It is necessary to complete a few tasks before disposing of an old computer entirely. The following tutorial will walk you through the process of wiping out all of your personal information from your Windows 10 computer to ensure the safety of your personal information.
Even if you have no plans to recycle or donate your old computer, you may find yourself in the position of needing to perform a factory reset. To speed up your operating system, you might want to perform a reset, a restore, or a reinstall to make it more responsive.
Performing Factory Reset on Windows 10 – Best Method
Our recommendation for a “full wipe” of your computer is to follow the following three steps:
- Make a copy of the data you intend to keep.
- Make use of data shredding software to clean up your computer completely.
- You can perform a factory reset on your device by accessing the ‘Recovery’ option from Windows 10 settings.
The option to automatically shred your data on Windows 10 is available when performing a factory reset on your computer. Please continue reading if you want to learn more about restoring Windows 10 to its factory default settings.
Factory reset VS Data Destruction
Even if you perform a factory reset on your computer, some of the data on your computer may remain. Even though the computer cannot “see” it, data can still be kept confidential. Because of this, it’s a good idea to back up your old files and photos to an external hard drive in case you need to recover them from a computer you no longer use.
Use data-shredding software to ensure your files are completely erased from your computer. Performing this step before proceeding with a factory reset of the operating system will save you from any data leaks; especially if you are handing the PC to someone else.
Make a Backup of all Your Files and Programs First.
Even if it seems obvious, make sure you have a backup of all your computer’s files before you erase them. You can either have your files backed up automatically or manually drag and drop them onto an external hard drive.
By selecting Backup and Restore (Windows 10) and then clicking Create a system image, you can create a backup of your entire computer. Backups of your files can be created automatically by going to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Backup.
Please ensure you have enough space on your external hard drive before beginning this procedure.
After working with your files, don’t forget about your applications. Always double-check that you have the license keys for any paid-for software you are currently using. The “About” portion of the software contains these. Sometimes, passwords can be found on the original installation disc or purchase confirmation email. These licencing keys will be necessary when reinstalling paid-for software on a new computer.
The factory reset procedure in Windows 10 is as follows:
It has never been easier to reinstall an operating system than it is now, thanks to Windows 10.
The recovery process can be started by going to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Recovery. You’ll find a variety of options in this section. Recovery can be accomplished through a variety of means.
Once you select the Get started option under Reset this PC option, you can choose between Keep my files or Remove everything. You will find this on Recovery Screen.
The latter method is recommended if you’re planning to sell your computer and want to perform a factory reset.
Keep my files when you’re restoring Windows 10!
This procedure should only be used as a last resort if you want to keep your Microsoft Windows laptop running smoothly. Even though this method will not delete your files, it will delete any apps or programs installed on your computer. It will be necessary to re-enter the product codes when you reinstall the software. This is critical if you’re using a premium program like Microsoft Office or your security software. Instead of relying on the fact that you have your installation disks nearby, locate and write down your unique software license codes.
This procedure replaces old system files with new ones, but your files are not affected. Then you’ll need to manually reinstall all of your apps and programs.
Remove everything from the computer to perform a Windows 10 factory reset.
All files and data are entirely deleted, and a fresh copy of windows 10 is installed. Once your data and applications are restored, you’ll experience a noticeable improvement in the performance of your computer. The process includes copying files from a hard drive and reinstalling applications and programs from the beginning.
Another option is to remove files from the drive and clean the drive. This option, like data-shredding software, performs additional data-wiping as well. If you’re thinking about donating, selling, or giving away your computer, this is the method.
