Solved! How to erase hard drive from dell inspirion 1200

[slayer2427]

how do i completely erase the hard drive from a dell inspirion 1200 laptop?

 

[slayer2427]

Format it... this can be done when installing or reinstalling the OS.

Thanks, when i do that it asks for product key, then it says its the wrong key. had someone else erase it a few months ago could he have programmed a new key?

 

[slayer2427]

You are using the key that is on a sticker on your machine? Are you using the disks that came with your machine?

I am using the sticker on the back, using a burned windows xp disk along with original driver disk

 

[turk_1000]

A quick format will not erase any files. A full format may or may not. Lots of conflicting statements about this online. The best way is to download a bootable disk wipe program. Google one. Burn it to a CD. Wipe disk.