Hi Guys
My friend wants to give away her oldish laptop to Daily Mail to help scvhool children, and asked me how to delete personal data.
I told him that I use the startt/settings/update & security/recovery but he reckons that does not comepletely CLEAR ALL.
Any advice please
Actually, your suggestion was a good one. Note that once you make that selection, you will be presented with the option to "Keep my files" or "Remove everything". He will want to choose "Remove everything".
He should also be presented an option to for Data erasure on or off. Microsoft documentation on this topic states the following:
Note: Remove everything > Change settings gives you two options.
Data erasure On removes files and cleans the drive. If you're planning to donate, recycle, or sell your PC, use this option. This might take an hour or two, but it makes it harder for other people to recover files you've removed.
Data erasure Off just removes files. It takes less time, but is less secure.
If your friend is that concerned, the only absolute secure way to protect personal data is to swap out the existing drive for a blank one.
Download and re-install Windows 10 (it's still available and free, from Microsoft). That way, your friend can recover/copy data at leisure, rather than try to do it too quickly ... and overlook something.
A basic (re)install of Windows 10 shouldn't take any longer than 15-20 mins. Over and done with, leave the tweaks and personal configuration to the new owner.
And how much is a "blank" one, assuming you mean a new hard drive?
Thanks for reply
Hello @frenchman96,
The Daily Mail may well wipe the computer themselves before it goes to the child and use a license that they have.
However, you canNOTrely on this, and therefore you either need to . . .
[1] Reinstall Win 10, which means that you will have to input certain criteria, likeUserNameetc. If you do it this way, just use somethingNOTrelated to you obviously.
[2] Wipe the HDD and then reinstall Win 10, but get it to theOOBEstage. Here is aTutorialthat explains this . . .
> Customize Windows 10 Image in Audit Mode with Sysprep
Here is the process toClean Install. . .
> How to Clean Install Windows 10
I hope this helps.
If you use the Start > Settings > Update & Security > Recovery and you then choose the Remove everything and Data Erasure settings, this is the same thing as completely erasing the drive and reinstalling Windows from scratch. It performs a 100% clean install, just slightly more convenient than doing from your original windows media.
If "frenchman96's" friend is deeply concerned about privacy, any erasure that doesn't overwrite the whole drive can leave data that could be recovered, in principle.
There is freeware drive wiping software that can be run from a bootable USB drive. I have never used one; I have a USB external HD dock, so I mount a drive to be erased in that. (The free version of CCleaner can be used for that.)
The main problem drive wiping is that it takes a long time (hours), especially if the drive is overwritten multiple times, and if the drive is large.
There may be a middle ground using software to delete and overwrite specific files, without bothering to overwrite files that don't contain private information. I believe that software exists, but I have never used it. It could take more user effort than wiping the whole disk, though.
Unless the erase complies with US DoD 5520.22-M or analogous sanitization methods, computer forensics software (and data recovery tools) can recover most deleted files. The absolute safest thing to do as @idgat said, is to replace the drive with a blank new one, then crush or shred (yes, they make drive shredders) the old one. OTOH, if you use a drive erase tool that complies with 5520.22 (see this Lifewire story for some good links) that will probably be safe enough. It all depends on how sensitive the information on the drive is (or was).
HTH,
--Ed--
Good advice from Ed.
HDD's cost about $25-$35 new (ebay). If you choose to wipe the drive, DBAN (link below) is a popular tool which meets DoD standards as mentioned in Ed's post. I wiped a 500GB drive with DBAN (only 1 pass) and it took approx 3 hrs.
Data Removal: Darik's Boot and Nuke - DBAN
Depending on the size ...
https://www.ebay.com.au/sch/i.html?_...Condition=1000
However, I know that here in Australia there are several "local" mail order computer accessory suppliers that are even cheaper than eBay listings (and more reliable/convenient for exchanges, etc if things go pear shaped).
EDIT : Before purchasing anything, check the level of access to the drive. I have done older (very!) laptops where the drive is so simply and easily accessible through a carrier in the side or under an unscrewable flap on the bottom. Easy.
However, although still "old", later brands/models may require a degree of tech skills (e.g. some drives are accessible only with removal top plate of the laptop and/or removal of the keyboard, with associated flat ribbon connecting cables that can break without the proper attention, and .... Been there. done that.
Overall, it all depends how "sensitive" the data is that needs to be protected (if at all), and how much personal resources (money, time, effort, etc) the user wants to spend on it. It's all a balance decision.
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