Deleting everything before selling Laptop?

[EmilyJ]

Hello forum members,

I have a question. I am planning to sell my laptop soon and I want to delete everything. I want to make sure that nothing is traceable (password, documents, other computer files, etc). I have one 500 GB HDD and one 120GB SSD. I want to delete everything from both.

Some notes:
-I don't need to recover/back up anything. (I already have all my files on my External drive)
-I do have a Windows 7 Installation disk

I did do some google/forum search, but I want to make sure I do this correctly. Also after deleting everything the keyboard/trackpad should work right?

Thanks 😀 -Emily

 

[Bad_Kitty13]

what is the laptop make model
ex: toshiba satellite

 

[EmilyJ]

Laptop is: Dell Alienware m17x R3

 

[USAFRet]

Don't 'delete'...wipe then reinstall.

Create a DBAN book disk. Use that to wipe the drives.
Reinstall with your Win 7 install disk.
Install all the relevant drivers.
Give it to the new person.

 

[fricklesmn]

Hello EmilyJ,

If you boot your computer from the windows 7 installation DVD, you can format the partitions in there without having to reinstall windows. A word of warning though, simply formatting a hard drive and/or ssd is not a secure erase...those with the right tools and knowledge can potentially recover your files. If you want to be sure your data is not recoverable, you would need to download a secure erase utility and run on both the hard drive and the ssd.

The keyboard and trackpad will work during windows installation regardless of what you delete from drives or even if you secure erase them.

Hope this helps and good luck!

 

[Bad_Kitty13]

here is a detailed descrcription
http://en.community.dell.com/owners-club/alienware/f/3746/t/19478160.aspx
for the secondary hdd (one without os) go into computer right click on drive and format it

 

[EmilyJ]

Hello EmilyJ,

If you boot your computer from the windows 7 installation DVD, you can format the partitions in there without having to reinstall windows. A word of warning though, simply formatting a hard drive and/or ssd is not a secure erase...those with the right tools and knowledge can potentially recover your files. If you want to be sure your data is not recoverable, you would need to download a secure erase utility and run on both the hard drive and the ssd.

The keyboard and trackpad will work during windows installation regardless of what you delete from drives or even if you secure erase them.

Hope this helps and good luck!

I've done the windows 7 re-installing process a couple of times before. After installation there's always that "Windows.old" file. It won't let me delete some files in it because I don't have some privileges or something. Any idea on deleting that file?

Thanks

 

[EmilyJ]

here is a detailed descrcription
http://en.community.dell.com/owners-club/alienware/f/3746/t/19478160.aspx
for the secondary hdd (one without os) go into computer right click on drive and format it

Just what I needed!! Thanks You guys are so fast at replying

 

[Bad_Kitty13]

no problem

 

[USAFRet]

Hello EmilyJ,

If you boot your computer from the windows 7 installation DVD, you can format the partitions in there without having to reinstall windows. A word of warning though, simply formatting a hard drive and/or ssd is not a secure erase...those with the right tools and knowledge can potentially recover your files. If you want to be sure your data is not recoverable, you would need to download a secure erase utility and run on both the hard drive and the ssd.

The keyboard and trackpad will work during windows installation regardless of what you delete from drives or even if you secure erase them.

Hope this helps and good luck!

I've done the windows 7 re-installing process a couple of times before. After installation there's always that "Windows.old" file. It won't let me delete some files in it because I don't have some privileges or something. Any idea on deleting that file?

Thanks

To delete Windows.old, you need to go into Disk Cleanup.
I think it is "Remove old copies of Windows"

But for selling...I'd wipe the drive first with a tool meant for doing that. DBAN.
Secure Erase for the SSD.