Deleting all files

[MYX]

Sort of a dumb question but I'm selling my computer and need to delete everything except the OS but don't know how, can someone explain?

[TheRandomness]

Reinstall the OS.

[TAHIRMIA]

If Windows 8 or 10 you can go to settings and do a refresh

[MYX]

14 minutes ago, TheRandomness said:

Reinstall the OS.

I asked how...

[stefanDB]

if you have sensitive information on the drives you shouldn't sell them, deleted info can be brought back and storage isn't that expensive. if the data isn't sensitive however you can just do what these people are saying

[TheRandomness]

1 minute ago, MaxCraft said:

I asked how...

Well, installing the OS is simple enough if you get the installer from the Microsoft website, and use the same key that you've currently got (though you'll want to not create an account properly if you're going to sell it, as in, no password or anything).

[stefanDB]

if you are using win 10 just make a boot drive and boot from that, you can format any drives during that process.

[Guest]

Go into settings and search for reset

[MedievalMatt]

4 minutes ago, MaxCraft said:

Sort of a dumb question but I'm selling my computer and need to delete everything except the OS but don't know how, can someone explain?

i ALWAYS resell my old PCs sans HDD(s)/SSD(s).  Its easier then risking your data.  if you want to get rid of the drive.... physically destroy it.. blow it up with M80s or some shit.

[The Pixel Polygon]

Windows 10 now has an option in the reset menu to wipe the computer completely clean. Or you can use DBAN

[poker1059]

Make a USB of your Windows, then Boot N Nuke the hard drive, reinstall the OS. Profit 

[The Pixel Polygon]

 

[vorticalbox]

23 minutes ago, stefanDB said:

if you have sensitive information on the drives you shouldn't sell them, deleted info can be brought back and storage isn't that expensive. if the data isn't sensitive however you can just do what these people are saying

you can wipe the free space of a drive that will make it much harder to recover files from the disk. 

 

in Linux terminal you can run 

 

cat /dev/zero > zero.file or a more secure 

cat /dev/urandom > zero.file

 

then just delete the file in windows there will be software for it.