[SOLVED] Completely wipe an SSD and HDD before selling them ?

BasicConcept

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Dec 29, 2019
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Hello,

I want to sell my SDD and HDD but want to make sure that if I erase the content completely that the new buyer cannot restore my data.

I assume for HDD using https://dban.org/ is an option?

What about SSD?

I also promised the buyer to have windows 10 ready factory reset. So what would be the step by step process? Erase HDD, then erase SDD but then how do I install Windows 10 again?

Thanks
Ray
 
Solution
Hello,

I want to sell my SDD and HDD but want to make sure that if I erase the content completely that the new buyer cannot restore my data.

I assume for HDD using https://dban.org/ is an option?

What about SSD?

I also promised the buyer to have windows 10 ready factory reset. So what would be the step by step process? Erase HDD, then erase SDD but then how do I install Windows 10 again?

Thanks
Ray
Windows 10 are licensed to a particular MB so buyer of your SSD would have to by new license anyway. Even clean installed (on your PC, W10 is not guaranteed to work on next PC
There are some very complicated ways to do it though, something like this...
Hello,

I want to sell my SDD and HDD but want to make sure that if I erase the content completely that the new buyer cannot restore my data.

I assume for HDD using https://dban.org/ is an option?

What about SSD?

I also promised the buyer to have windows 10 ready factory reset. So what would be the step by step process? Erase HDD, then erase SDD but then how do I install Windows 10 again?

Thanks
Ray
Windows 10 are licensed to a particular MB so buyer of your SSD would have to by new license anyway. Even clean installed (on your PC, W10 is not guaranteed to work on next PC
There are some very complicated ways to do it though, something like this https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials...utomated-unattended-install-windows-10-a.html
Les complicated but not 100% sure it would work on next PC would be to clean install W10 while disconnected from internet and when asked for license check "I have no license as of now". While doing clean installation, when asked where to install chose to delete all partitions and let Windows make own. That would effectively erase all data on that disk.
Problems that can crop up are many, One is CSM/Legacy vs UEFI boot Windows will install drivers for your system not his, so it may not work at his side. It may help a bit if he starts his system while connected to internet by wire, windows will look for drivers for his system. Keep your HDD disconnected while doing it,
For HDD you can use Dban safely, not recommended for SSDs.
 
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BasicConcept

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Dec 29, 2019
108
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4,585
Windows 10 are licensed to a particular MB so buyer of your SSD would have to by new license anyway. Even clean installed (on your PC, W10 is not guaranteed to work on next PC
There are some very complicated ways to do it though, something like this https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials...utomated-unattended-install-windows-10-a.html
Les complicated but not 100% sure it would work on next PC would be to clean install W10 while disconnected from internet and when asked for license check "I have no license as of now". While doing clean installation, when asked where to install chose to delete all partitions and let Windows make own. That would effectively erase all data on that disk.
Problems that can crop up are many, One is CSM/Legacy vs UEFI boot Windows will install drivers for your system not his, so it may not work at his side. It may help a bit if he starts his system while connected to internet by wire, windows will look for drivers for his system. Keep your HDD disconnected while doing it,
For HDD you can use Dban safely, not recommended for SSDs.

I struggle understanding your answer sadly.

Okay, Dban will be used for the HDD and what would be now the way to delete all data from SDD and install Windows 10 (without license key) again? I am not familiar with technical terms such as CSM or Legacy or whatever. Any way to explain it in a simple way?

Thank you!
 
I struggle understanding your answer sadly.

Okay, Dban will be used for the HDD and what would be now the way to delete all data from SDD and install Windows 10 (without license key) again? I am not familiar with technical terms such as CSM or Legacy or whatever. Any way to explain it in a simple way?

Thank you!
These should help you more than I can this way.
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2376-create-bootable-usb-flash-drive-install-windows-10-a.html
Things I mentioned, Delete all partitions (one by one) is in the part of installation when it asks you which disk to install to. Blue letters near bottom of that page. (Part 14 in second manual)
For Product key (Part 9)-
First thing you have to know is which edition is your potential buyer going to buy license for. (Look at part 10), language may also be an issue depending on which W10 version you download or have.
All of this didn't change since W7 or before.
PS:
I can almost guarantee that next SSD's owner will have more trouble if "helped" this way than just plainly installing W10 on empty disk.
 
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BasicConcept

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Dec 29, 2019
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These should help you more than I can this way.
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2376-create-bootable-usb-flash-drive-install-windows-10-a.html
Things I mentioned, Delete all partitions (one by one) is in the part of installation when it asks you which disk to install to. Blue letters near bottom of that page. (Part 14 in second manual)
For Product key (Part 9)-
First thing you have to know is which edition is your potential buyer going to buy license for. (Look at part 10), language may also be an issue depending on which W10 version you download or have.
All of this didn't change since W7 or before.
PS:
I can almost guarantee that next SSD's owner will have more trouble if "helped" this way than just plainly installing W10 on empty disk.

The "Clean Install" link that you have sent me means that it is so clean that the new buyer will not be able to ever restore the data from my SSD? Is that correct? Is this the guide to follow?
 
Forget about about re-installing Windows for the buyer as this would be a futile excercise. For Windows to boot successfully and/or run properly, it has to be installed on the same PC on which it is going to be used.

You just concentrate on securely wiping the data from them.
 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator
I am selling the whole PC with the drives. So I want to make sure that the new buyer cannot restore my files on the SDD and HDD.
Ah....
And the Windows license as well?

DBAN for the HDD.
Secure erase for the SSD, then a fresh Win 10 install, with the system NOT connected to the internet. Ethernet cable unplugged.

Later, when he gets it, he can finish setting up the accounts.

Also, for you, you need to remove this system from your MS account:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...nt-selling-gifting-windows-10-device-xbox-one
 

BasicConcept

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Dec 29, 2019
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Ah....
And the Windows license as well?

DBAN for the HDD.
Secure erase for the SSD, then a fresh Win 10 install, with the system NOT connected to the internet. Ethernet cable unplugged.

Later, when he gets it, he can finish setting up the accounts.

Also, for you, you need to remove this system from your MS account:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...nt-selling-gifting-windows-10-device-xbox-one

No I just want to install the Win10 for him without the license.

Okay DBAN for HDD, clear.
I sadly dont understand what secure erase means and how it works?
 
No I just want to install the Win10 for him without the license.

Okay DBAN for HDD, clear.
I sadly dont understand what secure erase means and how it works?
Which SSD is that ?. Some come or can download utilities for them that also have option to "Secure erase" SSD. That usually means overwriting data with meanless junk or just zeroing it, writing zeros to every memory cell.
 
Hello,

I want to sell my SDD and HDD but want to make sure that if I erase the content completely that the new buyer cannot restore my data.

I assume for HDD using https://dban.org/ is an option?

What about SSD?

I also promised the buyer to have windows 10 ready factory reset. So what would be the step by step process? Erase HDD, then erase SDD but then how do I install Windows 10 again?

Thanks
Ray
Look in the bios for secure erase.
I think that will erase all internal storage.
 

BasicConcept

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Dec 29, 2019
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If nothing else, the commandline function diskpart and the /clean all command.

After that and a fresh OS install, the new user will get nothing back from that SSD.

Is there a difference between clean command in CMD or using secure erase? My motherboard is MSI H110M Pro-VH Plus and it doesn't seem to have a secure erase option for my SSD.