Deleting all files

Bobybobp

Bobybobp

Bobybobp

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15 Apr 2012
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Hello, i am currently trying to sell my laptop but need to do a complete data restore to its factory settings. I have looked online for how to do this but they always say that i need the windows disk. Is there anyway of deleting all data without using the windows disk.

Thank you, Sam.

Forgot to mention but its windows 7, Samsung, and its model is NP-N110
 
Did it come with Windows 7 on it or did you install it yourself?

What options does it give you when you press F4?
 
It already had windows 7 on it and the options are:
Restore
Backup
System software

I clicked on restore and then it gives me three more options with descriptions:
Basic restore;quickly restores only the major windows files while maintaining the data on drive c:.

Complete restore;overwrites the entire drive c: with a backup image to restore the computer completely.

Data restore;restores user data with the backup data.
 
I clicked on data restore but it has an error message which says "unable to find backup file information"

Also the laptop has more than one drive.
And as well as that i just read the link you gave me and when i press F4 the only option it gives me is Samsung recovery solution 4 where as the link you gave is 3. Not sure if that will make a difference :).
 
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Check under the battery for the COA sticker.

The way you did it should work, guessing somewhere along the line your restore partition has gone AWOL.

A manual restore using the COA product key which should be afixed to the laptop is probably going to be your best shot.

Edit
If you don't know what a COA sticker looks like an example is here: http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/howtotell/Hardware.aspx#PCPurchase
 
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If it is a legitimate installation of Windows, as in the one Samsung put on there should be a COA sticker. It is possible it peeled off I guess.
 
Should just have to search microsoft for the correct version .iso, may need to provide your key, download and install however you wish.


Even if installed already you may well have gotten an os disk, check the boxes if you still have them
 
Bobybobp said:
Hello, i am currently trying to sell my laptop but need to do a complete data restore to its factory settings. I have looked online for how to do this but they always say that i need the windows disk. Is there anyway of deleting all data without using the windows disk.

Thank you, Sam.

Forgot to mention but its windows 7, Samsung, and its model is NP-N110
Click to expand...

You could also do with making sure your files and documents cant be recovered from the hard disk by the new owner.

If your going to re-install from an .iso, I would use DBAN's boot and nuke disc to secure wipe it before hand.

If your restoring from the recovery partition, I would use CCleaner and use the option to wipe free space.
 
Bobybobp said:
Whats the best way to do it? I have no clue, iso or DBAn i just want to literally restart the computer and make it new again.
Click to expand...

The simplest way if your not too sure about these things will be CCleaner which you can download onto the laptop once your re-installed. Post back when your re-installed and I'll guide you through the settings.
 
Ok so ive restored to the earlieswt point on the computer and it has deleted all the stuff but it still has stuff on it like the password and other things.
 
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