Forum Discussion
How to completely wipe a laptop with Windows 11/10?
I've been in a similar situation before, selling an old Dell XPS 13 with an SSD system drive and a large HDD. I was also concerned that simply formatting the drive wouldn't be safe, as recovery software could still retrieve the files. In the end, I used a tool like Dr.Wiper to perform a full drive wipe, which overwrites both the SSD and HDD multiple times, completely erasing any remaining data.
I followed this tutorial: Worked for me
https://www.gicmodo.com/how-to-permanently-wipe-a-drive
For Samsung SSD or HHD, you can use the official app (Samsung Magician) to completely wipe a laptop for Windows OS made by Samsung.
Samsung Magician is a free, official tool designed for Samsung SSDs. It provides drive management, performance optimization, diagnostics, and secure data erasure. It is a powerful, feature-rich utility designed exclusively for Samsung Solid State Drives. Whether you're a casual user, IT professional, or performance enthusiast, this software provides essential tools to monitor, optimize, and secure your Samsung SSD.
The secure erase feature will permanently wipes all data using ATA Secure Erase (more reliable than standard formatting).
How to Use Samsung Magician for Secure Erase
- Download & Install from Samsung’s official site.
- Connect your Samsung SSD (internal or external via USB enclosure).
- Open Magician → Select your SSD → Go to "Secure Erase".
- Follow prompts (may require a bootable USB if the SSD is your OS drive).
- Confirm wipe → All data is permanently erased.
Unfortunately, this app only supports Samsung SSDs and Samsung laptops. You'd need to opt for another option for non-Samsung drives.