BleepingComputer.com: Sending laptop in for repairs

I'm sending my Gateway laptop in for repairs. Is there anything I should be thinking of? How can I be sure that no personal info that I don't wish them to have access to is deleted? It is the Gateway repair center, so I probly don't have to worry, but....
Thanks Jim

What exactly is being repaired?

Hardware issues and/or power supply. Does it matter?

If you're worried about them deleting something, backup all of your personal files to CD/DVD, or an external drive.
That way, you can replace anything that comes up missing.

If there's personal info you don't want them to see, backup, then delete the files.
You can re-load them, when you get your computer back.

Even if files are deleted, someone determined could recover the files. That is, unless you use a disk destruction tool like DBAN.

I'm pretty much a computer illiterate so please bear with me. I'm not concerned as to what sites that I've visited or anything of that nature. I thinking more along the lines of passwords and financial info. Does a program such as DBAN, still allow the techs to troubleshoot what my original problem was or does it totally wipe everything completely. To be honest, I'm not even sure what the definition of complete wipe is! Like I said, computer dummy here.
Thanks for your input
Jim

The information I gave was just for a simple precaution to keep "wondering eyes" from seeing something they shouldn't.

If someone is determined to retrieve your information, and they have the equipment to do it (seriously expensive), short of removing the harddrive, there's no way to prevent it.

If you use DBAN, it will wipe your harddrive, causing you to have to reinstall everything, including the operating system.

I don't think the people at Gateway are going to be that interested, in digging that deeply into your harddrive.
Backup your financial info, then erase it with Eraser.
It will write a random series of 1's, and 0's, over the files.
A 3 pass run, should be sufficient.
Use more, if you feel the need.

Use a password manager like KeePass to protect your passwords, then Erase them.
Use a strong password, of at least 10 characters, (upper and lower case letters, symbols, and numbers) to lock down KeePass, and you should be fine.
Be sure to write down, and secure that password somewhere.
If you lose it, you won't be able to get back into KeePass.

Thank You. That was exactly the information I was seeking. You folks have a great site here. Thanks again, Jim

You're welcome, Jim.
Glad to be of help.

If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?

Is the correct answer... that success can come from failure?
My Granddad(you know, those guys with pearls of wisdom) always said and I quote " if you make a mistake and you learn from it, then it is no longer a mistake but a lesson and therefore valuable". Are we on the same page? Jim

If you are going to erase your hard drive and then reinstall the operating system, you just might fix your problem
Had I have known that was an option, I would have had you do that in your other thread

Already tried that Garmanma, Problem still exist. It's send this thing to Gateway Repair for the price of shipping it to them, or get out that big hammer I mentioned. lol

What brand laptop do you have?

Depending on the problem&brand you can just send the laptop without hard drive, best way to keep your data safe.

If you do send your laptop with hard drive, then make a backup, sometimes repair centers just reinstall windows, they will not ask your permission, they will simply assume you have a backup.

Also, remove all ``loose parts'' such as the battery, covers for PC-card, SD-card, etc. sometimes these things get lost, also don't send the charger (Unless of course your problem is with the battery/charger).

Carpetsmoker, on May 13 2009, 12:04 PM, said:

akjim777, on May 11 2009, 05:54 PM, said: