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How to completely wipe laptop

  • 02-01-2011 1:11am
    #1
    Squidgy Black
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,738 ✭✭✭✭


    I'm selling my laptop, and I'm wondering what's the best way to just completely delete all applications, cookie's, documents etc, to bring it back to factory settings.

    Anybody know the best way to do this on windows vista?


Comments

  • #2
    ArseBurger
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 647 ✭✭✭ArseBurger


    http://www.dban.org/


  • #3
    Overheal
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 86,729 ✭✭✭✭Overheal


    ArseBurger wrote: »
    http://www.dban.org/
    I think he just means a factory reset, OS and all.

    But I admire your zeal.

    Vista you should be in luck, go to start and run/type in backup and recovery. works on the HP laptops anyway. But it will ask you a series of questions do this WHEN you are ready to wipe, eventually asking if you would like to perform a factory Reset. Click Yes and the process will automate until you're at your "new" vista installation being asked to setup a user account.

    But in the vast majority of laptops i think if you restart it at the POST/BIOS screen its usually F10 or a similar button (it should say which in the bottom of the screen) that will do roughly the same thing.


  • #4
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 93,565 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    don't forget to use sdelete from microsoft to wipe the free space when you've finished too


  • #5
    gebbel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,354 ✭✭✭gebbel


    Hi guys rather than starting a new thread, can anybody advise me how to do the same for a laptop with XP?

    I only want to wipe all the photos, music etc. but I want to leave MSOffice and McAfee AntiVirus for the new owner.

    Thanks.


  • #6
    Alanstrainor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,157 ✭✭✭✭Alanstrainor


    gebbel wrote: »
    Hi guys rather than starting a new thread, can anybody advise me how to do the same for a laptop with XP?

    I only want to wipe all the photos, music etc. but I want to leave MSOffice and McAfee AntiVirus for the new owner.

    Thanks.

    I would still just reinstall windows XP and start from scratch. There's no way i'd pass on a laptop without at very least reinstalling the OS.

    Microsoft security essentials is better than McAfee, and presuming you have your license for MSoffice, you could just reinstall that anyway.


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  • #7
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 93,565 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    there is no way to clean up a windows install and be sure you have removed all personal data , too many undocumented places where data is hidden

    if you have the windows and office media then dban and do a clean install

    there is an app to export your existing drivers - can't remember what it is though


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