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
Does a Factory Reset Permanently Delete Files? No, not always. A standard factory reset (without secure erasure) does not permanently delete files—they can often be recovered with data recovery software.
A factory reset, even with the "Clean the drive" option, has significant drawbacks when trying to permanently delete files. First, on traditional HDDs, the reset may overwrite data, but advanced recovery tools can sometimes still retrieve fragments—especially if the wipe wasn’t thorough (e.g., only a single pass).
Second, on SSDs, the issue is worse due to wear-leveling and over-provisioning, which can leave traces of old data in hidden memory blocks. Additionally, if the reset relies on Windows' built-in tools, it doesn't always fully sanitize the drive, leaving recoverable artifacts in unallocated space.
Another major con is that factory resets don’t touch secondary partitions or recovery sectors, meaning sensitive data could linger in hidden system areas.
For example, malware, logs, or cached files might survive the reset. If you’re selling or recycling the device, this poses a privacy risk. To completely wipe a laptop with Windows, dedicated disk wiping tools are far more reliable. In extreme cases, physical destruction remains the only foolproof method. A factory reset alone is not enough for high-security data disposal.