Question How to cleanup or safe guard my personal info when dropping my PC off at a repair shop?

[David6789]

How to cleanup or safe guard my personal info when dropping my PC off at a repair shop?

I need to drop off my Windows 10 PC at the repair shop to get some fans replaces, fix a broken USB port and a thorough cleaning. I do not want some tech digging through my personal info or gaining access to anything I don't want them to access.

Useful info:
Windows 10 PC
I use a Microsoft account logon to get on the PC. (pin number)

 

[Lafong]

Remove the hard drive?

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

How to cleanup or safe guard my personal info when dropping my PC off at a repair shop?

they may not be able to easily hack into your OS account but any separate files on the disk can be accessed.

move any personal files to a backup drive and/or take your OS drive out and tell them they'll need to have something to boot with.

 

[hotaru.hino]

If all you're asking them to do is that, then remove the storage drives. They don't need them to test to see if the fans are working. And if they want to verify the USB port is working, assuming they're just replacing the port, you can bring the drive back to verify it works when you pick it up.

Otherwise move all of your data onto another storage drive and make a local user account. They don't need the account you use to log into Windows to test the USB port.

 

[PEnns]

That's why many recommend that the boot drive has Windows on it and literally nothing else.

All the data / documents / photos, etc should be on the D drive that one could easily remove for such cases.

As to using a pin number, I personally create another one just for such cases (I call it something like TechSup, and NOT linked to my Microsoft account.) and never have to give my own pin to anyone..

 

[David6789]

If all you're asking them to do is that, then remove the storage drives. They don't need them to test to see if the fans are working. And if they want to verify the USB port is working, assuming they're just replacing the port, you can bring the drive back to verify it works when you pick it up.

Otherwise move all of your data onto another storage drive and make a local user account. They don't need the account you use to log into Windows to test the USB port.

Does the local account need to be an admin account or just a user?

 

[hotaru.hino]

Does the local account need to be an admin account or just a user?

Standard user is fine.