How do I completely wipe my SSD but keep my OS?

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LKOOOOL K

Commendable
Mar 16, 2016
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1,510
I'm looking to sell my PC and wanted to make sure that everything was gone before I did. I was wondering if it is at all possible to wipe everything on it except for my OS. I looked up how to wipe my HDD using dban and it looks straightforward.... ish. I don't think I should have any problems with that since I'm not looking to keep anything on it, just simply erase. I was wondering if I could use the same method to wipe my SSD but keep my OS. I'm on Windows 7. I put a pic of my disk management if it's at all helpful. https://imgur.com/a/Ja6iT
 
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ex_bubblehead

ex_bubblehead

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Aug 24, 2012
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A disk wipe is just that, a complete wipe, nothing is left. And before you ask, no, you do not get to choose what gets wiped and what stays. It ALL goes. Just wipe the disk, leave it blank, hand the new owner the installation media (and key), and let them do a clean installation.
 
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L

LKOOOOL K

Commendable
Mar 16, 2016
4
0
1,510


Okay, so could an alternative be to use a data wiping tool like a file shredder program? That way I just individually select what's on my SSD (which isn't much anyways) and get rid of it. Or I could just delete everything and use a program to make sure that the deleted files are gone for good.
 
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ex_bubblehead

ex_bubblehead

Titan
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Aug 24, 2012
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Why horse around with it? Just wipe the entire drive. That's the ONLY way to ensure that no personal data remains. The only alternative is to replace the drive with a known clean drive, and have the removed drive shredded. Sell the PC with no OS installed (this is best practice) and let the new owner install it themselves. This isn't rocket science.

Since I now see that you are talking about an SSD this is even easier. Obtain the manufacturer's disk utility for that drive and run a secure erase. The drive will be reset to factory condition. Done.
 
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L

LKOOOOL K

Commendable
Mar 16, 2016
4
0
1,510


A friend had a spare windows 7 key and came to my house and did it for me. I have nothing to give the buyer when I sell it, that's the problem. Anyways all I was really worried about was people recovering deleted files that were private. I downloaded CCleaner and just wiped/overwrote the free space a few times. Should that have done it?
 
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