Selling laptop - how best to wipe HD?
Discussion
As the title suggests, I'm selling my laptop which has Windows 7 on.
I've never saved passwords/etc, so I'm not too bothered about that side of things, but how am I best to wipe everything so I can be sure my HD doesn't leave items which can be discovered by the purchaser? Is there some software I can download to wipe it all? Or does 7 have a setting which will reset to factory settings?
Many thanks
I've never saved passwords/etc, so I'm not too bothered about that side of things, but how am I best to wipe everything so I can be sure my HD doesn't leave items which can be discovered by the purchaser? Is there some software I can download to wipe it all? Or does 7 have a setting which will reset to factory settings?
Many thanks
http://www.probz.com/index.php?s=9847e4c7a2195e143...
Or boot from the recovery disks that you made on purchase (you did that didnt you?).
Or boot from the recovery disks that you made on purchase (you did that didnt you?).
Morningside said:
http://www.probz.com/index.php?s=9847e4c7a2195e143...
Or boot from the recovery disks that you made on purchase (you did that didnt you?).
The laptop came with Vista and I upgraded to 7. Will this factory reset put it back to Vista?Or boot from the recovery disks that you made on purchase (you did that didnt you?).
Yes using the recovery program will put it back to Vista.
I would say.....
Sort out any drivers/software installation packages you might need (PB website probably).
Delete anything private or stuff you don't want people to see.
Use C Cleaner with the 'wipe free space' option.
Boot to Windows 7 DVD/USB Stick and do a format and re-install.
Install any essential drivers/software - although Win 7 finds good enough versions for lots of things in my experience.
You could also load it up with good free software if you like, to help with selling it.
I would say.....
Sort out any drivers/software installation packages you might need (PB website probably).
Delete anything private or stuff you don't want people to see.
Use C Cleaner with the 'wipe free space' option.
Boot to Windows 7 DVD/USB Stick and do a format and re-install.
Install any essential drivers/software - although Win 7 finds good enough versions for lots of things in my experience.
You could also load it up with good free software if you like, to help with selling it.
james_gt3rs said:
STOP: I usually recommend this as well. But please do not do this. Killdisk wipes the whole drive and IF you have a restore partition this will be wiped as well.
Hence if you have no Vista/Windows 7 restore disks you will be up s
t creek.http://eraser.heidi.ie/
Been a few years since I used it but should be the same- it writes over all empty hard disk spaces 10 times (as when you delete things normally things still remain and can be recovered)
If nothing sensitive then don't bother, just re-install windows.
Been a few years since I used it but should be the same- it writes over all empty hard disk spaces 10 times (as when you delete things normally things still remain and can be recovered)
If nothing sensitive then don't bother, just re-install windows.
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