[mattytun1514]

Hi im selling my old laptop to my friend but i want to make sure it is wiped clean i would like to make sure all personal data is wiped from it but i would like to to retain the apps- such as windows xp-word-and media player-rtc but get rid of everything else

[etaf]

if you want to retain the apps then you will need to manually clean the machine

My Documents - should be th eplace most of your documents are saved
IE - tools, internet options , Delete temp internet, history, cookies,
also goto favorites and delete

use start, accessories, system tools, disk cleanup

empty recycle bin

do you use a mail client on the machine at all?

if you are selling the machine,I would use the restore CD that you created or came with the machine to take it back to factory condition...
any applications like office (word) - you would have to also provide the disk and could not also use on your PC

[Jack Hackett]

Here's what I'd do (and have done in the past)
Boot in to Safe Mode, log in using the built in system administrator account, Go to Control Panel / User Accounts, delete the personal user accounts, delete their data/files when given the option during deletion of user account.
Reboot
It should now login using the built in System Admin account in Windows normal mode.
Download and install Eraser in readinesss for use.
Got to C:\Documents and Settings and delete any left over user account folders {that are sometimes left over}
Now Right click on your C drive and select Erase Unused Space. Click on 'Options' button and highlight option 4 - Pseudorandom data, click on the EDIT button, change the number of passes to 3. OK
Ensure all 3 overwrite options are ticked on main window.
Click OK to begin secure wipe of free disk space

Once done, shut down, job done