How should I best format my PC before sale?

[Hakiroto]

Hi, everyone. I'm selling a gaming PC this week so will need to format the SSD. Right now, it's running Windows 11 and the license is tied to my Microsoft account (it's not an OEM license) and it's been sold without a Windows license. The buyer will likely want to test the PC before taking it, though, so I need to have it set up for them but would then want to format it. Is Windows' Settings  > Update and security  > Recovery > Reset PC enough for this? I've never used that as I typically just format when installing Windows fresh from a USB. I just don't want to get stuck needing to wait a while for it to format, etc. Are there still legit installs of Windows available that are limited without a license or something?

 

Any other tips before sale? Thanks!

[HQuan]

If the buyer want to test out the PC, then, just reset your PC (delete all file) with Windows tools, and let the buyer test it under your controls.

After that, if the buyer accept, delete Windows by using drive wiper USB. (or format tools is just enough) then reset it to factory settings.

[HQuan]

4 minutes ago, Hakiroto said:

Are there still legit installs of Windows available that are limited without a license or something?

What do you mean?

[Hakiroto]

Just now, HQuan said:

What do you mean?

Sorry if I wasn't clear. I know some people install Windows sourced directly from Microsoft and don't activate it, meaning they can still use it but certain features are limited. No idea if that's still a thing as I've always had paid licenses through work but I just wondered if installing Windows fresh, without my license, would make things easier. I'd have to mess around setting up drivers and stuff if they wanted to test a game so it's not worth it, I guess. Thanks for the reply.

[tkitch]

3 minutes ago, HQuan said:

If the buyer want to test out the PC, then, just reset your PC (delete all file) with Windows tools, and let the buyer test it under your controls.

After that, if the buyer accept, delete Windows by using drive wiper USB. (or format tools is just enough) then reset it to factory settings.

no, that won't remove the license, like he wants.

 

What you need to do, grab an 8GB USB Drive, and download the Windows Media Creation Tool 

You can DL Win10 or Win11 there.

 

Run through the installer, do "Custom" and delete all partitions, and then let it install windows.  (If you're offline, there's no way to use a key.)

 

Don't complete the setup, and you're done.  

[Hakiroto]

1 minute ago, tkitch said:

no, that won't remove the license, like he wants.

 

What you need to do, grab an 8GB USB Drive, and download the Windows Media Creation Tool 

You can DL Win10 or Win11 there.

 

Run through the installer, do "Custom" and delete all partitions, and then let it install windows.  (If you're offline, there's no way to use a key.)

 

Don't complete the setup, and you're done.  

Thanks for the reply. Yeah, that's exactly how I reinstall Windows if I want to set things up fresh. I guess I'll let them test it as is and if they want to buy it, run that tool and stop when asked for a license. I recently created an up-to-date Windows 11 installer using the Media Creation Tool so I'm good to go. Thanks. Much appreciated.

[tkitch]

Just now, Hakiroto said:

Thanks for the reply. Yeah, that's exactly how I reinstall Windows if I want to set things up fresh. I guess I'll let them test it as is and if they want to buy it, run that tool and stop when asked for a license. I recently created an up-to-date Windows 11 installer using the Media Creation Tool so I'm good to go. Thanks. Much appreciated.

just run the installer, and when it reboots, turn it off.  That's all you need to do.

[Radium_Angel]

DBAN the drives.

Re-install Win10, skip the license, it'll run anyway just fine, install all updates and drivers, let new buyer test from there.

[dizmo]

13 hours ago, Radium_Angel said:

DBAN the drives.

Re-install Win10, skip the license, it'll run anyway just fine, install all updates and drivers, let new buyer test from there.

Not meant for SSDs, it destroys them.