How to erase any computer

₪CAUTION: Following these steps will guide you to erase all data permanently & beyond recovery.

WARNING: Following this procedure, you will be unable to boot into Windows / macOS

Afterwards, follow the appropriate guide here to restore the OS: Read More

How to factory reset Windows – Dell
^{_{This method is easiest for Dell owners but maintains outdated OS and Dell bloatware.}}

How to factory reset Windows – HP
^{_{This method is easiest for HP owners but maintains outdated OS and}} ^{_{HP bloatware.}}

How to wipe and reload Windows – Mr. Robot
^{_{This method is more difficult, recommended for optimal system performance.}}

How to reload macOS – Apple
^{_{This method is recommended for supported Macs. (2018 & newer)}}

How to install latest macOS on unsupported macs – Mr. Robot
^{_{This method is recommended for unsupported Macs. (2017 & older)}}

NOTICE: If you have a SSD then Parted Magic is not needed.
^{Follow appropriate guide above to reset your system.} Read More

The TRIM feature on SSDs makes it impossible to recover deleted data because the data is immediately and permanently overwritten. This is because the TRIM command enables the operating system to tell the SSD which data pages can be erased which must be done before the space can be used again. This allows the SSD’s controller to more efficiently manage the storage space available for data. TRIM works with Active Garbage Collection to clean up and organize your solid state drive. Although TRIM enhances the speed of your SSD, it results in permanent data deletion.

Additionally, even if TRIM is not functioning, SSDs have native garbage management that will still carry out the same functions, and still automatically render all old data unrecoverable in the same manner.

NOTICE: If you have a computer with a MSI or ASUS motherboard, HP, or Dell from 2016 or later:
Secure erase feature is already integrated in the BIOS & Parted Magic is not needed.
[ Dell Data Wipe ]|[ HP Secure Erase ]|[ MSI & ASUS ] Read More

Stage Ⅰ: Prepare Parted Magic

Insert a 1GB or larger USB 3.0 thumb drive with nothing important saved on it as it will be erased.
Download Parted Magic from MajorGeeks
Download Rufus
Launch Rufus and click SELECT button.
Choose the ISO file downloaded in step 2.
Click START button.
You will receive a prompt to choose a writing mode. Choose write in DD image mode
You will receive a warning prompt that ALL DATA ON DEVICE WILL BE DESTROYED, confirm the correct USB drive is selected and click OK.
When Rufus notifies that it’s finished, exit Rufus and eject the USB drive from the “SAFELY REMOVE HARDWARE AND EJECT MEDIA” panel in the system tray, then remove it.

Stage II: Boot Parted Magic

Insert USB drive prepared in the previous stage into the computer you wish to erase.
Power on and press the boot menu key:

Asus: F8
ASRock: F11
Gigabyte: F12
MSI: F11
Dell: F12
HP: Esc then F9 or F10
Lenovo: Enter or Novo pinhole then F12
Apple: hold OPTION key

For a complete list of boot keys by brand, visit:
https://kb.wisc.edu/helpdesk/page.php?id=58779
Choose the USB option. On Macs it’s called EFI boot.
You should now see the Parted Magic Boot Menu as it appears below.
Press Enter to boot with default settings.
The system should boot into Parted Magic as it appears below within about 60 seconds.

If that is not the case, go into BIOS and disable secure boot then try again.

For Macs, you need to disable startup security.
Launch Erase Disk
For systems with SATA or M.2 SATA drives, choose:

Secure Erase – ATA Devices

For systems with M.2 PCIE or NVME drives, choose:

NVME Secure Erase
You may see the word Frozen, if so click Sleep
^{_{The system will auto-wake after a moment with the drive unfrozen}}

If Not Frozen, proceed to the next step
Check the checkbox next to each drive you want erased, choose Enhanced if available, click Continue.
Check the Allow checkbox, click Start Erase.
The military standard erase procedure completes in seconds on most modern systems that have a SSD, if you have traditional platter hard drive(s) it can take several hours.
You will receive a prompt stating whether or not the erase was successful upon completion.