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Wiping drive except the operating syste,

omaroma11
By omaroma11
in Storage Devices
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Hello. I am going to sell my computer to on craigslist. I have backed up all my files and would like to uninstall everything except the operating system. I can'y system restore for some odd reason the Microsoft person told me. What is the best way to remove all files and programs except the operating system thanks.

 

Alienware M14x 

 

Windows 8 64 bit

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there's no such thing. you'll need to format the drive completely and then do a fresh install of the os.

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There is no secure way. Even if you delete the files they are still there just not directly visible. One just has to run one of the many software suits designed to recover deleted files.

If you sell your HDD and there was sensitive information on there you will always have to "null" the drive to be sure (not just a "quick format"). If you can't do that I honestly wouldn't sell the hdd.....

 

On the other hand if there never was sensitive information on there and you can't do a windows factory reset you'll have to uninstall everything by hand and remove all you personal files (also by hand).

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You can use CCleaner's Drive Wiper in the Tools section, it will remove everything but the OS from what I've read. 

 

I'm not responsible of what happens to your computer tho, good luck

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You can use CCleaner's Drive Wiper in the Tools section, it will remove everything but the OS from what I've read. 

I read that it will wipe the os

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Everyone above me is wrong. Windows 8 & 8.1 have a Reset & Refresh options. I don't exactly remember where they're located, but it's somewhere in the Modern settings App. Just click 'reset my PC' and it will bring your computer back to a factory state. 

 

Afterwards you can run a 'Wipe Free space' inside Ccleaner so the buyer can't restore your deleted files back. 

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I read that it will wipe the os

 

How can a program wipe the operating system its running on!? lol

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Windows 8 has refresh and reset options. I would personally prefer to format the drive and reinstall, so that all data would be gone. But, the built in options are easy to use and relatively quick.

Hold down left shift as you select restart. It will bring up a alternate boot menu and you can access the refresh and reset options. You'll probably want to do a reset.

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Everyone above me is wrong. Windows 8 & 8.1 have a Reset & Refresh options. I don't exactly remember where they're located, but it's somewhere in the Modern settings App. Just click 'reset my PC' and it will bring your computer back to a factory state. 

 

Afterwards you can run a 'Wipe Free space' inside Ccleaner so the buyer can't restore your deleted files back. 

 

Wow, the more you know! I really didn't know about the "wipe free space" option, nice to know! :)

Also, reset and refresh is at Settings > Update and Recovery > Recovery

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you can shoot yourself in the head right? you just never get the chance to clean up afterwards

 

Much the same.

 

wow that made a lot of sense lol, now I get it 

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