Let's say you get rid of your game console, consoles maybe you got too many of them. Maybe you think you’re too grown up. Maybe you bought a better one or you just need to make rent. Whatever the case you need to wipe your data off of it. Game consoles these days carry sensitive information, things like addresses, password, even credit card information. Here's how to secure each of the 3 major game consoles before you sell them.
Let's start with the XBox 360. If you're upgrading to a new XBox 360, you will need to get the hard drive transfer kit which is included with some newer Xboxes or available for retail around 50 bucks. Using it is an involved process of moving your data and moving your data licenses. In the end though, you will erase all the data on the original drive. Now if you don’t care about transferring that content, it’s much easier. Go to the 360 dashboard. Go to System Settings. Go to Console Settings. Select System Info and copy down that serial number. You're going to need it before you can format the drive. Now go back to System Settings. Choose Memory. Press Y for device options. Select Format the Drive. And confirm it with Yes. Then enter that serial number you wrote down earlier. When it’s done it will show you your storage device again. You can navigate back to the front. And you’ll see all your avatars and all your data are gone.
On to the Nintendo Wii, this cute little bugger has 2 steps, removing the shopping channel and then wiping the drive. You have to remove the Shop Channel first because it stores some data remotely. After you wipe the drive, you won't be able to get to that channel to delete it. Now warning, you will lose anything you’ve paid for when you do that. That means downloaded games, channels, and any unused Wii points. There's no way to move this data to a new console this time. First, go to the Wii shopping channel and press Start. Press Start Shopping. Select Settings and Features. And choose Remove Wii Shop Channel Account. This removes your account information and the channel. Copy down the serial number off the back of your Nintendo Wii and enter it in the box then press OK. Now the channel will still show up on your main menu but it won't have a membership linked to it. So if you back in, you’ll have to set everything else start from scratch. Now, go back to the Wii menu. Choose Wii Options then Wii Settings and select Format Wii System Memory. Press Format. Press Format again. Press Format one more time and the Wii will shut down. Next time you turn it on, it will be in setup mode like it’s brand new. And all your data will be gone.
Finally, the PS3 which in my opinion has the best system for all of this. First you need removable storage like a USB drive, SD card, or memory stick. Plug that in. go to Settings. Select System Settings and choose Backup Utility. Choose Backup. Say Yes and select the storage device. Now you got all your stuff backed up. The next step is to de-authorize that machine on each account that has access. Go to Playstation Network. Log in to your profile. Select Account Management then System Activation. Select PS3 System. Select Game or Video, either one. Then select Deactivate System. Go back and do it with the other one. Then do this for any other profiles you may have on the machine. And now you can go and delete each user account on the console. Finally, go to Settings. Choose System Settings. And choose Format Utility. Choose Format Hard Disk. Select all PS3 systems since you want to wipe the whole drive. And then choose between quick or full. Quick will be quicker. Full will be more secured. Say Yes and your disk will be wiped. Once you're done, press the X button to restart the system and it will go into setup mode.
It’s a hassle, sure. You have to decide if it’s worth your time to prevent the chance of someone getting your info off of a used machine. If you don’t have any info on here, maybe it’s not but I’d rather be safe than sorry.
That’s it for this How To. I'm Tom Merritt, Cnet.com.
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