I am getting ready to "trash" a computer quite literally...just how do I get rid of all programs?

Download a Linux distribution, and install it. Tell the install to use the entire drive, and re-partition it (and format it).

That way, most things are overwritten, but you still have a running computer you can play with or trash whenever you want.

There's no foolproof way to to get rid of all of the programs so simply deleting every folder you have will be okay as long as you take a hammer and smash your hard drive right afterward and then you will be safe to throw it away. And that way you won't have to download anything and no trash digger will be able to get any of your information.

You need DBAN

Heres the download for it:

http://www.dban.org/download

Download it, saving it to your desktop.

Download poweriso if you haven't already got it:

http://poweriso.com/

(Install it with default settings)

Open up the .zip you downloaded from DBAN, and open the .ISO file inside.

PowerISO will open, use the "BURN" button to burn it to a blank disk.

The tutorial below will help you use it.

And heres the tutorial for using it:

http://www.security.ku.edu/download/DBAN_Tutorial....

Message me if you need further assistance.

NOTE: Formatting with a regular disk doesn't delete your data. DBAN actually writes 0's overtop of every part of your hard drive, multiple times, ensuring data is removed.

FFR

Fdisk

Format

Reinstall

start with a clean OS. It's actually a good idea to do it every few years.

Format your computer with a bootable cd.

( If you don't have one, then obtain one or burn Ubuntu mint - its free)

-ect burn & run a killdisk first to do it properly:P

yes format it and every program you have will be erased just like majec!!!!