Need to completely reset laptop I'm giving to a friend..

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  1. Posts : 252
    Windows 10 21H1
    Thread Starter
       #11

    Mine is Windows 10, but it probably follows the same path??
      My Computers


  2. Posts : 38
    Windows 10 X64
       #12

    No Windows 10 is different. Use this guide: Reset Windows 10

    Make sure you have a backup of you data then use this option when performing the reset: Remove everything

    That will wipe out all data and reinstall Windows. In my experience that is usually enough for a average user to minimize data from being recovered.

    Do NOT rely on this process if you are a political activist / dissident or someone who's life would be on the line if the data could be recovered. In this case you need to use a usb tool that securely erases data with a 3-pass gutmann method, or better and then if you want the device to have an operating system use a Windows 10 installation on USB media to reinstall to make sure personal information can not be recovered.
    Last edited by trinsic; 11 Sep 2021 at 07:21.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 252
    Windows 10 21H1
    Thread Starter
       #13

    trinsic said:
    No Windows 10 is different. Use this guide: Reset Windows 10

    Make sure you have a backup of you data then use this option when performing the reset: Remove everything

    That will wipe out all data and reinstall Windows. In my experience that is usually enough for a average user to minimize data from being recovered.

    Do NOT rely on this process if you are a political activist / dissident or someone who's life would be on the line if the data could be recovered. In this case you need to use a usb tool that securely erases data with a 3-pass gutmann method, or better and then if you want the device to have an operating system use a Windows 10 installation on USB media to reinstall to make sure personal information can not be recovered.
    Good info, I will keep this post and thank you, to everyone!!
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 1,249
    Windows 8.1, Win10Pro
       #14

    Goldengirl52 said:
    What are some names for that type of software Mark? I would like to have that around even though the gal decided to buy a new laptop, or PC
    Any of the standard partitioning tools do this -- the one I generally use is MiniTool Partition Wizard. But there are also tools from EaseUS and AOEMI. You can also use the utility DBAN -- but I only know of the command-line version and that can be difficult to use.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 1,249
    Windows 8.1, Win10Pro
       #15

    trinsic said:
    No Windows 10 is different. Use this guide: Reset Windows 10
    I read through that and nowhere did I see it say WIPE data! I really wish folks would stop using the term WIPE when in nearly all cases, what is actually done is ERASE -- which does not actually remove or securely overwrite the data.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 1,249
    Windows 8.1, Win10Pro
       #16

    trinsic said:
    It's been my experience with HP that the recovery tool offers some form of data erasing. There's usually two options: back up your data and factory restore windows or erase and factory restore. But for the most part I just end up using the windows 10 installation media to do a clean installation which is pretty good at wiping the data that's already there if you select erase all data..
    Once again, I'm not aware of the Windows installation tool WIPING the data. All it does is a reformat -- and all that does is ERASE the data.

    While this is OK if all you want to do is do a clean install on your own device, when someone want to sell their device, they need to actually WIPE the data -- to ensure the new owner can't run some data recovery utility and get their sensitive data.

    Please stop saying Wipe when that is not the case. This is misleading.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 252
    Windows 10 21H1
    Thread Starter
       #17

    Mark Phelps said:
    Once again, I'm not aware of the Windows installation tool WIPING the data. All it does is a reformat -- and all that does is ERASE the data.

    While this is OK if all you want to do is do a clean install on your own device, when someone want to sell their device, they need to actually WIPE the data -- to ensure the new owner can't run some data recovery utility and get their sensitive data.

    Please stop saying Wipe when that is not the case. This is misleading.
    Thanks Mark, I haven't done anything yet but am taking notes
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 38
    Windows 10 X64
       #18

    Mark is right. The easiest way to do this is to do a Windows 10 reset using that guide that was linked and then use a tool to wipe the free space. CCleaner could be installed after the reset and then use the wipe feature.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 7,724
    3-Win-7Prox64 3-Win10Prox64 3-LinuxMint20.2
       #19

    Hi,
    Not much different audit mode is on win-10 to if you have pro

    Might want to just get a new ssd or hdd for your friend and keep the original seems the only sure way.
      My Computers


  10. Posts : 252
    Windows 10 21H1
    Thread Starter
       #20

    trinsic said:
    Mark is right. The easiest way to do this is to do a Windows 10 reset using that guide that was linked and then use a tool to wipe the free space. CCleaner could be installed after the reset and then use the wipe feature.
    Ok on CCleaner, I'm familiar with that, thanks so much

    - - - Updated - - -

    ThrashZone said:
    Hi,
    Not much different audit mode is on win-10 to if you have pro

    Might want to just get a new ssd or hdd for your friend and keep the original seems the only sure way.
    Can't thank you enough for mentioning a new SSD. I put one in my laptop, and I had planned, at the time, to get another SSD for my PC. I've never changed out a hard-drive on a PC but that's another topic
      My Computers


 

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