I still have an old Windows 7 laptop that I would like to sell. But now I have to remove all data from the PC before I can pass it on to the next few hands. How can I completely reset the PC without having to restart Windows? If it were Windows 10, I would know how but with Windows 7 …
Reformat the hard drive. You can use a live OS for this, but also the Windows installation disc. However, you can restore the data with the latter.
So it is better to have the data securely deleted when formatting, e.g. With DBAN.
Do you do that with a program?
Yes. If you want to delete your system partition, it has to be a bootable tool. E.g. That: https://dban.org/
(The free version doesn't work with ssds)
Better use Parted Magic for SSD, or tools from the manufacturer of your own SSD
But then Windows is automatically gone, right?
Yeah yeah Should also.
No, just not. I want to delete all data so that I can sell the PC, but windows should stay on it, as it was found when it was started for the first time.
Then you have to reinstall it so far. There's no other way. Not sure, anyway.
If you can do it on Windows 10 I would just upgrade (it's free) and then reset the PC.
I also just thought about doing it, I think too
Can I get it somehow legally and officiel from windows to sont because i have windows 7?
Resetting is nonsense - it doesn't destroy your personal data in such a way that it can't be restored by the buyer.
If you want to be sure, then remove the HDD and delete it z. B. Sustainable with https://www.killdisk.com/eraser.html.
(Back up data beforehand - especially manufacturer recovery partitions!)
Not helpful: Formatting does not permanently delete data.
The questioner could simply click on "Reset".
Jo perfect thank you
I made the reference to secure deletion. The linked tool offers everything necessary for HDDs. So please read everything next time.
If you do so, the data that was previously on the disk can be restored. So I would only do it if there's nothing private or otherwise on the record that, if possible, should not fall into the hands of anyone else.
To the program again. I did that on my main computer a year ago and everything worked fine there. Now, however, the wizard always gets stuck when requesting the update and searches for it indefinitely. Did yesterday min. Let search for 5 hours and that can't be…
Which program?
The Windows 10 Update Assistant
Maybe you shut down the server in the meantime because you no longer want the upgrades, I don't know. Or it really takes so long because Windows 10 is now 5 years old.
Either wait and hope or go another way, see no alternatives
What other alternatives are there for how I can legally get Windows 10?
Buy it
Hm XD
I'll keep looking, thank you first
