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    How do I totally clean my laptop?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by JVlichael, Apr 23, 2009.

  1. JVlichael

    JVlichael Notebook Evangelist

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    Okay I wanna clean my whole laptop so it is almost like new.

    I wanna sell my Compaq (see sig) and I don't have any restore points forgot :( and I want to restore it to factory settings can anyone help?? :)
     
    JVlichael, Apr 23, 2009
    #1
  2. Second2Last33

    Second2Last33 Notebook Consultant

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    You want to clean all the files off besides Windows? Why not just format the harddrive using a wipe tool such as DBAN?
     
    Second2Last33, May 6, 2009
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  3. nicknations

    nicknations Notebook Consultant

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    Restore points wouldnt erase personal data anyways. Your Notebook has a Recovery Partition. Restart the PC and on the Compaq POST splash screen press F11. IT should take you to the recovery partition. Do a Destructive Recovery. It will be like brand new
     
    nicknations, May 6, 2009
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  4. JVlichael

    JVlichael Notebook Evangelist

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    Okay thanks for the info I'll try that :D
     
    JVlichael, May 6, 2009
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  5. Angelic

    Angelic Kickin' back :3

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    You can always delete the partition on the hard drive, that will make it squeaky clean. ;)
     
    Angelic, May 8, 2009
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  6. pozmu

    pozmu Notebook Enthusiast

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    Will it wipe hard disk or just format it? I think that it will just format it, so it will be still possible to recover (undelete) files from the hdd. You should first wipe your HDD and then do a Destructive Recovery.
     
    pozmu, May 8, 2009
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  7. JVlichael

    JVlichael Notebook Evangelist

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    how do I wipe my HDD?
     
    JVlichael, Jun 16, 2009
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  8. MidnightSun

    MidnightSun Emodicon

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    Darik's Boot and Nuke. Although if you want to restore it to factory settings, why not use the recovery partition to reformat?
     
    MidnightSun, Jun 16, 2009
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  9. JVlichael

    JVlichael Notebook Evangelist

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    There that's why
     
    JVlichael, Jun 16, 2009
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  10. namaiki

    namaiki "basically rocks" Super Moderator

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    If you DBAN it, your recovery partition will be gone as well.
     
    namaiki, Jun 17, 2009
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  11. kimkeo

    kimkeo Newbie

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    I have a laptop that's about 5 yrs old and it runs like crap. I wanna delete everything, except for all my pictures. How would I do that?
     
    kimkeo, Jun 17, 2009
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  12. JVlichael

    JVlichael Notebook Evangelist

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    I would put all of my pictures on a usb or external harddrive and do what they said before in this thread and put the pictures back on

    _________________________________________________________________________

    How do I reformat it, I suck at these parts of my laptop.
     
    JVlichael, Jun 18, 2009
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  13. nashpec

    nashpec Notebook Geek

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    That will also make sure you won't ever use it again. Good timing though.
     
    nashpec, Jun 19, 2009
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  14. JVlichael

    JVlichael Notebook Evangelist

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    okay the guy who wants to buy my laptop is coming at 6:30 and I put all the stuff I need on a USB Stick, and I have two options.

    1) Use DBAN

    2) Use Recovery Partition

    I would rather do 2 because I don't want to lose my recovery Partition, but I want to make sure that none of my personal files are on my laptop.

    Which option should I choose?
     
    JVlichael, Jun 21, 2009
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  15. pinkbread

    pinkbread Newbie

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    you could save every thing on a external hard drive then wipe hard disk [​IMG]
     
    pinkbread, Jun 22, 2009
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  16. JVlichael

    JVlichael Notebook Evangelist

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    I just put all my stuff on a USB and used Destructive Recovery to put it back to factory settings
     
    JVlichael, Jun 24, 2009
    #16