Factory settings

[Margaret N]

Can someone tell what I would end up with if I was to click on Factory Settings?

I am considering selling my Acer Net Book and I only have a few photographs on it my email addresses and my favorites plus Windows Upgrade. I still use my desktop Vista and now have a laptop so the net book does not get used unless I go away for a few days.

Or maybe you have a good idea to be sure that the net book is safe to sell without anyone having access to anything that has been on it before.

[WendyPusey]

Factory settings will only put the Net Book back to how it was when you bought it, it won't remove any files or info that you have entered. You can delete all your files and photos, but they will still be on the Net Book until written over. Anyone with the know how will be able to access those files! My son has done it many times during his work as an IT Specialist. Probably best to get a professional to remove the info permanantly for you. They have ways, using specialist programs, but I don't have any info regarding these.

[Grimsqueaker]

Margaret,

Factory Settings will reset your netbook to as it was at the time of purchase, including deleting all of your files and any applications you have installed.. However, as Wendy points out, anyone with suitable knowledge may still be able to extract personal data from the hard drive even though it appears to be deleted.

There may be options withing the restore process to preserve your files, but otherwise 'Factory Settings' does exactly what it says, it takes the netbook back to the state it left the factory..

[Margaret N]

Thank you both very much for your help. I thought that this might be the case and don't think it is worth the fuss so will put it in the cupboard with all my other rubbish.

Cheers,