How do you protect your personal data and files when returning/selling windows laptop?

[hajime]

Hello, for the Mac, Apple provids a procedure that user could follow to erase personal data and files fairly securely (less people like the military want to access your data) before returning the machine for a refund or selling it to 3rd party.

What do user do in the case of Windows laptops? These days, we cannot take out the SSD easily as everything get soldered. What can be done to protect personal data and files from being accessed by bad guys once you return or sell the machine?

 

[SDColorado]

This link has steps to wipe your drive in Windows 10


https://www.easeus.com/partition-master/erase-or-wipe-ssd-windows-10.html

Free trial used to be fully functional. Not sure about now.

 

[hajime]

This link has steps to wipe your drive in Windows 10


https://www.easeus.com/partition-master/erase-or-wipe-ssd-windows-10.html

Free trial used to be fully functional. Not sure about now.

If I wipe the drive, will Windows and pre-installed software from the manufacturer remain? If not, I need to find another solution as they would probably not give me a refund.

 

[SDColorado]

Well, the first thing I did with mine, after taking it out of the box, I created a Recovery Disk, that way it was fresh out of the box recovery. But you should still be able to do that now. If you go under your apps to Windows->Admin Tools->Recovery Drive.

This link may help you:
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...stalling/58df9c7d-84de-4652-9952-8bac34abc6c5

Your other option would be using the Media Tool. Look at the section on "Using the Tool to Create Installation Media"

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/sof...s10?d2784474-fdb0-4e9d-9e47-5e88c0e053ec=True

BUT...if you don't have much of anything on it and you are simply looking to return it to the store, the Reset the PC with the option to remove personal files and re-install Windows is simple and easy.

Beyond that, I am fairly newly returned to the Windows world, owning one among many Macs. Another user on here or the Windows forums can hopefully be more helpful

 

[Queen6]

No need for 3rd party solutions use W10 Recovery and follow the instructions for a full reset. One option allows for such a scenario.

Q-6

 

[SDColorado]

No need for 3rd party solutions use W10 Recovery and follow the instructions for a full reset. One option allows for such a scenario.

Q-6

I did mention the Reset option if just returning and not too much by way of personal data on it, but does reset do multi-pass security? I thought it was more similar to the single pass option with Macs? I have only used it for a quick exchange return.

 

[Queen6]

I did mention the Reset option if just returning and not too much by way of personal data on it, but does reset do multi-pass security? I thought it was more similar to the single pass option with Macs? I have only used it for a quick exchange return.

I believe it does a single pass, being an SSD I'd be less concerned.

Q-6

 

[SDColorado]

I believe it does a single pass, being an SSD I'd be less concerned.

Q-6

Or more. I can never quite decide with SSD hahaha.

In order to really securely erase an SSD (nuclear option) don't you have to go to the drive makers site and download their proprietary secure erase program such as the Samsung SSD Secure Erase Utility V3.2?

I am never really sure how securely I am ever truly wiping an SSD, but thats global to mac or pc