Secure wiping laptop for sale

SaberX on 10/09/2018 - 00:23

Hi guys. Wanted to know how best to easily wipe a laptop hdd ready for sale.

Want to reset it via recovery partition to have a fresh install of windows 7 starter or at least strip bare the current setup.

I have been deleting personal files but i wanted to know best software and methods to overwrite hdd to prevent recovery of data.

Is there a software like dban that can just copy and write several passes over only empty storrage in a hdd (so you could leave your windows intact)? Otherwise is my best bet to copy and paste movies until the hdd is full, delete and repeat, so that the data is overwritten a couple of times and unlikely recoverable?

Anything else to note or be careful of to ensure it can be sold safely??

Computing

Comments

  • trustnoone on 10/09/2018 - 00:51

    I remember theres some software you can use, but I'm pretty sure it fully wipes, as in writes all zeroes, then writes all ones and then zeroes it all again.

    I know when you run a reformat windows will ask you whether you want to do a short or long reformat, and I think it states to use the long reformat if you're looking at reselling your PC, I have no idea how good it is, but if its specifically built for reformatting for reselling, I'd hope its not bad (might be worth checking?). (I think it does this for 10, unsure of win 7 though)

    • SaberX on 10/09/2018 - 01:36

      The recovery partition of the acer aspire one netbook im looking to sell has a recovery partition but it looks like it resets to factory default. Which is fine as id like to get netbook to its out of package factory defaults to show how fast it is to prospective buyers.

      So i would still need a software that zeroes and ones only blank space on a hdd otherwise it would wipe the whole hdds existing data e.g. recovery partition etc

      Hoping that surely there is some sort of software out there that will only overwrite blank space so that deleted files cant be recovered .?

  • Diji1 on 10/09/2018 - 01:45

    Install Windows from USB stick. During setup delete all partitions then make a new partition and format it without using the quick option.

    One overwrite pass is enough.

    • SaberX on 10/09/2018 - 02:28

      Is there a method i can use while booted onto the windows desktop to overwrite blank data on hdd on empty space as im not fussed about wiping the whole hfd specifically. Happy to do a factory reset for OS. Just want to make sure the bulk of hdd has been cleared of personal data (i.e. manual deletion) and a software to overwrite the rest.

    • Clear on 10/09/2018 - 08:48
      -2

      One overwrite pass is enough.

      No it's not. Give me a HDD with one overwrite pass and my lab will find data easily.

      • HighAndDry on 10/09/2018 - 16:20

        You do data-recovery? Does your lab work with dead harddrives that do the clicking thing?

        • Clear on 10/09/2018 - 18:08

          One of my offices does. Clicking HDDs severity varies though. I take it Windows doesn't detect the drive?

        • HighAndDry on 10/09/2018 - 18:26

          @Clear: One drive Windows detects…. and then 10-15mins later when transferring files it disappears. There's nothing that important or urgent on it, just a lot of casual photos and files.

        • Clear on 10/09/2018 - 18:38

          @HighAndDry: That's actually quite good for a clicker. Gives you a chance to copy files off but it will degrade further the more you use it.

  • Godric on 10/09/2018 - 07:47
    +1

    Take out the hard drive, and smash it with a hammer.

    • poboy on 10/09/2018 - 08:48

      And then re-insert for sale?

  • altomic on 10/09/2018 - 08:55
    +1

    Nuke it from orbit.

  • Ugly on 10/09/2018 - 09:13

    You could try a file shredder - https://www.lifewire.com/free-file-shredder-software-program…

    • nandystam on 10/09/2018 - 10:13
      +1

      This, and reinstall Windows from a USB recovery you made earlier.

      • SaberX on 10/09/2018 - 12:37

        I would rather use from factory reset and not touch recovery partition. Ive never dban a whole hdd and restored from usb so id prefer to leave all the recovery partitions in place for the buyer. Back then it comes with a little option to switch to an android based system that takes up part of hdd so not looking to nuke everything. Less work for me as well if something can overwrite blank space as opposed to all the space.

  • bigticket on 10/09/2018 - 12:16

    The comments above are not what you after. Shredder erases files and not the empty space that can contain personal files. Darik's boot & nuke erases the entire hd, but you want to use the recovery partition.

    I suggest using administrative tools -> disk management and take note of the partitions, sizes and volume names. The recovery partition is first partition and about 10gig in size.
    Double check with windows explorer that everything matches up. Back up your files.
    Boot using a windows installation disk, either xp or w7 and proceed to where you are asked to install windows and you will see an advanced option to edit partitions. Delete the partition(s) but not the recovery partition. Then create a partition from the unallocated space.
    Then format, not quick format, the partition. This will take a while and write 0's and 1's, so get yourself a coffee. You can format it again to do another pass. Then boot to the recovery partition and install factory default windows. Good luck.

    • SaberX on 10/09/2018 - 12:42

      Hi! Thanks your spot on in that what you mentioned is what im after.

      Given the netbooks back then are thin and with no cd drive is it a possibility to use the windows boot to do the partition deletion, creation and formatting via the recovery partition?? If not as I'm abit green on fresh windows installs can you direct me as to where i can download and say run windows installs of an usb??

      Im not actually installing windows correct?? Just using the installation process to delete a partition? Create a new one and to format the new partition fully - which in turn creates the 1s and 0s passings i need?? I then cancel out of windows install having only needed to use the partition abilities and restore windows via the alt+f12 on power up to access recovery partition and reinstall??

      Assumedly acer uses an erecovery software and will all the data be on the recovery partition? Surely nothing will be tied to the general partition and rendered inoperable when i wipe it?

      • bigticket on 10/09/2018 - 21:20

        1. I assumed you may have had a external cd drive or can use a usb boot disk.

        2. You are not installing windows. Just using it to format and restarting to the recovery partition using alt+f12 (note:for alt+f12 to work it must be enabled in the bios). I only suggested using a installation disk as installing windows is not too technical and a lot of people have been prompted as to where to install windows from from there at that prompt it can be formatted.

        3. The recovery partition is self contained. It has all the files necessary to restore to factory default and will erase the rest of the drive. It usually creates 2 equal sized partitions, C: for windows and D: for data.

        • SaberX on 10/09/2018 - 22:36

          No worries. Can one create an equivalnt installation disk by downloading a windows 7 starter or any other windows OS (just to use the formatting function) and putting it on an USB? or is there abit more 'to it' than that?

          I did manage to enter the alt + f12 recovery software section so it appears like it does work/activated in bios, thankfully.

          Oddly enough the current out of box setup it came with only has a C: for windows. ALl the OS and data goes on there, so it appears it did not create a partition at the time. They do come with a "D:" for Downloads for ANdroid (TM) which from memory back then they had android partitions to run android on your netbooks? Although never used, i believe it sat alongside a recovery partition.

    • SaberX on 10/09/2018 - 12:43

      As a rudimentary approach does copying and pasting large video files into empty space and deleting and redoing also serve as a similar to 1 and 0s overwriting pass??

      • bigticket on 10/09/2018 - 20:51

        Yes. But backup and remove all your personal files first so and then paste your video files.

        • SaberX on 10/09/2018 - 22:38

          No worries. I did most of the removal of key software/programs installed and personal files last night. Left videos to copy and paste into the spare space so presumably should be ok. ONce i factory reset that will stop most 'everyday' persons who would be buying it second hand off gumtree, i doubt any sophisticated user would be going around buying old netbooks to fish data but you can never be safer than sorry.

          THat said is one lot of overwriting with files into empty space sufficient? Or should I delete then repaste files at least twice? Or does it make not much difference if someone was going to try and recover?

  • the Unforgiven on 12/09/2018 - 13:19

    if you don't want to erase the whole HDD, only certain partitions, use the Diskpart Command

    • SaberX on 12/09/2018 - 20:20

      Can you please advise Hows to do that??

      • the Unforgiven on 13/09/2018 - 14:55

        This will show you how to use the clean or clean all command on a selected disk to delete all of it's MBR or GPT partitions, volumes, and any hidden sector information on MBR disks is overwritten.

        The data on the HDD is not written over using the clean command like it does with the clean all command below. With the clean command, the data on the HDD is only marked as being deleted instead and is only written over when new data is written/saved to the same location on the HDD next.

        OR

        You could use the clean all command (secure erase) to do the above and also have each and every disk sector on the HDD written over and zeroed out completely to securely delete all data on the disk to help prevent the data from being able to be recovered. "Clean All" takes about an hour per 320 GB to finish running.

        Warning
        You do not want to use clean all on a SSD disk often. Having every sector written over to 0 on a SSD can help reduce it's life span.

        1. In Windows 7, open an elevated command prompt, or a command prompt at boot.
        2. Click on Disk Management in the left pane, and make note of the disk # in the middle pane of the disk that you want to clean or clean all. (see screenshot below)
          NOTE: For example, I would use Disk 1 if I wanted to use clean or clean all on my USB key drive.
        3. In the elevated command prompt, type diskpart and press Enter.
        4. In the elevated command prompt, type list disk and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
          NOTE: This will give you a list of disk numbers to select from.
        5. In the elevated command prompt, type select disk # and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
          NOTE: You would substitute # for the disk number listed that you want to use clean or clean all on. For example, I want to use one of them on Disk 1 (from step 1) for my USB key drive, so I would type select disk 1 and press Enter.
        6. Do either step 7 or 8 below for which command you would like to use.
        7. To Use the Clean Diskpart Command
          NOTE: See the green INFO box at the top of the tutorial for more information about this command. This command will wipe the HDD quickly.
        8. A) In the elevated command prompt, type clean and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
          NOTE: This will not take long to finish. Think of it as being like a quick format.
        9. To Use the Clean All Diskpart Command
          NOTE: See the green INFO box at the top of the tutorial for more information about this command. This command will wipe the HDD, and perform a secure erase. "Clean All" takes about an hour per 320 GB to finish running. It's best to only use this command if you wanted to help make sure that the data on the HDD cannot be recovered say when giving or selling the HDD to another person.
        10. A) In the elevated command prompt, type clean all and press Enter. You will see the command prompt below as is until the "clean all" command is finished. (see screenshot below)
          NOTE: This will take quite some time (several hours or more) to finish depending on how large the disk is since it is writing over each and every sector on it to zero. Think of it as being like a full or low level format.
        11. When finished, in the elevated command prompt, type exit and press Enter. Close the elevated command prompt.
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