Returning the T400, need some advice!

[nykobing06]

Hey guys, I'm returning my T400 due to a crack. As it's my only computer and as such, I used it very minimally for word documents and accessing the internet. Other than a spybot program, I haven't installed anything and have saved few files (word documents) to the desktop. Oh I installed firefox as well..don't trust IE!

Do you think a complete reinstall is necessary or should I just delete my desktop files, uninstall spybot and mozzilla and delete temp internet files?

A new T400 is arriving soon!

[Marin85]

Don´t forget about internet passwords, browsing history, downloads... I believe your only consideration might be of privacy character. If the Lenovo preload partition is intact, you may want to revert the system to factory content. It shouldn´t take longer than about 2 hours and it´s completely automatic.

Marin

[dk]

I'd wipe it with DBAN (Darik's Boot and Nuke). Either download the DBAN Live CD or something like the SystemRescueCD. If you use SystemRescueCD, just boot your computer off the CD, type "dban" at the boot: prompt, and choose the drive you want to wipe.

Note: This will get rid of *all* data on the drive including Lenovo's rescue partition.

[carbon_unit]

DBAN is a probably little overboard in this case. I would just use the onboard restore to put it back to factory condition.

[dk]

Since the machine was used to access the Internet it was also likely used to do online banking, store passwords for sites, etc. so a full wipe would be prudent. Besides, DBAN is much quicker and easier than a factory restore.

[laser004]

replace the harddisk may be a good idea

Hey guys, I'm returning my T400 due to a crack. As it's my only computer and as such, I used it very minimally for word documents and accessing the internet. Other than a spybot program, I haven't installed anything and have saved few files (word documents) to the desktop. Oh I installed firefox as well..don't trust IE!

Do you think a complete reinstall is necessary or should I just delete my desktop files, uninstall spybot and mozzilla and delete temp internet files?

A new T400 is arriving soon!

[nykobing06]

dk, is it ok to delete everything (including the Lenovo partition) as you pointed out? Would an onboard restore not address saved passwords and such?

If I use dban, I don't want Lenovo to come back to me and tell me I did something against their rules or what not.

So I simply download the cd (assuming its a cd image), burn it to a cd and then boot the computer off of the cd?

Sorry, not too familiar with these things

[nykobing06]

DBAN is a probably little overboard in this case. I would just use the onboard restore to put it back to factory condition.

How do I go about putting it back to the factory condition?

[Marin85]

How do I go about putting it back to the factory condition?

If the Lenovo preload partition is intact, you may want to revert the system to factory content. It shouldn´t take longer than about 2 hours and it´s completely automatic.

Power on your ThinkPad. When you see the ThinkPad logo, press the big blue ThinkVantage button, this will bring you in the predesktop area. From there one, you will be presented with various options for restoring/recovering, choose the one that restores your ThinkPad to factory content.

Hope this helps,

Marin

[nykobing06]

Thanks Marin!

In your opinion, will this leave old password or any info entered over the net unaddressed?

[Marin85]

No, it´s going to wipe out everything (it will "prepare", i.e. format the disk and then install the factory content on it).

[dk]

A factory restore does not wipe the entire drive. True, it will restore the drive back to factory specs but any data that was on the drive, that is not overwritten by the restore, will still be physically on the drive. Someone correct me if I am wrong but I don't believe the restore wipes the drive in any way as it would takes hours and hours and hours...

The only way to ensure your drive is clean is to wipe the disk from start to finish. I don't see how Lenovo would not honour your warranty if you wiped your drive as you are not physically damaging the drive in any way. Lenovo would likely factory restore the computer once they got it.

I am not privy to Lenovo's policies for reselling refurbished hardware but if it was my drive my concern would be that they turn around, factory restore the disk (which they should do no matter what state you send the drive back in), and then resell the unit through their channels. If Lenovo doesn't wipe the drive then your data may still be on the disk and anyone with enough computer savy to run Helix3, or other computer forensic tool, on that drive may be able to retrieve your private information.

[nykobing06]

Point taken dk!

You said dban is faster...am I correct then, in assuming that its going to take less than a couple of hours?

On their forums they have people complaining that it takes 50 + hours!

[dk]

A DoD Short or RCMP TSSIT OPS-II wipe shouldn't take longer than a couple hours depending on the size of your drive. With a slower CPU/BUS and an aggressive wipe it could take a *very* long time but this won't be a problem with your T400.

[nykobing06]

A DoD Short or RCMP TSSIT OPS-II wipe shouldn't take longer than a couple hours depending on the size of your drive. With a slower CPU/BUS and an aggressive wipe it could take a *very* long time but this won't be a problem with your T400.

That's comforting

I'm hoping the fact that I have used very little of my HD space will cut down on the time...or is that irrelevant?

Thanks!

[Marin85]

A factory restore does not wipe the entire drive. True, it will restore the drive back to factory specs but any data that was on the drive, that is not overwritten by the restore, will still be physically on the drive. Someone correct me if I am wrong but I don't believe the restore wipes the drive in any way as it would takes hours and hours and hours...

I am not privy to Lenovo's policies for reselling refurbished hardware but if it was my drive my concern would be that they turn around, factory restore the disk (which they should do no matter what state you send the drive back in), and then resell the unit through their channels. If Lenovo doesn't wipe the drive then your data may still be on the disk and anyone with enough computer savy to run Helix3, or other computer forensic tool, on that drive may be able to retrieve your private information.

I wasn´t referring to physically wiping out the data, just erasing the previous installation in the most simple way. I didn´t assume privacy may be such a big concern, but you made a good point about the refurbished units. Probably, Lenovo doesn´t pay much attention to the privacy of the previous user and just restore the factory contents on the laptop as also suggested above. Maybe being slightly paranoid, but I would second dk´s suggestion about using some more sophisticated method to "clean" your HD if you have privacy concerns. For reference take a look here and here.

[dk]

That's comforting

I'm hoping the fact that I have used very little of my HD space will cut down on the time...or is that irrelevant?

Thanks!

Unfortunately, since it wipes the entire drive sector-by-sector, it doesn't matter how much data you have on your disk as the wipe will have to chug through the empty space too. For those of us who are paranoid or security conscious it's the only way.

[carbon_unit]

Make a set of recovery discs before running dban. Then you can run them to restore the T400 to factory condition if you want and they will probably be handy some day in the future.

[nykobing06]

Thanks for your help guys.

I used DBan and now I have 0 OS's on my computer. It did take me a tad longer than the estimated 2 hours ....about 8.5 hours. But its not even an issue as you can leave it running.

I would advise you, in case you're as dumb as I am, not to leave any USB memory sticks connected to the computer. I noticed when I woke up this morning that DBAN had my kingston drive in its log. I thought it was a ghost image or something until I saw my drive connected to the computer...yup, I lost all my info on the USB drive.

Dumb huh? Lol. Well at least this is over. I have my new T400 with me as well so I'm going to use it to make the XP recovery discs and install it.

Thanks again for your help!