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How do i completely wipe a hard drive but keep the OS?
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How do i completely wipe a hard drive but keep the OS?Posted:

Doctor-Doom
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So i found a old laptop in my garage that i didn't know worked but there's ALOT of space being taken up on the hard and id like to start fresh how could i wipe the hard drive clean but keep the OS seeing as i dont have the CD...Thanks ahead of time
#2. Posted:
LastStandPro
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Make a new user account, then log on to it, and delete everything in the users folder, except your new account. Then, go into the control panel and uninstall all programs that are not needed. Once that's done, delete the left overs in program files and the start menu.


Last edited by LastStandPro ; edited 1 time in total
#3. Posted:
Tywin
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What you're asking for is virtually impossible.

You cannot just completely wipe a drive with an exception of the OS.
#4. Posted:
CDR
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Lavish is correct.

However, was the OS you are using now preinstalled?

If so then there may be a recovery partition in your HDD which would reset to factory settings
#5. Posted:
TastyCashews
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Most laptops have the option to factory reset it, and that does delete everything off the hard drive but the os. You can only do this if there is a partition for it. I would recommend checking that out.
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