Should I remove my hard drive before selling my laptop?
If you're extremely paranoid about the security of the data stored in the computer, yes. If you're not, it should be sufficient to format the disk and/or reinstall the operating system. No, but it's prudent to wipe the drives data. DBAN is a completely sufficient tool for safely wiping the drive.
And RAM gets wiped any time the computer is shutdown or restarted. The hard drive would be the only part containing your data. However, the buyer would have no way of verifying that the laptop works without it. If it's a local buyer, you could stick the drive back in just to show that it boots and runs, then remove it.
As we've mentioned before, the only secure way to clean out your computer's hard drive is to format it so you start from scratch. This process is time-consuming, but it's necessary before you sell your computer to stranger. You don't want any personal information remaining on the hard drive.
Yes it is safe. There is nothing else that can really store your files. But you could also format the drive and data shouldnt be too easy to recover.
Before wiping a drive, it is wise to take a few precautions. Before permanently deleting the laptop's hard drive, the important files should be backed up so that they can be retrieved by the seller later. There are many free programs available online that can help clone the entire laptop drive onto an external drive.
If there is no other way to dispose of your laptop safely, you can throw it away in your regular garbage. Be aware that this can be very damaging to the environment and should be used as an absolute last option.
If you remove a hard drive from your computer, the data will still be present on the hard drive. However, it will no longer be present in that computer.
Effect on How the Computer Operates
Computers can turn on and display the system BIOS screens without a hard drive, so removing the drive doesn't damage anything -- it just renders the computer useless.
- Step 1: Back up your hard-drive data. ...
- Step 2: Don't just delete files from your computer. ...
- Step 3: Use a program to wipe your drive. ...
- Step 4: Physically wipe your hard drive. ...
- Step 5: Do a fresh installation of the operating system. ...
- DBAN. ...
- Destroy the hard drive.
- Click Update & Security.
- Go to the left-hand side, scroll down and click on Recovery.
- From there, go to Reset this PC. ...
- A prompt will appear with two options, Keep My Files or Remove Everything. ...
- Click the Change settings option.
- Turn the Data Erasure toggle switch to on.
Is data stored anywhere besides hard drive?
Personal data can be stored on any device with a permanent memory, including desktop and laptop computers, external hard drives, games consoles, mobile phones, tablets, faxes, printers, and removable memory such as that found in digital cameras.
To sell used hard drives is a good thing for saving money and resource recycling. However, it is dangerous to sell hard disk online since the buyer may be able to access the personal and confidential information of the previous owner.
- Flip the hard drive over so you can see the main circuit board. ...
- Use a Torx driver to unscrew the circuit board using the four Torx screws.
- Remove the board, break it in half, and discard it.
- Download this software and install it on your computer. ...
- Launch AOMEI Backupper, click "Tools" in the left tab.
- Then you will be asked to select your desired wiping type. ...
- Select the hard drive you want to erase and click Next to continue.
Before donating or recycling your computer, you need to completely wipe or remove the hard drives. By doing so, you will ensure that the data on the hard drives will be completely erased and untraceable by data thieves.
While it might seem as if it's a good way to ruin electronic equipment, you cannot destroy the information on a hard drive and deem it unusable if you submerge it in water. Why is that? Well, the water will short circuit the electrical components of the hard drive, but the data will remain.
- Sell It. Believe it or not, there's a robust market for old tech. ...
- Recycle It. For those who don't have the time to list used electronics, don't fret; many municipalities schedule collection days year-round. ...
- Donate It. ...
- Gift It.
...
Android
- Open Settings.
- Tap System.
- Tap Reset options.
- Tap Erase all data and follow the on-screen directions.
What Does a Hard Drive Do? A hard drive is the hardware component that stores all of your digital content. Your documents, pictures, music, videos, programs, application preferences, and operating system represent digital content stored on a hard drive. Hard drives can be external or internal.
- Fry it with a high voltage.
- Use a USB Killer.
- Overwriting Master Boot Record (MBR) of the hard drive.
- Use the Fork Bomb Technique.
- Overheating your computer.
- Delete the Operating system.
- Use a shutdown-restart code.
- Overwhelming the RAM.
How much is an old hard drive worth?
As such, there's good demand for used western digital hard drives. While most WD hard drives sell for ~$10 to $75, high capacity drives and WD SSDs go for higher.
- Turn on or restart the computer.
- While the display is blank, press the F10 key repeatedly to enter the BIOS settings menu. ...
- Select Security.
- Select Hard Drive Utilities or Hard Drive Tools.
- Select Secure Erase or Disk Sanitizer to open the tool.
Best Buy does NOT remove data. Dropping off your hardware that contains sensitive data is like dropping it off at your local playground with a sign that says “Take My Info.” They offer solutions to remove the data but only for Windows computers and nothing else.
More modern electronics have been built to withstand daily exposure to the magnetic fields all around us, making devices like hard drives and smartphones. Not only that, but your average magnet, or even a relatively strong one would not destroy the data on your hard drives.
The heat from the drill might even cause damage that permanently warps the drive. But as long as there are intact sections of hard drive platters, the data stored on those sections is still technically accessible.
To do so, connect the drive to your computer, right-click it in Windows Explorer or File Explorer, and select Format. Be sure to uncheck the Quick Format box to perform a full format— a quick format won't fully erase the deleted files from your drive. Repeat this process for each drive you want to wipe.
Go to Settings → Change PC Settings → Update and Recovery → Recovery. Under “Remove everything and reinstall Windows,” click “Get started,” then click “Next.” Select “Fully clean the drive.” This takes longer, but it's the most secure option. Click “Reset” to start the process.
- Open Settings and select Update & Security.
- Click the Recovery tab, then Get Started.
- Select Remove everything.
For Windows 10, go to the Start Menu and click on Settings. Then navigate to Update & Security, and find the Recovery menu. Next, select Reset this PC and choose Get Started. Follow the instructions to revert your computer back to when it was first unboxed.
Removing the HDD's will not damage anything, even if the computer is turned on without a HDD (of course, turn the PC off while physically removing and disconnecting the HDD). The buyer would simply install a HDD, and then install an OS, very little else needs to be done.
How do I permanently delete everything off my laptop?
- Click Update & Security.
- Go to the left-hand side, scroll down and click on Recovery.
- From there, go to Reset this PC. ...
- A prompt will appear with two options, Keep My Files or Remove Everything. ...
- Click the Change settings option.
- Turn the Data Erasure toggle switch to on.
Go to Settings > Change PC Settings > Update and recovery > Recovery. Click Get Started under the Remove everything and reinstall Windows section. Click Next, then choose Fully clean the drive to ensure everything is deleted. Click the Reset button and your drive is wiped, your PC is reset, and Windows is reinstalled.