Security wipe on SSD without removing OS. (win7)

[Marshall160]

Im aware that is impossible to do so with a regular HDD, that you need to nuke the drive with 0s and 1s and then freshly install a new OS.

However with an SSD where deleted information is actually permantly gone, is there anything I need to do before selling a computer other than using something like CCleaner to wipe all my passwords and such?

Thank you.

edit: Forgot to mention Win7

 

[USAFRet]

Im aware that is impossible to do so with a regular HDD, that you need to nuke the drive with 0s and 1s and then freshly install a new OS.

However with an SSD where deleted information is actually permantly gone, is there anything I need to do before selling a computer other than using something like CCleaner to wipe all my passwords and such?

Thank you.

Selling it? Wipe and reinstall the OS.
Just removing passwords is not enough. Various bits of 'you' will linger in the Registry and elsewhere.

 

[Marshall160]

Well that kinda sucks, my win 7 disc along with CD key is with my ex wife.. not a conversation I'd be willing to have...

 

[USAFRet]

Well that kinda sucks, my win 7 disc along with CD key is with my ex wife.. not a conversation I'd be willing to have...

And that brings another problem....
When selling a PC with a Windows OS, you have to transfer the install media and license key.

Is it an OEM license or Retail?
Install and run Belarc Advisor. This will tell you the license key, and whether it is OEM or not.
If NOT OEM, you can download the relevant ISO file direct from Microsoft.

 

[USAFRet]

And....jsut deleting a file or whatever on an SD is not that different than from an HDD. Deleted data can be retrieved, unless you do a Secure Erase on the whole drive.

 

[Marshall160]

Its not an OEM.

I'll google that program, thank you for the help.

 

[USAFRet]

Its not an OEM.

I'll google that program, thank you for the help.

After you retrieve the license key, go here:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/home

 

[Marshall160]

Id like to do the same thing for my laptop, however that version is OEM and I already have the key, whats the difference? Can I not download the ISO from the same place?

 

[USAFRet]

Id like to do the same thing for my laptop, however that version is OEM and I already have the key, whats the difference? Can I not download the ISO from the same place?

For an OEM license, Microsoft expects you to get it from your manufacturer. If you go to that site and enter your license key, it will tell you that.

 

[Marshall160]

Id like to do the same thing for my laptop, however that version is OEM and I already have the key, whats the difference? Can I not download the ISO from the same place?

For an OEM license, Microsoft expects you to get it from your manufacturer. If you go to that site and enter your license key, it will tell you that.

What if I were to use my non-OEM CD key to download the ISO and then use the OEM key to register during installation? Would that work or are the 2 versions different and wont work?

Thank you.

 

[USAFRet]

Id like to do the same thing for my laptop, however that version is OEM and I already have the key, whats the difference? Can I not download the ISO from the same place?

For an OEM license, Microsoft expects you to get it from your manufacturer. If you go to that site and enter your license key, it will tell you that.

What if I were to use my non-OEM CD key to download the ISO and then use the OEM key to register during installation? Would that work or are the 2 versions different and wont work?

Thank you.

Why would you not use the "non-OEM CD key" during the install and activation as well? Because it is already used elsewhere?
Would it work? Unknown.

 

[Marshall160]

Yeah that's exactly it, my purchased windows key has already been used to upgrade to windows 10 on my tower PC.

My laptop however uses an OEM (msi) version of windows 7 which I would like to fresh install to change SSDs, yes I'm aware I can just clone my old SSD to my new one, but I would have liked to take the opportunity to clean install.

I guess I'll give it a shot, if things go bad I can just put my old SSD back in and do a clone to the new one.

Thanks by the way, for taking all this time with me.