Summary: Before you sell or exchange your used laptop, you need to erase all the files/folders or any other sensitive information to protect your privacy and letting it fall into wrong hands. In this blog, we’ll show you how to securely erase any file beyond the scope of recovery.
News about stolen personally identifiable information (PII), including names, social security numbers, or banking information surfaces every day. Cyber criminals use this confidential data for various fraudulent activities.
As per a report by Proxyrack, the global cost of cybercrime will rise to $11.9 trillion USD in 2026, increasing to $19.7 trillion USD by 2030.
As technology progresses and malicious actors employ more sophisticated techniques, these numbers may shoot up, underscoring the high value placed on personal information by criminals.
Therefore, if you plan to sell, donate or recycle a used laptop containing your data, be very careful and take proper measures to protect it from being accessed.
Why Should You Wipe Data from Your Laptop Before Selling?
When preparing to sell a laptop, prioritizing data privacy and security is of utmost importance. Your device likely contains sensitive data, such as passwords, debit/credit card details, browsing history, and other internet-related activities.
If such information were to be accessed by unauthorized personnel, it could lead to various nefarious activities. Note that simply deleting the files or formatting the laptop is not enough, as data can still be recovered using specialized software.
Instead, you need to permanently delete the files/folders or any other sensitive information from your laptop which cannot be retrieved by any possible methods.
How to Prepare to Sell Your Laptop?
When you’re selling or exchanging your laptop, it’s important to take certain steps before handing it over to the next owner. The following checklist will guide you in preparing your device for its new owner and safeguarding your personal data.
First Step: Back Up Your Personal Data
Make sure to take a full backup of all the important data from your old laptop before erasing everything. Later, you can use the backup files to restore your data on any other device if needed.
A number of cloud services, such as Dropbox, Google Drive, and Microsoft OneDrive also let you store your files online that can be accessed on any new device with ease.
Alternatively, you can use the Windows Backup and Restore function to create a system image backup. Here’s the rundown:
Step 1: Open Control Panel by searching for it in the Taskbar.
Step 2: Under the System and Securitysection, click on Backup and Restore.
Step 3: In the Backup and Restore section, click Create a system image.
Step 4: . Select a destination for the backup: a hard disk, external drive, or network location, then click Next.
Step 5: Windows will give you the overview of what all will be backed up. Click Start Backup.
When the process is complete, check the destination location to find a WindowsImageBackup folder that contains your backup files.
Second Step: De-Link All Accounts and Remove Passwords
Before selling off your laptop, it’s important to de-link all of accounts linked to the device. Make sure to logout and remove the laptop’s access to your email accounts, software licenses, cloud services, or any other services that have your login credentials.
Applications & web browsers save passwords which can pose a security vulnerability if not removed. To mitigate this risk, go to your browser settings and erase all autofill data, including passwords, and browsing history. Do the same for any other application that might be saving your credentials.
Third Step: Erase all sensitive files and data from your Laptop
When it comes to making your laptop’s data irretrievable, wiping your precious data from your device is essential. In the following section we will discuss the various methods to erase your files permanently, beyond the scope of any recovery, not even with a specialized data recovery tool.
Method 1: Erase Your Files/Folders Using Reset PC
On laptops running Windows 11, you can use the Reset PC function via Settings to erase your files/folders and all your personal data. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Go to Settings and from the menu on the left, click System.
Step 2: Scroll down and select Recovery.
Step 3: Now click Reset PC and choose Remove Everything.
Important Note for Older Laptops: If you have an old laptop with a traditional magnetic hard drive, it’s still possible for someone to recover its data, even after you reformat it and reinstall the OS.
Method 2: Erase Files/Folders from your Laptop Using File Eraser Software
Alternatively, you can use a File Eraser software to securely wipe your files/folders or any important data from your laptop’s hard drive. This method is highly recommended for preparing your laptop for recycling as it guarantees a clean device without any residual data.
Stellar File Eraser is a professional file eraser software that permanently wipes all types of data stored on your laptop, saving it from falling into the wrong hands. Utilizing world-class data wiping technology, this DIY tool adheres to specialized erasure standards set by organizations such as the US Department of Defense.
Key features of Stellar File Eraser:
- Wipes all kinds of files, traces or deleted files from hard drives, USB drives, SD cards, and server files beyond the scope of recovery.
- Securely erase internet traces created by web browsers, system traces created by the OS, and application traces, created by apps.
- Allows you to search for specific files using name or extension.
- Allows you to link all files and folders to a list to wipe them in one go.
- Enables you to schedule the wiping tasks and run them automatically at a predefined date and time.
Follow the steps below to permanently wipe files using Stellar File Eraser:
Step 1: Download, install and launch Stellar File Eraser on your PC.
Step 2: Click on Erase Files & Folders in the left pane.
Step 3: Click Add Items to add the files you want to delete permanently and click Erase Now.
Step 4: A Confirm Erasure dialog box appears, click Proceed to continue.
Step 5: Process Completed window appears with the Erasure Summary of deleted files. Click OK to finish the process.
Bottom Line
When selling an old laptop, it is crucial to completely erase all sensitive data to ensure it cannot be recovered. By following secure data-wiping methods, you can confidently sell your device without compromising any confidential information.
