How do i format my pc a 100% without leaving any trace behind??

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  1. Posts : 13
    windows 7 vista 32 bit
       #1

    How do i format my pc a 100% without leaving any trace behind??


    hello guys,i will sell my pc and i wanna know how to format my pc a 100% wothout leaving nothing behind?
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  2. Posts : 6,285
    Windows 10 Pro X64
       #2

    One way is to download Darik's Boot And Nuke | Hard Drive Disk Wipe and Data Clearing, create the bootable CD then boot it and do the secure wipe.

    Are you going to sell it without any Operating System? If not then after the wipe you will need to install one. If you planned to use the factory restore that is normally on a partition on the hard drive then do not use DBAN or any program that wipes the entire hard drive. You will want one that wipes the partition the operating system is on.
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  3. Posts : 25,847
    Windows 10 Pro. 64/ version 1709 Windows 7 Pro/64
       #3

    Here is a tutorial by Bare Foot Kid that should be helpful.

    Secure Erase / Wipe : Definition and Methods

    Here is another tutorial by Kari.

    Windows 7 Installation - Prepare PC to be Sold

    Last edited by Layback Bear; 20 Aug 2014 at 21:22.
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  4. Posts : 13
    windows 7 vista 32 bit
    Thread Starter
       #4

    yeah i was planning,format it and reinstall windows again,but is this method the best? reinstall windows?? thanks
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  5. Posts : 25,847
    Windows 10 Pro. 64/ version 1709 Windows 7 Pro/64
       #5

    Did you read the two tutorials I posted?
    Your question will be answered in those tutorials.

    From:
    Secure Erase / Wipe : Definition and Methods

    Contrary to popular belief, doing a full format with Windows 7 only over-writes the old disk format configuration data (the MBR) with the new and checks for sector errors, then marks the remaining space to be over-written as needed, it does not over-write (remove) any other data at all, it's all still there including code from previous Operating Systems and all of the old personal data.


    From:
    Windows 7 Installation - Prepare PC to be Sold

    Giving away or selling a PC with everything intact is -sorry to say it- dumb. Not only can it bring a lot of problems and annoyances due to wrongly named user profiles and folders but it's also a security risk. Whatever you think, however careful you think you have been, there's always enough personal information available on a used PC to really make you suffer, if the new owner so decides. If you are giving away a used PC please wipe the hard disk first to ensure your privacy. Then install Windows 7 without any personal user related information.
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  6. Posts : 13
    windows 7 vista 32 bit
    Thread Starter
       #6

    yeah i,ve read the post you posted,but would a clean windows 7 reinstall do the job?
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  7. Posts : 25,847
    Windows 10 Pro. 64/ version 1709 Windows 7 Pro/64
       #7

    NO.
    It will not do what you requested. After a format and a install their is still left overs on the disk drive from the previous install.

    Both of those tutorials explain exactly that.
    Slow down and read them completely.

    Contrary to popular belief, doing a full format with Windows 7 only over-writes the old disk format
    You can do this tutorial by Brink:

    Disk - Clean and Clean All with Diskpart Command
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  8. Posts : 13
    windows 7 vista 32 bit
    Thread Starter
       #8

    will dban do the job??
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  9. Posts : 25,847
    Windows 10 Pro. 64/ version 1709 Windows 7 Pro/64
       #9

    Yes Dban will also wipe your drive.
    There are many 3rd party programs that will wipe your hard drive.
    I just was giving you threads that would show you how to do your wipe using Windows 7 all by itself.

    A long time ago I use to use Drive Scrubber until I leaned I didn't need it because Windows 7 can do it.

    It's your choice. As you can see their are many choices.
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  10. Posts : 13
    windows 7 vista 32 bit
    Thread Starter
       #10

    hello thanks for aswering,i have another question.Can i use other ways of doing it,without using a cd or cmd???like a program?.thanks in advance,and sorry for my english.
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