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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...
Versecxy's avatar
Versecxy
Iron Contributor
Jan 16, 2026

When it comes to how to 100% wipe computer. Using BitLocker combined with formatting can be an effective way to securely wipe a Windows computer for free, provided you follow the proper steps. 

How to 100% Wipe Computer:

1. Enable BitLocker:

Go to Control Panel > System and Security > BitLocker Drive Encryption.

Turn on BitLocker for your system drive and follow the prompts to encrypt it.

2. Securely Remove the Key and Decrypt :

To enhance security, you can decrypt the drive after encryption, or simply turn off BitLocker and delete the recovery keys, making data recovery impossible.

3. Format the Drive:

Use Windows Disk Management or a bootable USB to format the drive.

4. Reinstall OS or Leave It Empty:

After formatting, the drive is wiped. You can then reinstall the OS if desired.

 

Important:

This method is effective but not as thorough as specialized secure wipe tools like DBAN, which overwrite sectors multiple times.

Encrypt before formatting to add an extra layer of security.

Ensure you back up any important data before starting.

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