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CaliforniaGolden's avatar
CaliforniaGolden
Iron Contributor
Jan 15, 2026

How to completely wipe a pc 100% before selling it?

I heard a factory reset is not safe enough and the data can be recovered. Currently, I plan to sell my Windows 10 PC as well as a Windows 11 laptop. I am preparing to sell a personal computer and hav...
Olddies's avatar
Olddies
Silver Contributor
Jan 16, 2026

Before selling a computer, a standard factory reset or “Reset this PC” is insufficient for secure data erasure. On modern hard drives, it only performs a “quick format,” which deletes file indexes but leaves actual data recoverable with forensic tools. Instead, use DBAN—a free, industry-standard tool for hard drives. It overwrites the entire drive with random data.

how to completely wipe a pc

  1. Obtain the DBAN ISO file from the official website.

  2. Use a third-party tool to write the DBAN ISO to a USB drive, creating a bootable media.

  3. Insert the USB drive into the computer to be wiped. After restarting, press the boot key, then select the USB drive from the boot menu.

  4. Once in the DBAN interface, press Enter. Enter the command `autonuke` and press Enter again. The tool will initiate three rounds of DoD-standard wiping , a process taking several hours.After completion, the

 computer's hard drive will be in a blank state: You can shut down and hand it over to the buyer directly; or reinstall the system using a Windows installation USB drive to restore the computer to a “usable” state.

 

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