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How to secure erase hard drive on Windows 10 computer before donation?
Hi, I bought a new Windows 11 laptop and I'm planning to donate a Windows 10 device to a local church and want to make sure the hard drive is securely erased before handing it over. I understand ...
Mouela A factory reset on Windows 10 can be a safe and effective method for erasing data in most cases, but it depends on how thoroughly you want to wipe the drive and what your concerns are regarding data recovery.
If you’re donating or selling the device to someone who isn’t likely to use advanced recovery tools, a factory reset using the "Remove everything" and "Clean the drive" options should be sufficient. This process will wipe Windows 10 hard drive completely, making it difficult (though not impossible) to recover.