News0 min ago
Having A Blank Moment - Wiping A Laptop!
15 Answers
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……..
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.Apparently Windows 10 does have a 'Data Erasure' option under Settings - Update & Security - Recovery - Reset this PC, which would do the trick:
https:/ /www.gr eentec. com/blo g/how-t o-remov e-all-d ata-fro m-pc-an d-micro soft-la ptops
https:/
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.fi leshred der.org / ].
Then go to your browser(s) and delete any stored passwords that you might have there. (Instructions for Chrome are here https:/ /www.te chrepub lic.com /articl e/remov e-saved -passwo rds-chr ome/ . 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].
[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:/
Then go to your browser(s) and delete any stored passwords that you might have there. (Instructions for Chrome are here https:/
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