1. You are viewing our forum as a guest. For full access please Register. WindowsBBS.com is completely free, paid for by advertisers and donations.

Resolved Windows 10 Fresh Install

Discussion in 'Windows 10' started by virginia, 2023/09/03.

  1. 2023/09/03
    virginia Lifetime Subscription

    virginia Geek Member Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2002/01/07
    Messages:
    1,097
    Likes Received:
    25
    With much help from this Board, I recently downloaded a bootable flash drive to do a fresh install of W10 on some laptops that had been given to me. All went well and I did not save any of the existing files.
    One of the previous laptop owners wanted me to clean off all his old files. Question - Does the fresh insatll of W10 - without saving any files - provide an assurance that the previous owner's files have been adequately removed?
     
    virginia,
    #1
  2. 2023/09/03
    Steve R Jones

    Steve R Jones SuperGeek Staff

    Joined:
    2001/12/30
    Messages:
    12,314
    Likes Received:
    252
    "IF" after the install the machine was sent to on of those companies that charge tens of thousands of dollars - I might maybe be concerned they could get some of the files off.

    Just surfing the internet writes files to the drive. Each one of those files are being written on "space" where the original files were. Each time that happens - it gets harder and harder to get the old information.

    When in doubt - destroy the hard drive.
     
    Steve R Jones,
    #2


  3. to hide this advert.

  4. 2023/09/03
    virginia Lifetime Subscription

    virginia Geek Member Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2002/01/07
    Messages:
    1,097
    Likes Received:
    25
    Steve, Thanks. That was pretty much my assessment but I just wanted to get some reassurance.
     
    virginia,
    #3
  5. 2023/09/04
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

    Joined:
    2002/01/18
    Messages:
    9,072
    Likes Received:
    400
    I know this thread is marked as resolved, but the previous files are still there. A simple free opensource tool like Testdisk can recover the former partitions and the data that was on them. Granted, some of the data may be now unusable, but a lot can be recovered.
     
    TonyT,
    #4
  6. 2023/09/04
    virginia Lifetime Subscription

    virginia Geek Member Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2002/01/07
    Messages:
    1,097
    Likes Received:
    25
    Tony T - thanks for the input. Wasn't what I was wanting to hear but a very interesting tool and related website. Not sure I want to test it out.
    Usually, my goal is to make data on other people's computers basically unusable - not recovery of data. I was hoping that the fresh install would be good enough. I have used Darik's Boot Nuker in the past so I may have to go back to it. Or destroy the hard drive.
     
    virginia,
    #5
  7. 2023/09/05
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

    Joined:
    2002/01/18
    Messages:
    9,072
    Likes Received:
    400
    When I restore others' computers anymore I just put in a cheap new solid state drive.
     
    TonyT,
    #6
  8. 2023/09/06
    virginia Lifetime Subscription

    virginia Geek Member Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2002/01/07
    Messages:
    1,097
    Likes Received:
    25
    Thanks Tony. Prompts a follow on question/s - if you install a new hard drive, will the original version of Windows install using a bootable flash drive? Does one need the original authentication info such as the 25 digit key to complete the installation?
     
    virginia,
    #7
  9. 2023/09/09
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

    Joined:
    2006/09/10
    Messages:
    7,919
    Likes Received:
    511
    Hi Robert,

    To answer your question, no you do not need the product key as Windows 10 and 11 will activate itself automatically as the product key is tied to the motherboard. Even if you do a clean install on a previously activated computer that had Windows 10/11 on it, Windows 10/11 will re-activate itself automatically.
     
    Evan Omo,
    #8
  10. 2023/09/10
    virginia Lifetime Subscription

    virginia Geek Member Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2002/01/07
    Messages:
    1,097
    Likes Received:
    25
    Thanks Evan,
    I felt that was how it worked but wasn't sure. Good to know I was leaning in the right direction.
     
    virginia,
    #9
  11. 2023/09/10
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

    Joined:
    2006/09/10
    Messages:
    7,919
    Likes Received:
    511
    You are welcome. :)
     
    Evan Omo,
    #10

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Accept Learn More...