013, 08:29:41 am
Sorry Camfollower, but what is an HDD?  :confused: :confused: :confused:

 :signLOL: :signLOL:
Sorry Ian but that takes the biscuit, I think even my old dear knows that  :rolleye:

Where do you live, if u were local to me I'd sort it for you  :happy2:

Jussa, I work with paint brushes, rollers, filling knifes, scrapers, sanders, steamers, and papering tables etc etc. How would I know what a HDD is!!! Bloomin' computers, tools of the Devil!  :evilgrin:
Title: Re: Selling an old laptop - Any identity issues?
Post by: Mk5 GTian on March 10, 2013, 08:30:57 am
Where do you live, if u were local to me I'd sort it for you  :happy2:

You just want to see all those pics of Susanna Reid stored on his hdd don't you!   :laugh:

 :signLOL: :signLOL:
Title: Re: Selling an old laptop - Any identity issues?
Post by: Mk5 GTian on March 10, 2013, 08:31:50 am
I would say reformat the hdd and reinstall the original OS.
Oh, I wouldn't worry about someone getting your IP address from yopur laptop as that isn't stored on the hdd.

How do dat?  :confused: :confused:
Title: Re: Selling an old laptop - Any identity issues?
Post by: edd666999 on March 10, 2013, 08:50:15 am
I would say reformat the hdd and reinstall the original OS.
Oh, I wouldn't worry about someone getting your IP address from yopur laptop as that isn't stored on the hdd.

How do dat?  :confused: :confused:

First off you'll need to find the "any" key
Title: Re: Selling an old laptop - Any identity issues?
Post by: Deako on March 10, 2013, 10:24:48 am
[Homer]Wheres the any key?[/Homer]

As said, you need a low level format that can fill the drive with 0/1s. 1 pass is enough to stop most people getting at files, several passes makes sure.

Usually it's enough to remove all the OS partitions and create from scratch. Depending on your laptop, caution should be made, as its likely the recovery partition is stored on the main disk.

I would personally, in your shoes with your limited knowledge, learn how to boot into the recovery partition and just install windows from scratch.
Title: Re: Selling an old laptop - Any identity issues?
Post by: camfollower on March 10, 2013, 10:46:35 am
Have you tried switching it off and back on again?
Title: Re: Selling an old laptop - Any identity issues?
Post by: Mk5 GTian on March 10, 2013, 02:01:51 pm

Oh fu*k it, I'm just gonna smash it up with my sledge hammer and chuck it in the skip! What a polava! 
Title: Re: Selling an old laptop - Any identity issues?
Post by: Degudodger on March 10, 2013, 04:07:56 pm
What operating system is it running. Do you have operating system or recovery disks?
Title: Re: Selling an old laptop - Any identity issues?
Post by: camfollower on March 10, 2013, 04:33:11 pm

Oh fu*k it, I'm just gonna smash it up with my sledge hammer and chuck it in the skip! What a polava! 

Only kiddin' matey... grab a philips head screwdriver and whip out the HDD from the back of the lappy whilst its OFF, then sell it without, better than scrapping it. 

What spec is the laptop? To find this out Press the "Windows Key" and the "Pause Break key" to open System Properties.
Title: Re: Selling an old laptop - Any identity issues?
Post by: Mk5 GTian on March 10, 2013, 08:11:28 pm

It's a Dell XPS M1330 in red with aluminium,

Intel Core 2 Duo
T8100@2.1Ghz
795 MHz, 1.99Gb of RAM

Whatever that means.... I know it was bloody expensive when I bought it!!
Title: Re: Selling an old laptop - Any identity issues?
Post by: camfollower on March 10, 2013, 08:29:39 pm

It's a Dell XPS M1330 in red with aluminium,

Intel Core 2 Duo
T8100@2.1Ghz
795 MHz, 1.99Gb of RAM

Whatever that means.... I know it was bloody expensive when I bought it!!

It's a good (albeit old) machine mate.
Why don't you make it into a VCDS tool, that's what I did with my old Core2Duo lappy... it sits in the garage ready to play tunes and/or VCDS :smiley:
The XPS range are regarded as decent machinery - whip the HDD out and whack it on the Bay... it's free listing this weekend. :happy2:
Or send it to me before you put it in the bin!! :laugh:
Title: Re: Selling an old laptop - Any identity issues?
Post by: GrayMK5GTI on March 10, 2013, 09:27:34 pm

It's a Dell XPS M1330 in red with aluminium,

Intel Core 2 Duo
T8100@2.1Ghz
795 MHz, 1.99Gb of RAM

Whatever that means.... I know it was bloody expensive when I bought it!!

VCDS machine sounds good  :happy2:

It's a good (albeit old) machine mate.
Why don't you make it into a VCDS tool, that's what I did with my old Core2Duo lappy... it sits in the garage ready to play tunes and/or VCDS :smiley:
The XPS range are regarded as decent machinery - whip the HDD out and whack it on the Bay... it's free listing this weekend. :happy2:
Or send it to me before you put it in the bin!! :laugh: