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iemanja

(54,831 posts)
Wed Dec 28, 2022, 09:34 PM Dec 2022

I have to return a computer. How do I scrub it?

The irritating one drive, without my permission, decided to download all kinds of work files AND MY TAX RETURNS onto this new computer. I unlinked onedrive from the computer, but it didn't remove the files. How do I make sure everything is deleted permanently?

I'm returning the computer because it is defective.

24 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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I have to return a computer. How do I scrub it? (Original Post) iemanja Dec 2022 OP
format the hard drive Timewas Dec 2022 #1
No disc iemanja Dec 2022 #2
Do you have a disk Timewas Dec 2022 #3
There is no DVD drive iemanja Dec 2022 #5
2 things I do. Either remove it and smash it with a hammer or get East-Tec Eraser and do a DoD+ wipe TheBlackAdder Jan 2023 #23
There are quite a free few diskwipe programs out there. sl8 Dec 2022 #4
Thank you iemanja Dec 2022 #6
Question iemanja Dec 2022 #7
Wherever you bought it moniss Dec 2022 #10
I'm not positive, but I doubt it. sl8 Dec 2022 #21
Delete all of the files in the following three Folders padfun Dec 2022 #8
0K, TY iemanja Dec 2022 #9
Boot into command prompt intrepidity Dec 2022 #11
Formatting doesn't do much.. data can easily be recovered... getagrip_already Dec 2022 #12
After I deleted all the files from file manager iemanja Dec 2022 #13
Not familiar with the tool, but getagrip_already Dec 2022 #20
I reread the return policy iemanja Dec 2022 #14
They let me return it for a full refund iemanja Dec 2022 #22
New computers have a recovery partition IbogaProject Dec 2022 #15
Your link is dead iemanja Dec 2022 #16
I tried making it a formal link IbogaProject Dec 2022 #17
Something is strange iemanja Dec 2022 #18
Your DNS might be messing up IbogaProject Dec 2022 #19
Eraser TdeV Jan 2023 #24

Timewas

(2,298 posts)
1. format the hard drive
Wed Dec 28, 2022, 09:37 PM
Dec 2022

Or if it came with a renewal disk or partition then take it back to original, formatting will erase it all

Timewas

(2,298 posts)
3. Do you have a disk
Wed Dec 28, 2022, 09:44 PM
Dec 2022

For any windows OS you can use that in the dvd drive

If is not a windows computer then I don't know


Or if you have a friend that can loan you any windows installation disk then just do a new install with that

sl8

(16,252 posts)
4. There are quite a free few diskwipe programs out there.
Wed Dec 28, 2022, 09:48 PM
Dec 2022

I always used to use DBAN on PCs before they left our facility, but that's going back a few years. Still available, though.

Here are three programs that MajorGeeks recommends:
https://m.majorgeeks.com/content/page/3_apps_to_wipe_your_hard_drive.html

iemanja

(54,831 posts)
7. Question
Wed Dec 28, 2022, 09:57 PM
Dec 2022

I don't what to destroy everything because what was on the computer when I bought it needs to be there. I just want to delete my files. Do you think the second option in the article you linked will do that?

moniss

(6,057 posts)
10. Wherever you bought it
Wed Dec 28, 2022, 10:28 PM
Dec 2022

should not give you grief if you return it fully wiped because it is a defective machine anyway and they will send it to wherever it came from/fix it themselves and will have to reinstall the OS anyway.

sl8

(16,252 posts)
21. I'm not positive, but I doubt it.
Thu Dec 29, 2022, 11:50 AM
Dec 2022

Sorry I'm late, I didn't notice your reply.

Those wipe programs looks like they work on a lower level then the filesystem, which would mean that everything goes.

You may want to search for secure erase program instead of the diskwipe programs. I've used CCleaner (free) on my PCs and was happy with it. I hesitate to vouch for it unconditionally, but I think it will do what you want.

padfun

(1,857 posts)
8. Delete all of the files in the following three Folders
Wed Dec 28, 2022, 10:14 PM
Dec 2022

Dont remove the Folders, just the files in there

Documents
Downloads
Desktop (Do it from the file folder window, not actually from the desktop. That way, the original shortcuts will still be there)


This wont completely make it to the original state and there will still be some hidden files as well as registry entries, but it would take a computer person to find them and if they are that good, they would know how to undelete anyway.

The real two best ways are listed above. Format the Drive but that clears everything. Or run the original install from the disk.

There is one other way but you need to press F12 at the splash screen and follow prompts to recover the disk. The original install will go on at that recovery.

getagrip_already

(17,498 posts)
12. Formatting doesn't do much.. data can easily be recovered...
Wed Dec 28, 2022, 11:27 PM
Dec 2022

You want a method to write over each block of storage several times.

There are utilities out there to do it. But formatting wont really erase data.

iemanja

(54,831 posts)
13. After I deleted all the files from file manager
Wed Dec 28, 2022, 11:41 PM
Dec 2022

and got a prompt saying they would not going into the recycle bin because they were web only---after I did that, I saw an option to shred the folder using McAfee. Do you think that will do it?

iemanja

(54,831 posts)
14. I reread the return policy
Thu Dec 29, 2022, 01:23 AM
Dec 2022

They make not take it back because it says you have to return the defective item within the return window, which is 15 days. This is Best Buy. They have a holiday return policy, but you need a gift receipt. I'll find out tomorrow how they'll handle this.

iemanja

(54,831 posts)
22. They let me return it for a full refund
Thu Dec 29, 2022, 03:31 PM
Dec 2022

absolutely no problems, so that was good. I used the McAffee shredder that says it permanently deletes files.

IbogaProject

(3,710 posts)
17. I tried making it a formal link
Thu Dec 29, 2022, 01:56 AM
Dec 2022

It's opening for me.

I got it off of DuckDuckGo and searching for
how to boot into windows recovery partition

I've read makeuseof so I know it's an OK site.

iemanja

(54,831 posts)
18. Something is strange
Thu Dec 29, 2022, 02:02 AM
Dec 2022

Because I googled the Make Use Of site and even the link to it is dead. Very weird. It happens in both Chrome and Edge. Thanks though. I'll try it again tomorrow.

IbogaProject

(3,710 posts)
19. Your DNS might be messing up
Thu Dec 29, 2022, 02:04 AM
Dec 2022

Hopefully it is fine tomorrow.

Here is an archive of that page, weird to have to pull an archive on a totally free site.

https://archive.vn/Pf6QT

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