Safely upgrading computer disk space

There is a time in any computers operational life span when the hard disk (the data storage device in side the computer base unit) starts to get full. Some people think about buying an upgraded computer, others bolt on more storage capacity with an external drive or back up their data to removable media before erasing it from the disk to create more space, others just remove the drive from the base unit and fit a bigger disk.



Powerful disk recovery software available with commercial disk software can often retrieve deleted data, most government organisations actually use special software that writes random data to every section of a hard disk a minimum of three times to ensure previous data has been fully overwritten.



Before disposing of an unwanted hard disk or PC consider what data was present on that disk. Did it contain bank account details, passwords, private letters or personal photographs that could be used to identify you. If it did, either keep the hard disk or use a commercial eraser program (that works to government approved levels) before selling it or donating it elsewhere.


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