What should I do to return this laptop to Best Buy? Please help.

[CoreyMGrimard]

I called Best Buy asking them how I should return this laptop. I got all the answers I needed expect for one. Should I reformat the hard drive before I return it? The lady on the phone said no but I feel like I should.

Anyone think I should reformat it or not?

 

[faalin]

There should be a factory partition on there that you could restore to.

 

[Ubrales]

Do not format - use "Eraser" to delete your files. http://www.heidi.ie/

After using Eraser you may safely return the laptop.

 

[CoreyMGrimard]

Do not format - use "Eraser" to delete your files. http://www.heidi.ie/

After using Eraser you may safely return the laptop.

How reliable is that? Does it work with Windows 10?

 

[Ubrales]

Eraser is very reliable. I have used it on Win 7, but not on my Win 10. Eraser is like a DoD delete program.

 

[CoreyMGrimard]

Eraser is very reliable. I have used it on Win 7, but not on my Win 10. Eraser is like a DoD delete program.

Will it restore my laptop to factory settings? What would the process be like?

 

[Ubrales]

Eraser is very reliable. I have used it on Win 7, but not on my Win 10. Eraser is like a DoD delete program.

Will it restore my laptop to factory settings? What would the process be like?

Using Eraser will not reset your laptop to factory settings. It will only erase (secure delete) the files you want to delete.

To restore your laptop to factory settings follow this procedure:

1. First make a system backup to an external disk.
2. Next follow the procedures outlined below. Have these steps displayed on another computer so that you can use that as a reference as you are doing the restore.

https://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/19/SLN291879/EN (for Dell laptops)

http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Other-HP-Consumer-Products-and-Technologies/how-do-i-reset-my-laptop-to-factory-settings/td-p/1023575 (for HP laptops)

http://ccm.net/faq/4811-toshiba-laptop-reset-to-factory-settings (fot Toshiba laptops)

Please read all of the above and get very familiar with the 'factory reset' process. The basic process is identical with minor differences if any.

 

[CoreyMGrimard]

Eraser is very reliable. I have used it on Win 7, but not on my Win 10. Eraser is like a DoD delete program.

Will it restore my laptop to factory settings? What would the process be like?

Using Eraser will not reset your laptop to factory settings. It will only erase (secure delete) the files you want to delete.

To restore your laptop to factory settings follow this procedure:

1. First make a system backup to an external disk.
2. Next follow the procedures outlined below. Have these steps displayed on another computer so that you can use that as a reference as you are doing the restore.

https://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/19/SLN291879/EN (for Dell laptops)

http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Other-HP-Consumer-Products-and-Technologies/how-do-i-reset-my-laptop-to-factory-settings/td-p/1023575 (for HP laptops)

http://ccm.net/faq/4811-toshiba-laptop-reset-to-factory-settings (fot Toshiba laptops)

Please read all of the above and get very familiar with the 'factory reset' process. The basic process is identical with minor differences if any.

I don't really have any extreme documents or files on this laptop that I need to delete. Honestly what I have mostly is game install clients and such. What I want to be sure of though is that no one can get on my accounts for my Steam or WoW account. Same goes for my Google accounts. Would a factory reset get rid of all that? Or should I really use Eraser?

Also, would I use eraser first and then factory reset?

 

[Ubrales]

Only you can log into your accounts using your password.

If you are going to return the laptop, use Eraser and delete the files that you do not want others to see. Then go ahead and do the return.

And it is always a good idea to change passwords whenever you have some concern. In any event, passwords must be strong and changed periodically; maybe every three months. Have different passwords for different accounts.