I'm wanting to get rid of 2 old desktop home computers, a Windows 98 Gateway & a Windows XP Dell Dimension 9150.
Everyone, even The Tech Guy on the radio out here in LA, says that the only safe way to do this is to cremate the Hard Drive with a hammer. I've got to think that there's a way easier way, especially if you're somewhat technically minded, which I consider myself to be.
So, if I just go thru the steps of Deleting all of my Docs, Photos, Videos, Music and the Internet Explorer 6 Favorites & passwords after I make copies of it all on a Thumbdrive (not an easy do on the 98 machine since it didn't have a built-in USB thumb driver but I did finally get it done after getting a driver using a different browser, Off by One, that allows access to https Secure websites which IE-6 doesn't do), will a cCleaner Drive Wipe make it safe enough that nothing could be recovered by someone that was intent on doing so?
If you say it would, is there a version of cCleaner that will run on that ancient Windows 98 and one for the XP that offers the Drive Wipe feature? The version that I find on the old 98 machine that I must have gotten over a decade ago doesn't seem to have a Drive Wipe option anywhere and yet I've used that on my newer Windows 7, 8 and now 10 machines.
Same question regarding the Windows XP machine.
Thanks for your help.