Dell optiplex 3010

psd99 · 9 Oct 2025 at 14:08

I am looking to sell something I no longer use it is a dell optiplex 3010 mini pc.

Is there a way to reset this device so that the new owner can start it up so it looks like a new windows install?

I wondered if these dells have like a default recovery partition etc be good to know if this is the case, rather not have to do any reinstalling as this product has a authentic windows key

MissChief · 9 Oct 2025 at 14:09

psd99 said:
I am looking to sell something I no longer use it is a dell optiplex 3010 mini pc.

Is there a way to reset this device so that the new owner can start it up so it looks like a new windows install?

I wondered if these dells have like a default recovery partition etc be good to know if this is the case, rather not have to do any reinstalling as this product has a authentic windows key

Dell Optiplex 3010 System Reset

For those who think it's easier to annoy you than to Google 'Dell optiplex 3010 system reset' themselves.

letmegooglethat.com

Fluffybob · 9 Oct 2025 at 14:10

You can just do a full reset from the settings, it wipes profiles and software and puts a fresh Windows on it.

psd99 · 9 Oct 2025 at 14:11

U mean within windows…

Glanza · 9 Oct 2025 at 16:36

Open start menu / power options / hold shift down and click on restart / clean PC / remove all files / will wipe the drive and put a clean install of Windows on ready for the next person

Tetras · 9 Oct 2025 at 16:49

Afaik, the basic option in Windows doesn't erase, so the files can be easily recovered with file recovery software, but if you select change settings, there's an erasure option.

psd99 · 9 Oct 2025 at 18:30

Glanza said:
Open start menu / power options / hold shift down and click on restart / clean PC / remove all files / will wipe the drive and put a clean install of Windows on ready for the next person

So this works like 100%?

AthlonXP1800 · 10 Oct 2025 at 05:55

psd99 said:
I am looking to sell something I no longer use it is a dell optiplex 3010 mini pc.

Is there a way to reset this device so that the new owner can start it up so it looks like a new windows install?

I wondered if these dells have like a default recovery partition etc be good to know if this is the case, rather not have to do any reinstalling as this product has a authentic windows key

Yes Dell Optiplex 3010 Mini PC have recovery partition. Open File Explorer/This PC to see if you have drive D: RECOVERY then restart PC and press F11 repeatedly when Dell logo appear and Advanced Boot Option menu will appear. Select repair my computer, select language, log in account then select Dell Factory Image Restore and follow instructions to reformat partition C: and it will restore Windows 7 to factory settings.

psd99 · 10 Oct 2025 at 16:48

So there is no d drive…
Just a c

AthlonXP1800 · Saturday at 01:52

psd99 said:
So there is no d drive…
Just a c

Oh you must had deleted D drive partition and extended C drive partition long time ago.

I suggest you to reset PC to full format drive C and install Windows 11.

You have six ways to clean install Windows 11 on your PC, and here's I show you how.

To clean install Windows 11 on your PC, you can use a USB bootable media, ISO file, the Reset this PC option with the local or download option, or you can perform the install from WinRE or via Media Creation Tool.

pureinfotech.com

In step 8, set clean data to yes that will perform full format hard drive.

When you reached region setting during OOBE setup installation, press Shift + F10 to open command prompt and type in shutdown -s -t 0 and PC will shutdown for the next new owner to setup brand new Windows 11 installation.