How Do I Wipe Clean an Entire PC That Doesn't Have an OS?

A reset to factory conditions is the quickest and easiest way to return to normal, whether your system has been running slow or caught a virus. Not only does it get your computer clean, but it will also run at optimal performance. Here are four different ways you can reset your Windows computer. Use the Recovery…

So you want to get rid of your computer. To keep your data secure -- whether it's financial records, business information, or anything else private that you don't want people snooping through -- you'll want to securely wipe the hard drive. This ensures that no one can recover the deleted files. However, you don't want…

Reinstalling Windows is one of the easiest ways to fix software problems on your computer, whether it’s running slow or infected by viruses. You should also reinstall Windows before you get rid of an old PC.

Reformatting a machine is a major step that erases everything. Unless you really know what you're doing, you're going to want that Windows Setup CD.

Erasing your hard drive before you give it away is important. Exactly how thorough an erase you need depends on your data and level of paranoia.

If your computer's running slowly and you've tried everything else, it might be time for a fresh install of your operating system. Here are some tips, tricks, and best practices to get through the process quickly and easily.
Tags: Optimization, Operating Systems, Cleaning, Disk recovery, Clutter, Howto, install, Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Hard Drives, Feature, Top, Upgrades, Defragment, Disk Space, Gizmodo, Lifehacker

It's super-easy to reinstall Windows 8, and not much more difficult to reinstall Windows 7. Use these tips to get the most out of a reinstall.