Having A Blank Moment - Wiping A Laptop!

[Smowball]

My middle son needs a laptop but cannot afford one at the moment, not even a second hand one. I’ve got a laptop that I’ve barely used, as I always use my iPad. Sooooo my plan is to offer him my laptop, but I need to wipe everything on it relating to me. There is nothing important on it, that I need to back up or save, I just need to wipe it so he has a completely clean laptop. Easiest way to do this? Apologies for the dumb question, it’s just been quite a day……..

[bobbinwales]

I think theres a reset to factory conditions

[Smowball]

Ahhhh ok!

[bobbinwales]

I'd delete all the file folder's first though as an extra step ??

[Etch]

'Deleting' files/folders or resetting to factory condition won't truly 'wipe' the laptop so that it is 'completely clean'.

[bobbinwales]

True , wouldnt trsut it with hackers and spammers or with police but I think its good enough if your giving it to your son

[Bazile]

So,how do you completely wipe it clean?

[bobbinwales]

^replace the hard disk and smash up the old one??

[fender62]

https://www.howtogeek.com/132428/everything-you-need-to-know-about-refreshing-and-resetting-your-windows-8-pc/

[Etch]

Apparently Windows 10 does have a 'Data Erasure' option under Settings - Update & Security - Recovery - Reset this PC, which would do the trick:
https://www.greentec.com/blog/how-to-remove-all-data-from-pc-and-microsoft-laptops

[Tuvok]

Another option - create a new user account then delete your account

[bobbinwales]

yes , all should be good enough.... altho not relevant here, am sure when police take away computers for examination they can find everything even if cleaned

[Bazile]

I know

Ask Abby

[Buenchico]

As you're giving your laptop to your son, rather than to MI5, a fairly basic bit of wiping should be all that's needed. Simply delete everything in 'Documents', 'Photos', etc and uninstall things like banking software (and, indeed, any other software which might only be licensed for a single user or which might have stored passwords).

[Note: If you think it possible that your son might be tempted to try to recover your deleted files, simply 'destroy' them, instead of just 'deleting' them, by using File Shredder: https://www.fileshredder.org/ ].

Then go to your browser(s) and delete any stored passwords that you might have there. (Instructions for Chrome are here https://www.techrepublic.com/article/remove-saved-passwords-chrome/ . Instructions for other browsers are easily googled). Similarly delete all your bookmarks. [NB: DON'T just uninstall a web browser. That can often leave your profile file in place, which will get loaded up again when anyone reinstalls the same browser].

[Smowball]

Sorry guys - haven’t been on for a few hours, youngest smow had an accident at work and has a chemical burn, is at the hospital. They say it’s hopefully superficial. (Christ it’s one thing after another!)

[Smowball]

Yes I want to give laptop to middle son. He only has his mobile, no tablet or laptop, and although a couple of years old, I never use this laptop, I only use my iPad, so I’d like him to get some use out of it x