Windows 10: Windows 10 Reset PC remove files vs fully clean drive on a SSD

Sorry if this had already been answered, I searched Google and this site and couldn't find an answer. I was gifted an old HP laptop that was upgraded to Windows 10 a long time ago (it also originally came with a HDD and was upgraded to a SSD) and I want to do a full reset so I can give the laptop to a family member. My friend used this laptop for their business, so it is important their files get properly erased. I know how to reset the pc, and I know what "just remove my files" and "fully clean the drive" does on a HDD (I believe it writes random data over the drive if unencrypted and if encrypted it just does a quick format which gets rid of the encryption keys), but what happens if I chose the full clean option on a SSD? If I understand SSDs correctly, writing random data to an SSD doesn't actually get rid of old data, so if windows does that it would just be a waste of time and put unnecessary wear and tear on the SSD. Since the laptop originally shipped with an HDD, if I choose "fully clean the drive" does windows recognize that it's working with an SSD and change it's behavior? Or is the correct option with an SSD to select "just remove my files" and then run a trim command later? I want to be sure that I properly erase my friends data before giving the laptop away. Thanks in advance!

:)

 

Windows 10 Reset and "Fully Clean The Drive" on SSD

Ha ha.

So many replies and no one is answering the question - "Does the 'Fully clean the drive' (so that you can recycle your computer) clean an SSD drive?

I suspect that it doesn't and Microsoft are avoiding answering the question.

As so many new laptops are running on SSD drives this is a really important question.

...I've just reset my old laptop with an SSD (to sell it) and it now says (after several hours) that it was unable to clean all personal files and recommends that I reset the PC again :-/

:-( EDITED: I've now tried to reset 5 times. Seems Windows 10 has ceased to exist! The message I'm getting now says that my PC can not be recovered. This was supposed to be a Windows 10 recovery USB. It looks like it does everything that its supposed to
do, except in the end there's no recovery, only wipe! Wow, that's screwy.

 

Windows 10 Reset and "Fully Clean The Drive" on SSD

Hi,

I have a quick question about the "Fully Clean The Drive" option for Windows 10...

I have read that if you are planning on selling your computer you should reset Windows 10 and select 'Fully Clean The Drive'. I have read this is 'similar' to running format.exe c:\ /P:0, which would overwrite the whole drive
with zeros, making data recovery from a traditional HDD pretty much impossible.

My questions are

1) What exactly does fully clean the drive do? Does it overwrite the WHOLE drive or just delete user files and overwrite the free space? Because if it were to overwrite the whole drive how could it reinstall windows because there
would be no remaining data on the drive.

2) How does fully clean the drive work on SSD's? A single overwrite on a SSD would not be sufficient to sanitise the drive unless a TRIM command was also issued. Would fully clean the drive issue a TRIM command?

I guess my main question is how likely is it you can recover user data after you 'fully clean the drive' on an SSD?

Thank you in advance!

 

Windows 10 Reset and "Fully Clean The Drive" on SSD

Hi,

Than you for posting in Microsoft Community.

Share this information to assist you better.

• When you say "Fully Clean The Drive" are you referring to deleting all the files and folders in the computer?

If yes, you can reset your PC.

Resetting lets you choose whether to keep your files or remove them, and then reinstalls Windows. To get started, go to
Settings > Update & security > Reset this PC >
Get started and choose an option from the option listed below.

Note

• 
  If you can't open Settings, you can get to reset by restarting your PC from the sign-in screen. Press the Windows logo key
  
  
  +L to get to the sign-in screen, then hold the Shift key down while you select
  Power
  
  >
  Restart in the lower-right corner of the screen. After your PC restarts, select
  Troubleshoot > Reset this PC.
  If you can't get to the sign-in screen, use a recovery drive or installation media to reset your PC.
  

Option

Keep my files

What it does

• 
  Reinstalls Windows 10 and keeps your personal files.
  
• 
  Removes apps and drivers you installed.
  
• 
  Removes changes you made to settings.
  
• 
  Removes any apps your PC manufacturer installed. (If your PC came with Windows 10, apps from your PC manufacturer will be reinstalled.)
  

Option

Remove everything

What it does

• 
  Reinstalls Windows 10 and removes all your personal files.
  
• 
  Removes apps and drivers you installed.
  
• 
  Removes changes you made to settings.
  
• 
  Removes any apps your PC manufacturer installed. (If your PC came with Windows 10, apps from your PC manufacturer will be reinstalled.)
  

If you're planning to donate, recycle, or sell your PC, use this option and choose to fully clean the drive. This might take an hour or two, but it makes it harder for other people to recover files you've removed.

Option

Restore factory settings

What it does

• 
  Reinstalls the version of Windows that your PC came with (either Windows 8 or
  Windows 8.1) and removes your personal files.
  
• 
  Removes apps and drivers you installed.
  
• 
  Removes changes you made to settings.
  
• 
  Reinstalls any apps your PC manufacturer installed on your PC.
  

This option isn't available on all PCs.

Note

• 
  If you reset your PC within a month of your upgrade to Windows 10, the option in Settings that lets you go back to your previous version of Windows will no longer be available.
  

Disclaimer : Backup your computer:

When making significant changes to your computer such as updating the operating system, you should always backup. See links to resources about backing up by clicking the link for the respective version of Windows you are running:

Windows XP,
Windows Vista,
Windows 7,
Windows 8/8.1 (Applies to Windows 10 also)

Hope this information helps, let us know if you need further assistance.