Selling Alienware X51 System: Storage Wipe

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ess0523

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Oct 6, 2013
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I am selling my Alienware X51 to make money for parts to build my own PC, but I need to erase my hard drive first. The buyer wants Windows 7 on it and wants the programs that came on it, but nothing else. Does Anybody know how to erase the hard drive but leave the basic software (things like "alienware command center") and keep windows 7. I have the alienware windows 7 sp.1 64bit software CD but I don't know what to do...

Thanks! :)
 
Solution
Phillip Corcoran
If you've got the Windows 7 DVD for it, you just need to boot from it. Delete the existing partition or partitions, then install Windows on the unallocated space.

That's by far the easiest way to ensure that it's back to a clean system like when it was new, and also ensures that none of your data is left on the drive (although some of it could be recovered with appropriate software if the new owner wished to do that).

To prevent that, you need to delete all your data, empty the Recycle Bin, then overwrite the free space with "Ccleaner".
That just leaves Windows & applications on the drive, so no need to re-install Windows.
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Phillip Corcoran

Phillip Corcoran

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If you've got the Windows 7 DVD for it, you just need to boot from it. Delete the existing partition or partitions, then install Windows on the unallocated space.

That's by far the easiest way to ensure that it's back to a clean system like when it was new, and also ensures that none of your data is left on the drive (although some of it could be recovered with appropriate software if the new owner wished to do that).

To prevent that, you need to delete all your data, empty the Recycle Bin, then overwrite the free space with "Ccleaner".
That just leaves Windows & applications on the drive, so no need to re-install Windows.
 
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ess0523

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Oct 6, 2013
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Thanks!
By the way, are you familiar with alien respawn, which comes on the system. It says it can restore the computer to the state it was on first boot (factory settings)? It can also make backups. Could I use that to backup my information and then restore the computer?
 
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Phillip Corcoran

Phillip Corcoran

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Not familiar with Alien Respawn as I don't buy factory-built desktop computers, I have mine custom-built locally.
Full description on how to use it is here: http://www.dell.com/support/troubleshooting/us/en/19/KCS/KcsArticles/ArticleView?docid=540734

Indeed it can restore the computer to it's factory state, even the basic version can do that.

It can also backup your data, but the data is backed up to a proprietary Dell back-up file, so it's no good for restoring that data to a different computer which doesn't have Alien Respawn installed (ie a non-Dell computer).

You will therefore have to back up your data manually to another location before performing the Dell Factory Recovery, or use third-party backup software.

I'm surprised you don't already back up your data routinely as hard drives can fail at any time - even without any warning.
 
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