Formatting Hard Drive without a copy of Windows?

alexb870 · Jul 6, 2016

I'm selling my laptop and want to know how to clear my data off of it. I'm doing a backup, but then what? DBAN or formatting the hard drive is not an option as I do have neither the recovery disk, nor the activation code. Any help is much appreciated. Thanks.

USAFRet · Jul 6, 2016

alexb870 :

Selling the PC.
There is no way of completely getting rid of "your data", unless you do a full wipe of the drive. Preferably with DBAN or similar.

What OS is this? Where did it come from?

alexb870 · Jul 6, 2016

USAFRet :

It's Windows 8.1 and I bought it directly off of Lenovo's website.

USAFRet · Jul 6, 2016

alexb870 :

Then there should a Factory Reset function. This should allow you to create your own Win 8.1 media, to bring it back to factory spec.
Does this partition still exist? Look in your user manual for how to invoke this.

Dugimodo · Jul 6, 2016

It probably has the key embedded into the hardware so you don't need one.
You should be able to create your own recovery disk and then do this https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/17085/windows-8-restore-refresh-reset-pc

alexb870 · Jul 6, 2016

USAFRet :

alexb870 :

Then there should a Factory Reset function. This should allow you to create your own Win 8.1 media, to bring it back to factory spec.
Does this partition still exist? Look in your user manual for how to invoke this.

Ah, yes! It has a Lenovo (D://) partition. Could it be in there?

USAFRet · Jul 6, 2016

alexb870 :

USAFRet :

Ah, yes! It has a Lenovo (D://) partition. Could it be in there?

Probably.
In the user manual, it will tell you how to invoke this.
Personally, I would use that to create a DVD set.
DBAN and wipe the drive.
Boot from that DVD set and bring it back to factory condition.
Give the new owner those DVD's.

alexb870 · Jul 6, 2016

USAFRet :

alexb870 :

Probably.
In the user manual, it will tell you how to invoke this.
Personally, I would use that to create a DVD set.
DBAN and wipe the drive.
Boot from that DVD set and bring it back to factory condition.
Give the new owner those DVD's.

Okay I'll Take a look

alexb870 · Jul 6, 2016

USAFRet :

alexb870 :

Probably.
In the user manual, it will tell you how to invoke this.
Personally, I would use that to create a DVD set.
DBAN and wipe the drive.
Boot from that DVD set and bring it back to factory condition.
Give the new owner those DVD's.

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