Selling a Windows 10 computer.

[bluegiraffe]

I am looking to sell my windows 10 computer as I have a new computer.

The old computer does not support upgrade to Windows 11.

I have reinstalled Windows 10 to get rid of me and any my files but -

When reinstalling Windows 10 it seems to insist on my signing in or making an account. I have made a throwaway account offline but can I sell it on like that? 
 

Also, do people still buy Windows 10 computers if they are not upgradeable to 11?

Edited September 7 by bluegiraffe

[Porthos]

7 minutes ago, bluegiraffe said:

do people still buy Windows 10 computers if they are not upgradeable to 11?

I wouldn't, but there stubborn to change types pf people who will.

9 minutes ago, bluegiraffe said:

When reinstalling Windows 10 it seems to insist on my signing in or making an account. I have made a throwaway account offline but can I sell it on like that? 
 

Create a new administrator account and delete the MS one. Name it owner or user or something like that.

[bluegiraffe]

Thank Porthos.

I'm not sure how much to ask for this computer or how best to advertise it.

If I looked in Device Manager would that give all the necessary ingredients for me to include in an advert?

 

 

[Porthos]

6 minutes ago, bluegiraffe said:

If I looked in Device Manager would that give all the necessary ingredients for me to include in an advert?

Name brand or custom build?

[bluegiraffe]

I think it was custom built. I received it as a gift. It's 4 years old. 

[Porthos]

6 minutes ago, bluegiraffe said:

I think it was custom built. I received it as a gift. It's 4 years old. 

Right click on START and choose system and post a screenshot of the result.

[AdvancedSetup]

17 hours ago, bluegiraffe said:

I have reinstalled Windows 10 to get rid of me and any my files but -

Depending on who buys the computer it's possible they can run recovery software on it and restore many if not all of your files.

Reinstalling Windows without a full pass wipe leaves many files recoverable.

 

Edited September 8 by AdvancedSetup
Updated information

[nukecad]

2 hours ago, AdvancedSetup said:

Depending on who buys the computer it's possible they can run recovery software on it and restore many if not all of your files.

Reinstalling Windows without a full pass wipe leaves many files recoverable.

 

If you are worried about the possibility of someone recovering your data then it's usually best to take the drve out and fit a new one to install Windows on, or sell it without a drive and the new owner can put whatever drive they want in it and install whatever OS they want.
Linux and Chrome OS Flex are two popular options for those not-Win-11 machines.

Although there is no doubt that many will continue to use Win 10 long after EoL there is expected to be a growing glut of these not upgradeabe to Win 11 machines on the 2nd hand market (and in e-waste).

[bluegiraffe]

Thanks for all the replies.  

A few things to think about. I don't want my data recovered so or to fit a new drive. I thought reinstalling Windows may be enough but clearly not. 

What should I use to do a full pass wipe?

Thanks again all.

 

[AdvancedSetup]

You can use the Windows 10 USB installer disk.

Boot from that disk then press the SHIFT and F10 keys and it will launch a command prompt

Type in DISKPART and press the Enter key. Then pull the USB disk out of the port.

Then in that program issue the following command

LIST DISK

It should probably show you only one hard drive listed as DISK 0

Then type in

SELECT DISK 0 and press the Enter key

Then type in the following which will wipe the entire drive. It will take a few hours depending on the size of the disk.

CLEAN ALL

and press the Enter key

 

The clean all command erases the content of the drive securely.

It writes over every sector on the disk and completely zeroes out data on the disk. The deleted data can’t be recovered.

 

Then do a NEW fresh install of Windows but do not use a Microsoft Account.

Choose create account and make a local account with a generic name like PC and no password

 

 

 

Edited September 9 by AdvancedSetup
Updated information

[bluegiraffe]

Thank you AdvancedSetup. 

I will need to find the box etc... that it all came in but I don't recall any disks.

I'll post back later in the week.

Thanks again.

 

[AdvancedSetup]

You do not need any disks that came with the computer.

 

This posting will help you to install Windows

 

Clean Install Windows 10 & 11 (2023)
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/clean-install-windows-10-11-2023/1c426bdf-79b1-4d42-be93-17378d93e587