Simple way to clean a Dell laptop for donation - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ez24
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2018, 10:03:44 pm
content: I have several old Dell Latitude laptops (about 5 years old) and I would like to donate them to a charity. I do not have any installation disks. I would like to "clean" the HDs but keep the OS so they can be sold as "working".There is a related topic going on but my problem is somewhat different and the solutions are all over the place.Before I toss the computers, I thought to ask if there is a simple way to clean off the HDs but keep the OS so the computers will turn on?In the other topic there is a mention of using a CD. I have not burned a CD in years. If I need something, I would like to use a USB stick.Who has the simplest solution? There is no need to save any data or programs. Just the licensed OS remain.There are no partitions on the HDs.TIA

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2018, 10:20:03 pm
content: What you can try to do is get rid of absolutely any unnecessary files, and then shrink the partition in live gparted, making a new partition in the empty space (or new volume) and them securely wiping that volume. Then just expand the volume back. In theory that should nuke anything left on there and keep the OS intact. I'd do stuff like take a peek in the registry and get rid of anything that doesn't seem necessary, clear out all programs, and then if you want to be nice, install a registered copy of Avast to a burner email (if they still need email) and a modern browser like Google Chrome.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 16, 2018, 10:31:00 pm
content: Quote from: ez24 on April 16, 2018, 10:03:44 pmThat's asking for your data to be recovered by crooks. If there is still original recovery partition left, destroy the data with some tool (except recovery partition) and then recover the os.https://www.lifewire.com/free-data-destruction-software-programs-2626174

author: Vgkid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2018, 01:17:30 am
content: What models do you have?

author: ChunkyPastaSauce
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 17, 2018, 01:36:37 am
content: https://arstechnica.com/civis/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=1307227From the link:"1) make a recovery drive (click Start and search for "recovery drive") - this builds a recoverable installable Windows 10 installation on a USB drive2) boot Windows 10 from the USB drive and select (IIRC) Advanced, then console3) do a secure multi-pass format using the FORMAT <drive>: /P:4 command4) reinstall Windows 10 from the recovery drive"

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2018, 04:19:15 am
content: Windows is an inherently non-secure, non-private OS. If that's what you want to use, the best solution is to just get a new drive and do a clean install of the OS. Cheap, small SSDs are often under $40. If that's not possible, you need to somehow securely erase the existing drive.You can download installers for Windows directly from Microsoft. They have a little stand alone software tool you download and it will make either a USB install drive or an iso file you can burn to a DVD. I did it a few weeks ago for Windows 8.1, no hassle at all. You will need a CoA number for the new install. WIndows 7 will install and sort of work without one, but I couldn't figure out how to even install 8.1 without one. And I am of course clueless about Windows 10

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 17, 2018, 04:22:01 am
content: If a laptop didn't come with original recovery disks then chances are it either has a hidden recovery partition on the hard disk or the software is freely downloadable from the manufacturers website.What version of Windows is it running?There are a few ways I go about this.Method One (Most Secure - Most time consuming - Requires more advanced computing skills)1. Securely erase the entire hard disk using a tool such asDBAN. This obliterates all data (including any hidden restore/recovery partitions).2. Obtain a copy of the Windows CD/DVD which matches the COA affixed to the laptop itself. The COA is your Windows licence and contains your product key needed for install. You can also use tools likeRufusto write ISO images onto bootable USB drives.3. Re-install Windows and all the necessary drivers.Method Two (Somewhat secure - Moderately time consuming - Requires intermediate computing skills)1. Delete your personal information, documents, photos etc... including all thumbs.db/Thumbcache files, Internet cache, Cookies etc...2. Download a tool such asBleachBitto erase free/unallocated space on the disk (this leaves any existing files intact, but makes sure those files you just deleted are not recoverable). Keep in mind not all personal information is deleted (such as your name and what you've done on the computer previously) and 'artefacts' will remain in places such as the registry, but at least your personal files will be gone.Method Three (Least secure - Least time consuming - Requires basic computing skills)1. Google your laptop model(s) and attempt the built-in recovery process. On some Dell Latitude laptops follow theinstructions for restoring without the Windows environment. Keep in mind factory restore processes don't normally securely erase allocated or unallocated data so I'd be using this process in conjunction with Method Two.

author: MosherIV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2018, 06:56:49 am
content: As Halcyon said, Dell put a recovery partition in the hdd, never wipe or remove this partition!As Halcyon said, you can download the recovery/installation CDs from the Dell web site. The service tag from each laptop will help.Safest way to wipe ALL personal info is to wipe the partition where the os, applications and data is stored, then re-install the os.Not sure if you can do this from usb stick. When I tried it with a Dell workstation running Win2k (yeah I know I am so retro) Dell did something funny with the boot and os installation validation. Best to burn the installation CDs and install from them.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 17, 2018, 07:20:11 am
content: Quote from: MosherIV on April 17, 2018, 06:56:49 amI wouldn't say never. If you're the type of user who just wants to use their computer and don't know how to fix it when things go wrong, then leave it. If you're a power user, wipe away.Personally, I don't mind installing Windows from scratch, in fact, whenever I buy a new laptop, the first thing I do is blow away the drive and start again. For me, the recovery partition is just a waste of space.

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2018, 09:41:00 am
content: WHOA !hold on a minute...If the Recovery Partition is intact and can be triggered, it will fulfill ALL the OPs desires with a few clicksPartition wipe, reformat, OS re-install and most important > DRIVERS and instant Windows ACTIVATION

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 17, 2018, 09:56:51 am
content: Quote from: Electro Detective on April 17, 2018, 09:41:00 amBe very careful making this assumption because in all cases that I can remember personally doing this, they never securely "wipe" anything. The recovery software merely deletes the existing partition, creates a new one and formats it, thus leaving all your documents and files mostly intact in unallocated space. Anyone with a little bit of knowledge and some free software can recover your potentially private and sensitive data.Wiping a 1TB drive, even with a single pass of zeros will blow recovery time out by hours. Manufacturers just don't bother doing that with consumer gear.If you were to manually wipe the partition yourself then run recovery, yes this in an option, but those with the knowledge to do that will generally just reinstall the OS from original media rather than bothering with pre-installed crap.

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2018, 10:17:48 am
content: I say don't bother. Most charities just will wipe it and install whatever OS they want on it, whether it be Windows or GNU/Linux.

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2018, 10:24:02 am
content: It's 99.000099% whoever gets a recovered laptop won't be a geek for startersand most likely even if they are (or think they are), whatever is on that drive that appears even remotely 'forensically' recoverable will be incomplete jibberish data anywayand a waste ofvaluable p0rn surfingtimeChances are they'll hit on some weed/ice combo and blow it away and install Linux... and perhaps Windows 10 on a separate partition for a giggle

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2018, 10:24:57 am
content: High pressure water washer.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 17, 2018, 11:00:52 am
content: Quote from: Electro Detective on April 17, 2018, 10:24:02 amIt doesn't matter who the end user will be, unless the laptop contains data you would be willing to share with the entire world, you should take appropriate steps to obliterate it once you sell it or give it away. Even if it's just a quick one-pass zeros.Don't EVER make the assumption that any individual, company or charity will securely delete your data for you, because many won't. Charities will generally have someone with a technical mind assisting them, but can you be absolutely sure they will erase your data properly? If they are in a rush, the chances are no and it's not their responsibility either.It's not always the purchaser you have to worry about, you don't know who they'll give that laptop to. Charity shops are often a good source of cheap second-hand hardware and now that "hard drive mining" for crypto currency is becoming more popular, people are sourcing drives from everywhere.You don't need to be a digital forensics expert to recover deleted data or files off formatted drives. Companies offer free software for download which will do it for you after a few clicks.Take my professional advice, if you discard, sell or otherwise get rid of a hard drive, erase it properly,every single time.

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2018, 12:32:29 pm
content: Quote from: Halcyon on April 17, 2018, 11:00:52 amI agree about erasing the data beforehand. I should have been more clear. My comment was more about bothering to install an OS or preserving the existing one is a waste of time.It's also highly likely that the charity will erase all of the data, as a matter of course, but one should never rely on it.

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2018, 12:33:41 pm
content: Plenty of ways, bootable ISOs to do this but the simplest way would be to reinstall Windows from the recovery partition and then use the Microsoft cipher command to securely overwrite the unused space.Free and simple but *read* the help for the command.

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 17, 2018, 02:40:13 pm
content: I would DBAN the hard drives and if you want to put an OS since you don't have installation discs, put some flavor of linux on it. Let the charity do what they want at that point. Even doing just the autonuke function in DBAN still does a 3 pass write, nothing left to squirrel out.