How do I save skype history to another computer/How do I delete data permanently?

[Agota]

Hello,

I'm planning to sell my old laptop. I have two questions.

1. How do I save skype history?

2. How do I delete all the data from computer permanently, so person who will get a computer wouldn't be able to recover it? (I guess I'm paranoid about all those secret files I have )

Thank you!

[Agota]

Okay, someone already explained me the skype history thing. But what about permanently deleting my secret files? Is it safe to format the disk and sell a laptop, or should I do something more?

[Brutha]

2. How do I delete all the data from computer permanently, so person who will get a computer wouldn't be able to recover it? (I guess I'm paranoid about all those secret files I have )

If you are paranoid than you shouldn't have data that's unencrypted on your hard drive with something like TrueCrypt.
That's especially true with a laptop that you carry around.

Formatting a disk isn't enough to remove all data. You need to rewrite data to delete the old data.
Eraser | Download Eraser software for free at SourceForge.net is a tool that deletes the stuff.

It's still possible that there could be some data left that the NSA could recover but for most people a tool like Eraser should be enough. Why is it possible? A hard drive doesn't give you a guarantee that about which physical part of the disk you are accessing when you write data.