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Dutchess_III's avatar

How do I wipe out the info in this used lap top?

Asked by Dutchess_III (47048points) December 30th, 2015

Someone gave me a lap top. How do I wipe it clean and start new?

Observing members: 0 Composing members: 0

14 Answers

jaytkay's avatar

Is it Windows? And if so, what version (XP, Win 7, Win 8, etc)?

Seek's avatar

^ what he said.

SQUEEKY2's avatar

If you have the pass word, you can do it from the partition which is tapping f7 or f8 while the lap top is in boot up stage,you will see a restore option and can go from there, it will reinstall the OS.
Or you can do it from the recovery disk if you have it.

ARE_you_kidding_me's avatar

Make and model?

jaytkay's avatar

If you restore the OS, you lose the programs.

So another question – does it have any programs, like Microsoft Office, that you want to keep?

jaytkay's avatar

I have to sign off, so assuming you have Windows, here you go.

A) If you want to keep the installed programs, or you have Windows 7 or XP

1) Create a new user
2) Make it an admistrator
3) Sign off (or reboot), sign in as the new user
4) Delete the old user

B) If you have Windows 8 or 10 and DO NOT need the programs (this is an awesome feature)

1) In Windows 8, go to Settings
2) Choose ‘Update and Recovery’
3) Choose ‘Recovery’
4) Follow the instructions on the screen

1) In Windows 10, go to Settings
2) Choose ‘Update and Security’
3) Choose ‘Reset this PC’
4) Follow the instructions on the screen

Silence04's avatar

Take the hard drive out back and shoot it

AshlynM's avatar

Try a factory reset.

Dutchess_III's avatar

I have windows 7.

Dutchess_III's avatar

@jaytkay I show Microsoft Silverlight and Microsoft Visjal C++ Redistributable….Looks like I don’t have Excel or Word, etc.

I went to control panel / user accounts. I can make changes to the account but I don’t see a way to make a new one.

Dutchess_III's avatar

Hm. It looks like it might be wiped clean already. I changed the user name to my name, and now I’m the administrator.

Seek's avatar

Good. I am glad the person was smart enough to factory reset before handing it off.

(Stuff like that always worries me)

jaytkay's avatar

Sounds good. I would suggest creating a new account anyway. Not essential, but hey, it’s free.

How to create a new user account in Windows7

Dutchess_III's avatar

Huh, @jaytkay! How did I miss that?
Thanks. The lap top isn’t near me, but I’ll get back on it when I wake up.
.

@Seek well, he forgot to log out of facebook before he got rid of it!

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