How to Wipe a Windows 10 Computer before Selling?

Admin | data wipe Featured How to's Software Technology | 6 minutes read | Last updated on February 8th, 2023,

Want to sell an old computer? Looking for different approaches to wipe a Windows 10 computer before selling! If yes, then do this before selling it in order to protect privacy and also to get the most value.

If you have decided to sell an old computer because you are shifting to a new system or trying to gain some additional cash to afford more premium devices, then it is essential to erase all the confidential and private data before giving it away to strangers. Moreover, you need to make sure that the device is properly working to get the extra money while avoiding problems with the buyer.

However, preparing a device for sale will take three steps – Backup, Wipe, and crafting an attractive device listing online. Creating a backup will help in avoiding data loss issues. Wiping the drives through a trusted solution will help remove the personal database and applications beyond recovery. Choosing a good online service for selling will help in obtaining a good price for the product. 

How to Prepare to Sell Used Computer?

If you are thinking about selling a used computer and like to earn money with this, then make sure to follow the appropriate steps to protect personal data, license for expensive applications, and leave the device ready for the next possessor. However, at first, it is necessary to take data backup of crucial files.

Backup of Files

Before jumping to other things, make sure that you are putting the entire system for backup. It is one of the main procedures and necessary in case you think of reverting the changes for any reason. Moreover, file backup is helpful in keeping copies of important data that one can easily restore on a different device.

There are many third-party applications available but Windows 10 include a built-in app that creates system image backup which helps to backup settings, apps, installation, and files.

Steps to Create System Backup

To start with the process, connect the external drive having lots of storage space with the system and then follow the steps:

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Click System and Security.
3. Click Backup & Restore.
4. From the left pane, click Create a System Image option.
5. Now, the screen of “Where do you want to save the backup?” will appear, pick the option of On a hard disk.
6. From On a hard disk drop-down menu, choose the location for backup.
7. Select additional drives that is required in a backup.
8. Click Next.
9. Click Start Backup.

Steps to Backup using External Drive

Now, you can use an external drive to copy the important data. To implement the same, connect an external drive with having large storage space and follow the steps:

1. Go to File Explorer.
2. Navigate to the location of files or folders whose data you are looking to backup.
3. Choose the necessary files/folders.
4. Click Copy to button appearing in the Home tab.
5. Click Choose location option.
6. Select the connected external drive.
7. Click Copy.

After completing the steps, files will be started copying to an external drives that is specified.

Wipe Windows 10 Computer

There are multiple ways to wipe data from old Windows 10 computer:

1. Manual Procedure
2. Professional and Recommended Method.

Method 1. Erasing all Data from Windows Manually

In the following section, utilize the recovery options in order to safely wipe the device completely and reset again to factory settings allowing the next possessor to set up the same as per need.      

Now, follow the steps to wipe and reset the PC:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Click Update & Security option.
3. Click Recovery.
4. Now click Get Started showing under Reset this PC.
5. Choose Remove Everything.
6. Click Change Settings and press the Next button.
7. Enable Data Erasure by turning on the toggle.

Note. If you are having more than one drive, then the additional Data Drives option will appear which will help in erasing the files from all the drives. The option will display when an external storage drive is connected to the machine. It is recommended to perform the process without connecting the external drive.

• Click Confirm.
• Press the Next button.
• Hit the Reset button.

Note. After the reset process is completed, it is not important to finish out-of-box-experience i.e. OOBE as it is the part where the next owner will set the device according to his/her settings.

After the process completion, the entire hard drive will be wiped beyond recovery, removing all the files, settings and apps, accounts, and then Windows 10 will implement a fresh installation. The process will take a few hours. However, in case you have a lot of time, then you will surely go with the method otherwise go with the second approach discussed below.

Method 2. Quick Technique to Wipe Windows 10 Computer before Selling

CubexSoft Data Wipe Software is a perfect utility that quickly wipes the entire Windows hard drive data completely. It erased the data in a way that no data recovery software could able to restore it. Moreover, the tool delivers the option of deleting essential files/folders as well as logical drives. Even, users can use wipe methods like Zero, Random, WipeFile, etc. to erase the necessary and required database from Windows 10. Apart from this, there are plenty of amazing features available that one can experience by using the trial edition.

Steps to Wipe Windows 10 Computer before Selling using Data Eraser Software

Step 1. Download and run Hard Disk Eraser Software on Windows 10.

Step 2. Select the section of Files & Folders in case you want to wipe only the important files or folder. However, you can use Select File(s) and Select Folder option to upload the essential data on the tool that is needed to be erased from Windows 10 completely. Select the section of Logical Drive and provide the necessary drive which needs a wipe and then click Next.

Step 3. The tool will analyse the selected files and load them on the software as a list. You can cross-check them and continue by clicking Next.

Step 4. Apply filters like date range, file mask or overwrite data with. These options will help in erasing the required data.

Step 5. Select the wiping method by clicking the drop-down arrow appearing in front of it. It will show options like Zero (1 Pass), Random (1 Pass), Wipe – Simple (1 Pass), and more. After choosing the required wiping method, click Wipe.

Step 6. A warning pop-up will appear that will ask for confirmation. Click Yes, if you want to continue with the wiping procedure.

Step 7.  Now, check the live data wiping process by using the window as shown that is displaying the current file/folder, total files wiped and total bytes wiped.

After the tool finishes the task, users will receive “Data Wipe Process Successfully Completed”. Click OK and exit.

Note. To understand the practical procedure of the software on your own, you can download the freeware version of the tool. It is useful in exploring the entire options and features of the application for free.

Epilogue

The article has discussed a method of how to wipe Windows 10 computer before selling. It is quite a sensitive topic for every Windows user who is moving to the new system from the old one. Sometimes, users forget to clean the entire system, and later they have to deal with the consequences that are not good. So, here we have mentioned some tricks which will be useful for every Windows user who is looking for tips to wipe data from Windows before giving it to strangers.