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Help clearing all data from Dell laptop before sale
I have a Dell Inspiron 1525 laptop that is a couple of years old, originally bought at Best Buy. I decided to upgrade to a newer laptop several months ago, and have found someone willing to purchase my old laptop. I have moved/ backed up all the documents/ pictures/ music from the old Dell Inspiron. I want to delete everything that I added, but not restore to factory settings as it will uninstall the windows programs (word, excel etc) that I bought with the laptop originally.
Any tips to making sure I am not leaving any personal information on the hard drive when I sell it to a complete stranger. Thanks!
MicroTest
934 Posts
2
October 2nd, 2011 15:00
As wiping the whole drive or partitions is not an option for you ,you might download "CCleaner" and use the function "wipe free space only" - after you deleted your private data.
hrova
2.2K Posts
0
October 2nd, 2011 17:00
Use Dell PC Restore - it will include all software exactly as it was the day you first powered it up. Read this:
"Available on many Dell™ Dimension™ and Inspiron™ computers, Dell™ PC Restore by Symantec™ is a hidden partition on your hard drive that contains an exact copy of your computer's original factory software. With PC Restore, you can restore your computer to the original state it was shipped in to you from Dell and in a fraction of the time a manual reinstallation would require. "
Directions on how to use it:
http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/detectos?lx=181316&lv=336966&l7=362066
Philip_Yip
7 Technologist
7 Technologist
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16K Posts
0
October 2nd, 2011 21:00
To ensure everything is removed you should wipe it with DBAN and do a clean install via disc. I have wrote a guide to do so below.
hrova
2.2K Posts
0
October 3rd, 2011 08:00
I agree that use of dban would be more secure, it would remove programs the user has said he did not want to remove.
Is it possible just to use eraser on the main partition and then still use the Dell PC Restore to put everything back to the way it was on day one?
speedstep
8 Wizard
8 Wizard
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47K Posts
1
October 3rd, 2011 08:00
Put a new hard drive in. Or use white canyon wipedrive.
Wipedrive with system saver will allow you to not reinstall.
Erase Hard Drive Data with WipeDrive
The purpose of WipeDrive and WipeDrive System Saver is to permanently erase hard drive data so that it cannot be recovered. Erasing hard drive data is neccessary for:
Which is Better? WipeDrive or WipeDrive System Saver?
It depends on how you want to erase your hard drive.
In summary, if you want everything permanently erased from the hard drive, use WipeDrive.
If you want everything (documents, pictures, etc) but you want your operating system and programs left intact, you should use WipeDrive System Saver to erase the hard drive. In fact, WipeDrive System saver is the only erase hard drive tool in the world that completely overwrites all your data but can leave the operating system intact!
Use WipeDrive in these Circumstances
Use WipeDrive System Saver in these Circumstances
Results of Using WipeDrive
If you are throwing away an old computer and need to securely erase hard drive information then WipeDrive is the solution for you. WipeDrive will completely erase hard drive data - meaning there is absolutely nothing left on your computer when it has finished running. When your computer is turned on after using WipeDrive a black command screen is all that appears. There is no data left.
Results of Using WipeDrive System Saver
If you want to erase hard drive data, but leave the operating system and programs intact, WipeDrive System Saver is the solution for you. WipeDrive System Saver will completely erase hard drive data and give you the option of leaving valuable programs like Windows and Microsoft Office intact.
When your computer is turned on after using WipeDrive System Saver you can still load your desktop and access and use major programs — there is no need to dig up old installation product keys or disks. All other files and data have been erased.
Comparison of WipeDrive Solutions:
WipeDrive
WipeDrive
SystemSaver
WipeDrive
PRO
Cast.cas37
1 Message
0
January 27th, 2016 19:00
That link isn't writing when I click on it??? Any other way I can access it?
Philip_Yip
7 Technologist
7 Technologist
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16K Posts
0
January 28th, 2016 01:00
What model of Dell and version of Windows?
ieee488
4 Operator
4 Operator
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11.1K Posts
0
January 28th, 2016 09:00
Which link isn't working?
sahand.com
1 Message
0
January 31st, 2016 06:00
CCleaner is very light and free software you can use to wipe all what you have.