26Getting StartedUseful InformationTroubleshootingAppendixHard Disk Data Erase UtilityWhen disposing the computer or transferring the ownership, erase all hard disk data in order to avoid data leakage.Even if you erase the data or initialize the hard disk using normal Windows commands, the data can be read with somespecial software. Use the hard disk data erase utility to erase the data completely.Note that transferring of the ownership without uninstalling the commercial software will be a violation of the software’slicense agreement.NOTEz This utility cannot erase data for specific partitions. The entire hard disk data including the data of the recovery parti-tion will be erased.z It will take 2 to 5 hours to erase the data. (Erasing time varies depending on the capacity of the hard disk.)Preparationz Prepare the Product Recovery DVD-ROM (included).z Prepare the Panasonic CD/DVD drive (optional): CF-VDRRT1M, CF-VDRRT2W, CF-VDRRT3W,CF-VDRRT3U.z Remove all peripherals (except for the CD/DVD drive).z Connect the AC adaptor and do not remove it until hard disk data erase is complete.1 Perform the steps 1 to 6 of “Reinstalling Software” (Î page 27)z In step 3, you do not have to write down all of the contents of the Setup Utility.z If [Enter Password] is displayed during the following procedures, input the Supervisor Password or the UserPassword.2 Click [Erase the whole data on the Hard Disk for security] and click [Next].3 At the confirmation message, click [YES].4 Click [Continue].5 Click [Continue] again.6 Click [YES].Erasing the hard disk data starts.7 After erasing is completed, remove the Product Recovery DVD-ROM and click [OK].The hard disk data erase utility erases data using an overwriting method, but there is a possibility that due to malfunc-tions or other operational errors, data may not be completely erased. There are also specialized devices that may beable to read data that has been erased using this method. If you need to erase highly confidential data, we recom-mend that you contact a company that specializes in this process. Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. will bear noresponsibility for losses or damages suffered as a result of the use of this utility.