the best way to format hard drive and keep win-7

crashbob78

Reputable
Oct 23, 2014
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4,510
Selling my computer the best way to format all personal information
and keep win 7 working without reinstalling win7
thank you BOB
 
Solution


Hmm, so you're looking for a way to delete all the personal data in your computer, without re-installing the windows.
You won't be able to achieve this by format, the task will be time consuming and annoying, that's why formats are recommended.

1. Start of by uninstalling programs.
2. Concerning your "private" stuff, simply create another user, give it the same rights as your current user, and after you login with the new user, delete the old user.
- Now all that's left is making sure you don't have any other sensitive files on your hard drive. I don't think any browse history will remain once the...

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator


Wipe the drive completely with DBAN.
Give the new owner the install media and license key. Let him install it fresh.
 

Taffu

Reputable
Oct 11, 2014
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4,560


Hmm, so you're looking for a way to delete all the personal data in your computer, without re-installing the windows.
You won't be able to achieve this by format, the task will be time consuming and annoying, that's why formats are recommended.

1. Start of by uninstalling programs.
2. Concerning your "private" stuff, simply create another user, give it the same rights as your current user, and after you login with the new user, delete the old user.
- Now all that's left is making sure you don't have any other sensitive files on your hard drive. I don't think any browse history will remain once the user is deleted, but it's always good to make sure. Delete the browse history (It will make you feel better).
- Even files such as "Downloaded files" will be deleted along with your user, that is, assuming that you haven't changed the download directories, or any other default directories that link your user, but if you have, simply navigate there and delete.
- Clear/Delete any folders that you've created, you're most familiar with your PC, so you know where your stuff is.
- At the end, download CCleaner, this will delete anything leftover, from missing registry keys to w/e. I'm not exactly sure to what extent does CCleaner works, but if there is anything left over from your previous user, it should be detected as missing and deleted by the program.

I would suggest doing a format instead of all this, but then you'll have to re-install the windows.
But it's also important to point out that EVEN a format doesn't fully erase everything from your PC. With enough money, someone can pull out things off your hard disk from the time you first installed your windows (no matter how many formats you did afterwards)
If those files are THAT sensitive, I wouldn't even recommend wiping the hard drive completely. It's best to keep it for yourself, or destroy it lol.

When I sold my first PC, I didn't even delete the porno clips from my "desktop" "hidden folder" but that was long time ago, and people these days are more inclined to abuse personal information.

But the reality is, taking out the hard drive to save it, will reduce the price at which you can sell your PC, and your buyer probably wants an operating PC, which makes you re-think re-installing your windows. But, re-installing windows takes even less time than it took me to write this post., after you re-install it, do a windows update which will install most, if not all things your PC needs.

Oh well ~~
 
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