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Clearing laptop
mrsfrench
Posts: 78 Forumite
in Techie Stuff
Hi, I bought a new laptop but am going to have to return it. Is there an easy way to remove all my data that I've put on it or will I have to remove things one-by-one. It's running Win 8.1
Many thanks for reading x
Many thanks for reading x
0
Comments
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install ccleaner
run wipe data
Run factory restore.0 -
You can start by downloading all your files and documents either to an external drive or to cloud storage (google drive is free) and then do what Cisco001 has suggested0
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Or you can revert to factory settings.0
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Not sure if I'd trust CCLeaner either. Maybe its fine, I can't remember.
Test is to use a good recovery program to see if your data is still there aftewards.
DBAN is a good tool to use - need to burn to CD then boot from it.0 -
DBAN will also wipe the recovery partition (as far as I know), leaving no way to reinstall the O/S unless the OP has discs from the manufacturer (unlikely) or has made the recovery discs as prompted when the laptop if first used.:wall: Flagellation, necrophilia and bestiality - Am I flogging a dead horse? :wall:
Any posts are my opinion and only that. Please read at your own risk.0 -
If you know what data you've put on it, just go to the folders where it is, and delete it.
If you don't know what data you've stored, why are you bothered?0 -
What did you receive it with? Did it come with Windows installed or did you need to do that yourself?
Just thinking that if you were lucky/lazy, a format C job could do the trick."We always find something, hey Didi, to give us the impression we exist?" Samuel Beckett, Waiting for Godot.
DFW Club number 1212 - Proud to be dealing with my debts0 -
So, when it formats and reloads the os it still retains all the data? That's a new one on me.
When you reformat, it would reinstall the Windows, so all file reference information is deleted.
However, the data is still there.
By using the swipe drive option at ccleaner or programme like DBAN, they rewrite the HDD, such that it is less easy to simply get a data recovery programs and recovery data.0
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