Bitcoin Forum

Im looking at buying a refurbished laptop from argos UK, im pretty sure they data wipe everything, i will be storing some bitcoins on it.

Should i just pay more and get a new laptop which has never been used or can i trust their data wipe?

Well, you could always reformat yourself?

Also, the issue with refurb machines is that they come with no warranty, and you have no way to know what they've been used for.

I guess your biggest fear would be that the harddisk fails, but you can keep backups. If it's a cheapy-creepy machine just for storage, then I'd prob go for it, but for sure I'd be wiping it myself.

Rit.

im not sure i will know what im doing reformatting :)

edit: so if i do reformat there is no virus which can survive?

Basically, no.

What you'd do (and I admit I am no expert either) is destroy all the existing partitions, format the drive, and reinstall your OS of choice. If this is Linux, you're more secure than Windows, and you can be certain nothing will survive from the old Windows installation, even if it would work, which it would not.

Rit

They should essentially be brand new within that respect as they will have been reset to factory settings or had a complete reformatting, but what I'd suggest doing is using an ubuntu live CD and keeping your Bitcoins on there for extra safety.

do you install ubuntu inside windows or run the laptop on ubuntu entirely?  (whats best for safety)

is it impossible to get a virus on ubuntu?

You run it from the CD, so no viruses or keyloggers can be installed and thus it is 100% safe. It's free to download and use.

No need, once you re-installed the OS, it should be clean from malware.

Some referbs have warranties, Dell usually does.  Either way, the first thing you should do is run some sort of wipe tool on the HD.  DBAN has boot CD's available for download: http://www.dban.org/download

i went for the brand new laptop, £100 more but it was slightly better specs anyway.

thanks for tips though.




i want to learn about how to use linux!

It's pretty simple. I recommend it when dealing with Bitcoins and especially with making paper wallets.

You can start with Ubuntu. It is the easiest Linux to use. Then after a few years, you can start using Arch Linux, which is much much better. But you need to become an advance linux user to use it.

It depends on what level of security you require. It should be just as safe or even safer as a new computer.

What were your specific concerns?

safer than a new computer? wow 

well im just concerned about a hack, i havent got around to linux or understanding paper wallets as yet

In theory a new computer should be safe, but you don't know who had access to it, but you should be ok.

I also recommend using linux / ubuntu. I'm no computer whiz and ubuntu is just as easy as windows, except much safer. You can always keep your windows operating system and just pop in a usb or CD to boot up linux to deal with your Bitcoins.

Where did you learn to run it along side windows like that?   And i assume any ubuntu disk from ebay is fine?

You don't need to buy any linux cd. You can download them from the linux website.

For Ubuntu, download from here. http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop

To have Linux and WIndows running on the same machine it is called dual boot.

Here website teach you how. http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/tired-of-windows-8-how-to-dual-boot-windows-ubuntu/

The software is free. Don't pay for them. And you just pop the usb or disc in and run from there. No installing necessary and you're free to keep on using windows.

& if i run it as a dual boot & my windows gets a virus, are my coins safe if they are on the same hard drive but on the linux side?

Just use a boot cd to run linux.

If you can, you should run just linux.

you should just pay more and get a new laptop