Rmoving personal HD data

RoleyBirkin · 25 Nov 2008 at 09:24

Assume someone else is to have you Mac or HD.

Which files/folders must be deleted to ensure none of your personal data is passed on to the new owner, whilst still allowing them the befit of all the HD apps?

iSam · 25 Nov 2008 at 09:59

Delete your documents?

Delete your keychain?

RoleyBirkin · 25 Nov 2008 at 14:54

Is it as simple as that?

How about email and browser data?

lloydsj · 25 Nov 2008 at 14:57

just install osx again?... its quick and easy on mac

iSam · 25 Nov 2008 at 14:57

Reset Safari/Firefox.

Obviously the best bet is a re-format but that's no good if you want to keep the apps.

likwid · 25 Nov 2008 at 15:12

Make them a new user account then delete your own.

RoleyBirkin · 25 Nov 2008 at 15:22

lloydsj said:
just install osx again?... its quick and easy on mac

True

But then you'd have to reinstall/download all the apps you want to pass on....would be too time consuming for me personally

Spyhop · 25 Nov 2008 at 15:28

Then some of your data is going to persist

Zero the drive, reinstall.

RoleyBirkin · 25 Nov 2008 at 16:09

Which data will persist in Word and Parallels for instance?

iSam · 25 Nov 2008 at 16:19

Re-install Parallels, much easier.

Word won't keep any data on it's own, the documents will obviously but Word won't itself.

likwid · 25 Nov 2008 at 16:24

Rather than just making that statement, I'd love to hear you actually explain why would it be easier to reinstall parallels. As far as I know, parallels doesn't store any personal data. The vm files it creates, yes, parallels itself no.

This forum is full of people making random statements for nothing more than something to do.

RoleyBirkin · 25 Nov 2008 at 16:35

Can Parallels be installed without XP already set up on B/C partition?

If not, it would obviously mean setting that up - which was a nuisance the first time round!

likwid · 25 Nov 2008 at 16:42

Yes, parallels can be used to install virtual machines.

Spyhop · 25 Nov 2008 at 16:44

Word could well have caches of working copies of files and other metadata.

Then there's the whole issue of normal files on disk just having their references removed when being deleted, thus possibly being recoverable.

If you're concerned about this then just zero the drive - no point doing a half-assed job.

GraemeUK · 25 Nov 2008 at 16:53

wush said:
Word could well have caches of working copies of files and other metadata.

Then there's the whole issue of normal files on disk just having their references removed when being deleted, thus possibly being recoverable.

If you're concerned about this then just zero the drive - no point doing a half-assed job.

I'm not being a pain but its easy to recover files which have been zero'ed.

If you wear a tinfoil hat or think someone might try to recover your files then the only way to go is secure erase like the 7 pass DoD wipe.

Spyhop · 25 Nov 2008 at 16:55

How would you go about doing it then?

RoleyBirkin · 25 Nov 2008 at 16:59

likwid said:
Yes, parallels can be used to install virtual machines.

Err, I know that, I've been running XP via Parallels since owning a Mac!

Just want to establish which Apps present security issues, and exactly what needs deleting, if it can be done this way.

So can Parallels be installed without Bootcamp already set up?

likwid · 25 Nov 2008 at 17:05

Err, yes, parallels can be used to install virtual machines. Or to put it another way, you don't need bootcamp to install virtual machines.

RoleyBirkin · 25 Nov 2008 at 17:10

Ok, fair point.

So what about Office?
And where's that 'empty trash securely' option above?

Minority · 25 Nov 2008 at 17:11

GraemeUK said:
I'm not being a pain but its easy to recover files which have been zero'ed..

Care to explain that statement? It isn't easy at all.