You can also repeat this process on any additional drives that you've installed on the computer during the time that you've owned it. It will clean off all apps, personal files, and Windows settings from your computer. This will officially kick off the process of wiping everything from the hard drive. When the new window opens up, select 'Remove everything.' Next, select 'Get started' from the Reset this PC' menu. This will open the menu that enables you to reset and restore your PC. When you're reading to wipe your main Windows 10 drive, you'll need to type 'Reset this PC' in the search bar and press Enter. Instead, you'll have to perform a total system reset as described below. You'll also need to keep in mind that you won't be able to perform a quick format on the driver where Windows 10 OS is installed. Just be aware that the results of this process won't be as secure as a normal format. The alternative method is to use Disk Management to select the drives and partitions that you'd like to format. Keep in mind that the quick format option simply rewrites over data rather than removing it. This will speed up the process but provide less security. If you plan to keep the computer, choose the 'Quick Format' option. Now you'll need to decide whether or not you plan to use the hard drive once you've wiped it. This will also allow you to set up the drive for new data. This will open the formatting menu, which provides several options for how to wipe the drive and rename it after formatting. Next, right-click on the specific drive you're wanting to wipe, then select Format. The first thing you'll need to do is the open 'This PC' by typing 'This PC' is the windows search field and then pressing enter.Ī window will open that displays some of your computer files and whatever drives that are connected to it. It's important to perform these steps in this exact order. Here are the steps you'll need to follow to wipe your Windows machine. Let's take a look at the process for each. Keep in mind that the process from clearing a hard drive is different for Windows and macOS Catalina. Keep reading to discover important tips for how to clear memory on Windows 10 or macOS machines. This article takes a look at how to wipe a laptop to sell. No matter if you plan to sell it, donate it to charity, or simply trash it or recycle the parts, it's important to wipe the hard drive first. After all, you get to shop around for the latest features you've been wanting, take advantage of faster processors, and just enjoy the thrill of having a brand new toy.īut you'll need to get rid of your old machine. Home » articles » How to Wipe a Laptop to Sell or Donate - 10 Critical Steps to Protect Yourself How to Wipe a Laptop to Sell or Donate - 10 Critical Steps to Protect Yourself published īuying a new laptop computer can be a lot of fun.

How to wipe a computer clean to sell