Does anyone know what hidden folder

[Atlanta]

does most casinos download themselves to? I know they are hidden in a sub folder that is only access by removing the hidden files and folders options. I would like to total remove casinos from my computer im donating to a homeless shelter.

[aka23]

Most components are usually in one of the following:

C:\Program Files
C:\Casino
C:\Microgaming

User data is also stored in the registry, which can be accessed by typing "regedit" at an MSDOS prompt.

Note that most casinos and other programs offer an automated uninstall.

[bb28]

Originally Posted by Atlanta

does most casinos download themselves to? I know they are hidden in a sub folder that is only access by removing the hidden files and folders options. I would like to total remove casinos from my computer im donating to a homeless shelter.

It would be highly advisable to completely reformat the computer, if you are unable to do this yourself, hire a high school kid or have a friend or relative do it. You never know what personal information might be lurking on your hard drive. Uninstalling programs does not completely remove them. It's highly likely that you have some sort of personal information that you would not want accessed on that computer. Be safe!

[obi147]

Originally Posted by bb28

It would be highly advisable to completely reformat the computer, if you are unable to do this yourself, hire a high school kid or have a friend or relative do it. You never know what personal information might be lurking on your hard drive. Uninstalling programs does not completely remove them. It's highly likely that you have some sort of personal information that you would not want accessed on that computer. Be safe!

Nor does formatting your hard drive remove any of the (personal) information! Data can still be retrieved. You will have to overwrite the data, at least once but preferably a couple of times. There are freeware programs that will do this for you.

[shjcard]

Download Erasure its free and is used by NASA to overwrite and delete free space.

[aksana]

Originally Posted by bb28

It would be highly advisable to completely reformat the computer, if you are unable to do this yourself, hire a high school kid or have a friend or relative do it. You never know what personal information might be lurking on your hard drive. Uninstalling programs does not completely remove them. It's highly likely that you have some sort of personal information that you would not want accessed on that computer. Be safe!

Really??? If I install casinos after their uninstalling I should to reformat the computer for my security? In this case it's better to play no download (flash) casinos.

[happygobrokey]

data gets fossilized. you can dig up crap from years ago no matter how you try to vaporize/obliterate it. in this manner i think computers could have memories and spontaneously search back for appropriate courses of action without being prompted to do so. soon skynet will be taking over the earth and if the t-1000 succeeds in assassinating john connor, there will be no one to prevent the rise of the machines. whatever we do, we cannot prgram robots to defend their own existence. before long they will use it as defence for enslaving humanity. and creating a matrix to host us while they imprison and harvest us for our bioelectric juices. *gulp* hold me!

[winbig]

Originally Posted by aksana

Really??? If I install casinos after their uninstalling I should to reformat the computer for my security? In this case it's better to play no download (flash) casinos.

Not only that, but what about other documents and emails and stuff as well?

When giving away a computer, I agree that it's always best to reformat the drive.

The best way to do this is to take your XP (or 98 or whatever) CD, and start a fresh install. I know with XP it will give you the option to format the drive when booting from the CD.

[vinylweatherman]

Originally Posted by aksana

Really??? If I install casinos after their uninstalling I should to reformat the computer for my security? In this case it's better to play no download (flash) casinos.

Actually no, the personal data is stored in the registry, and MG Flash casinos are just as guilty of this as the download.

As advised by others, the only sure way is to reformat the hard drive AFTER having deleted and overwritten all the data using one of the data destroyers like erasure.
Simply reformatting the drive is NOT enough, the data is still there on the body of the drive, only the file tables are rebuilt, and anyone with a mind to can get the data back. A full reformat still only writes over the drive once.

If you are REALLY paranoid, remove the hard drive altogether and destroy it, or use it in a new machine (Teenage kids helpful here). You (or the homeless shelter) can get a basic hard drive brand new for around £50 (Euro 100 or less, $100 or less). I have even seen them on offer cheaper than this.

[winbig]

Originally Posted by vinylweatherman

As advised by others, the only sure way is to reformat the hard drive AFTER having deleted and overwritten all the data using one of the data destroyers like erasure.

Even that is not enough. If someone with the right knowledge and tools got ahold of the drive, they could still get (at least some of) the information off of it.

If you're really paranoid is to do what VWM suggested, get a new HD. And on top of that, take the current HD apart and take out the discs that are inside. Once you accomplish that, take those discs outside and use them for target practice!


*PULL!*
*BANG*

And if you want to find cheap hard drives, check out:

www.newegg.com - best prices ever.

www.geeks.com - they have quite a bit of refurb/used stuff, also quite cheap.