Permanently delete windows files after reset?

Moin moin together

I reset my laptop with Windows 10 with the setting to delete all data that was on it because I want to resell the laptop.

Now it is the case that the files are not "permanently" gone and can of course be easily restored with the appropriate programs. My deleted data is sensitive data from my last employer and should under no circumstances come to the wrong person, which is why I'm looking for a sensible method to remove these remnants.

Of course there are some programs for that. They overwrite this data etc., but it is very important to me that this does not refer to the Windows files, since Windows 10 should still run perfectly afterwards.

Hence my question (s) summarized:

Has anyone had any experience with this and can recommend a safe, free program?

Does Windows' own program (cipher) possibly solve my problem?

I used Eraser for this 10 years ago, but other programs can also do it. Alternatively, you can e.g. Encrypt using Bitlocker and then reinstall Windows completely, then the data is pretty safe gone

Of course there are some programs for that. They overwrite this data etc., but it is very important for me that this does not refer to the Windows files, since
Windows 10 should still run properly afterwards.

I don't know what you mean exactly. You will first have to delete everything completely. After that, there's nothing left on the device. You can then reinstall Windows again in a few minutes without any problems.

With the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft you can create a data medium (DVD or USB stick) for the new installation of Windows 10: https://www.microsoft.com/.../windows10

To clean up the laptop, Darik's Boot and Nuke (DBAN) is recommended. However, the application is only intended for an HDD.

You can download the application here: https://www.heise.de/...dban-54943

It is an ISO file. You burn the ISO file onto a DVD or alternatively create a bootable USB stick. As of Windows 7, there's an option directly under Windows to burn an ISO file to a data carrier. To do this, right-click on the ISO file and select Burn disk image.

If you choose the variant with the USB stick, then download the free Rufus program: https://rufus.akeo.ie/?locale=de_DE

Open the program and click on the selection button on the right. Now select the ISO file. You should not have to change anything in the settings. So you can start the process directly.

Then boot from the created disk. If DBAN is not running, you must first change the boot order in the BIOS: https://praxistipps.chip.de/...ehts_10161

As soon as DBAN is executed, enter the following after the start: dban libata.ignore_hpa = 1

This also overwrites hidden hard disk areas. While DBAN is running, you have an English keyboard layout. The underscore is the? Key and the equal sign is the 'key, so next to the Eszett.

Then just confirm the whole thing with Enter. After that, all existing data carriers will be displayed. Press the M key at the beginning to access the selection using the various deletion methods. I recommend PRNG Stream here. Simply select with the arrow keys and confirm with the space bar.

Then you will be returned to the overview with the available data carriers. You mark the data carriers to be cleaned with the space bar. You can also navigate between the data carriers with the arrow key. Finally, just press F10 to start the process.

After that, it is extremely unlikely that anything can be restored by a private individual. However, the whole thing takes a while.

Take a look at this article for an SSD: https://www.heise.de/...17918.html

Of course I forgot to add: It is an HDD.

Do I understand correctly that with DBAN it is the case that everything is deleted and I therefore have to reinstall Windows?

I'm mainly looking for a quick solution, my Windows has already been completely reset and I actually didn't want to reinstall it.

So a solution that leaves Windows "untouched" would be the easiest for me

So a solution that leaves Windows "untouched" would be the easiest for me

This is not going to work. Windows can be reinstalled in a few minutes if you do it from an installation disk. So that shouldn't stop you from removing everything. If you reset Windows using the function offered under Windows, it usually takes a lot longer by the way.

Do I understand correctly that with DBAN it is the case that everything is deleted and I therefore have to reinstall Windows?

And yes, you understood that correctly.

Above all, I'm looking for a quick solution

I only know DBAN and know that it takes a while depending on the size of the hard drive. Just let it run overnight or something.

https://www.google.com/...rschreiben

After the search hit https://www.wintotal.de/tipp/mit-dem-kommandozeilenprogramm-cipher-freien-speicherplatz-sicher-loeschen/, cipher is also sufficient.

You have probably only selected simple deletion of the files in the submenu of "Remove all".
In a submenu you could have also selected "Cleaning the hard disk", which means that restoration should only be possible with greater effort.
However, this process can (according to the note) take a few hours.

A safe method is to delete the data by at least 1x overwriting with a program like Darik's Boot and Nuke (DBAN). This process also takes time.
After that, Win10 would have to be reinstalled.