Windows 10: Erasing personal data on a new laptop before returning to vendor ( Amazon)

NormandChénier · Aug 6, 2019

Hi,

Followed your guide to erase data through settings and reset but nothing happens. The operation doesn’t go through. Have tried numerous times with no success. The laptop is an Asus with windows 10. Please help!

Kind regards.

Normand

:)

Cluster Head · Aug 6, 2019

Microsoft Surface Data Eraser

Microsoft Surface Data Eraser

Find out how the Microsoft Surface Data Eraser tool can help you securely wipe data from your Surface devices.

Microsoft Surface Data Eraser is a tool that boots from a USB stick and allows you to perform a secure wipe of all data from a compatible Surface device. A Microsoft Surface Data Eraser USB stick requires only the ability to boot from USB. The USB tool is easy to create by using the provided wizard, the Microsoft Surface Data Eraser Wrapper, and is easy to use with a simple graphic interface, no command line needed. To learn more about the data wiping capabilities and practices Microsoft uses during the service process for Surface, see Protecting your data if you send your Surface in for service.

Compatible Surface devices include:

•Surface Book

•Surface Pro 4

•Surface Pro3

•Surface 3

•Surface 3 LTE

•Surface Pro 2

Some scenarios where Microsoft Surface Data Eraser can be helpful include:

•Prepare a Surface device to be sent for repair

•Decommission a Surface device to be removed from corporate or organizational use

•Repurpose a Surface device for use in a new department or for use by a new user

•Standard practice when performing reimaging for devices used with sensitive data

Note: Third-party devices, Surface devices running Windows RT (including Surface and Surface 2), and Surface Pro are not compatible with Microsoft Surface Data Eraser.

Note: Because the ability to boot to USB is required to run Microsoft Surface Data Eraser, if the device is not configured to boot from USB or if the device is unable to boot or POST successfully, the Microsoft Surface Data Eraser tool will not function.

How to create a Microsoft Surface Data Eraser USB stick

To create a Microsoft Surface Data Eraser USB stick, first install the Microsoft Surface Data Eraser setup tool from the Microsoft Download Center using the link provided at the beginning of this article. You do not need a Surface device to create the USB stick. After you have downloaded the installation file to your computer, follow these steps to install the Microsoft Surface Data Eraser creation tool:

1.Run the DataEraserSetup.msi installation file that you downloaded from the Microsoft Download Center.

2.Select the check box to accept the terms of the license agreement, and then click Install.

3.Click Finish to close the Microsoft Surface Data Eraser setup window.

After the creation tool is installed, follow these steps to create a Microsoft Surface Data Eraser USB stick. Before you begin these steps, ensure that you have a USB 3.0 stick that is 4 GB or larger connected to the computer.

1.Start Microsoft Surface Data Eraser from the Start menu or Start screen.

2.Click Build to begin the Microsoft Surface Data Eraser USB creation process.

3.Click Start to acknowledge that you have a USB stick of at least 4 GB connected, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Start the Microsoft Surface Data Eraser tool

4.Select the USB drive of your choice from the USB Thumb Drive Selection page as shown in Figure 2, and then click Start to begin the USB creation process. The drive you select will be formatted and any existing data on this drive will be lost.

Note: If the Start button is disabled, check that your removable drive has a total capacity of at least 4 GB.

Figure 2. USB thumb drive selection

5.After the creation process is finished, the USB drive has been formatted and all binaries are copied to the USB drive. Click Success.

6.When the Congratulations screen is displayed, you can eject and remove the thumb drive. This thumb drive is now ready to be inserted into a Surface device, booted from, and wipe any data on the device. Click Complete to finish the USB creation process, as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3. Complete the Microsoft Surface Data Eraser USB creation process

7.Click X to close Microsoft Surface Data Eraser.

How to use a Microsoft Surface Data Eraser USB stick

After you create a Microsoft Surface Data Eraser USB stick, you can boot a supported Surface device from the USB stick by following this procedure:

1.Insert the bootable Microsoft Surface Data Eraser USB stick into the supported Surface device.

2.Ensure your system firmware is set to boot to USB. To enter the firmware settings:

1.Turn off your Surface device.

2.Press and hold the Volume Up button.

3.Press and release the Power button.

4.Release the Volume Up button.

3.When the Surface device boots, a SoftwareLicenseTerms text file is displayed.

Figure 4. Booting the Microsoft Surface Data Eraser USB stick

4.Read the software license terms, and then close the notepad file.

5.Accept or Decline the Software License Terms by typing Accept or Decline.

6.Select one of the following three options:

◦Enter S to start Data Erase – Select this option to begin the data erase process. You will have a chance to confirm in the next step.

◦Enter D to perform Diskpart – Select this option to use diskpart.exe to manage partitions on your disk.

◦Enter X to shut device down – Select this option to perform no action and shut down the device.

7.If you typed S to begin the data erase process, the partition that will be erased is displayed, as shown in Figure 5. If this is correct, press Y to continue, or N to shut down the device.

Figure 5. Partition to be erased is displayed in Microsoft Surface Data Eraser

8.If you pressed Y in step 7, due to the destructive nature of the data erasure process, an additional dialog box is displayed to confirm your choice.

9.Click the Yes button to continue erasing data on the Surface device.
Click to expand...

Source: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/...ce-data-eraser

Brink · Aug 6, 2019

Kohl's announces it will begin accepting Amazon returns in US stores

Kohl’s (NYSE: KSS) today announced that all Kohl’s stores will be accepting free, convenient, unpackaged returns for Amazon customers starting in July. Kohl’s and Amazon first worked together in 2017 to pilot the returns program, which is currently operating in 100 stores in the Los Angeles, Chicago and Milwaukee markets. Kohl’s and Amazon will roll out the program to all of Kohl’s more than 1,150 locations across 48 states. Kohl’s will accept eligible Amazon items, without a box or label, and return them for customers for free, providing additional service and convenience to Amazon customers.

“We are thrilled to bring Amazon Returns at Kohl’s to all of our stores across the country,” said Michelle Gass, Kohl’s chief executive officer. “Amazon and Kohl’s have a shared passion in providing outstanding customer service, and this unique partnership combines Kohl’s strong nationwide store footprint and omnichannel capabilities with Amazon’s reach and customer loyalty. This new service is another example of how Kohl’s is delivering innovation to drive traffic to our stores and bring more relevance to our customers.”

Amazon Returns at Kohl’s creates convenient locations for Amazon customers to return eligible Amazon.com merchandise to their local Kohl’s store. These items can be returned free of charge regardless of return reason and regardless of whether the items are packaged or unpackaged for shipping. Kohl’s will package and send all returned items to Amazon returns centers on behalf of customers, making the return process even easier.

Last month, Kohl’s also announced that it will expand its product relationship with Amazon by carrying Amazon products in more than 200 stores.
Click to expand...

Read more:

Kohl's Announces Expansion of Amazon Returns to All Kohl's Stores Nationwide

Kohl's will begin accepting Amazon returns in all its US stores | ZDNet

Plotholes80 · Aug 6, 2019

Remote erasing of data on lost phone

I have misplaced my phone while travelling in China.

Attempts to call the phone were unsuccessful, suggesting that either the phone was switched off or that the SIM card was removed/.

I called my phone service provider to deactivate the number.

i tried to login to my windows account to erase the data on my phone but got a message that it was unsucessful.

My questions are,

1) will I still be able to the erase the data remotely if the person who picked up my phone had replaced the SIM card

2) will I still be able to the erase the data remotely if my number was deactivated by my service provider

3) what else, if anything, could I do to wipe any data ( e.g. Contact list, messages, whatsap messages etc.) from the phone?

Unfortunately, a passcode is not required to unlock my phone,

i'm not sure I have wifi access to check the replies for the next few days, but any advices on this matter is much appreciated.

Windows 10: Erasing personal data on a new laptop before returning to vendor ( Amazon)

Erasing personal data on a new laptop before returning to vendor ( Amazon)

Erasing personal data on a new laptop before returning to vendor ( Amazon)

Erasing personal data on a new laptop before returning to vendor ( Amazon)

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