Clear memory before selling laptop?

1. Back up all files that you want to keep
2. Download and burn to disc Darik's Boot and Nuke (http://www.dban.org/download)
3. Restart your computer and boot to the disc you just burned
4. Follow this youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwCCim2V_Jw&feature=related
5. When you go to chose a method I reccomend using "RCMP TTSSIT OPS-I I" It will write zero's to your hard drive 8 times.
   
6. Start the process
7. It may take sometime depending on how big your hard drive is.
8. When it is done you can reinstall Windows

best thing to do is reinstall windows, or restore to factory settings (which they will probably do anyway), and then (just google this) run File shredder, and clear the free space. that should take care of pretty much everything that could be recovered or found.

otherwise use file shredder to delete all your personel files (dont forget favorites) and then uninstall all your programs, reset browsers, and use something like Ccleaner to remove any left over internet or temp files, and then run File shredder to wipe the free space.

but there is always the chance that you forgot to delete something, or left something on there that could give them access to your files or accounts.

You need to do more than just delete recent data, you need to use software lik Darik's Boot and Nuke to make sure EVERYTHING is removed preventing possible identity theft.

DBAN, using DBAN will overwrite your hard drive again and again until even the little bit of recoverable information is gone.

after using DBAN do a full repartition and reformat. this sould erase everything to the point that no one can access the information, do it a second time if you feel it is needed, but once should be enough, reinstall the OS from a recovery disk (not one you made with all your information on it but a manufactures disk.

Back up anything u wanna save and reformat you hard drive with a copy of your OS. Everything will be wiped from your system.