How To Wipe Your Computer Clean Windows Vista

Trying to clean computer before donating it

Depends on how serious you are about wiping your data.

Most data can be recovered unless you take to the hard drive with an oxy torch.

Reinstall the operating system.

During that process you can delete the existing Vista partition and make a new partition to reinstall it on if you wish to.

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Or if you just want to wipe everything from the Hard Drive, including the operating system!

Use this: Data Removal: Darik's Boot and Nuke - DBAN

How to Erase a Hard Drive Using DBAN

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And if you never received a Recovery Disk when you purchased your Computer there should be a Recovery Partition on the Hard Drive to reinstall Windows back to how you bought your Computer.

The Recovery process can be started by pressing a particular Key or Keys combination at Boot. (Power On / Startup)

It may be F10, F11, Alt + F10, etc depending on the Manufacturer.

Ask them or us for the correct Key sequence.

Examples:

Acer: Press Alt + F10.

Dell: Press F8 > https://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/19/sln130396/restoring-microsoft-windows-vista-to-factory-configuration?lang=en

HP: Tap F11 at the rate of about once per second.

Sony Vaio: Press F10 > https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/articles/00070113

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And if you do have a Manufacturer's Recovery Partition on your Hard Drive, you should be able to make your own Recovery Disks from it to reinstall the Operating System.

Look under Programs > your Computer Manufacturer's name > then their System Tools or Recovery Software Headings for them, depending how it is worded.

If you can not find any reference to it, contact the Manufacturer for advice on how to make those Recovery Disks.

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You can borrow and use a Microsoft Vista DVD (Retail or OEM System Builders License) , that contains the files for the various Vista Editions (Home Basic, Home Premium, Business and Ultimate) to be installed. The Product Key on your Computer / Laptop case determines which Edition is installed.

The COA sticker, which has the Product Key on it, is either on the underside of the Laptop or in the Battery Compartment.

With a Desktop it is either on the side, rear or top of the Computer Case.

Other Manufacturers' Recovery DVDs are not to be used for the above purpose.

And you need to know the "bit" version for Vista, as 32bit and 64bit Editions come on different DVDs.

To access Boot Menu:

https://neosmart.net/wiki/boot-usb-drive/

Here is how to do a clean install of Vista, using a Microsoft Vista DVD:

"How to Do a Clean Install and Setup with a Full Version of Vista"

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/117366-clean-install-full-version-vista.html

And once the Operating System is installed, go to your Computer Manufacturer's website and obtain the latest Drivers for your particular Model Computer or Laptop.

When you use Phone Activation don't follow the Auto Prompts but instead hold on for a real person to assist you.

"How to Activate Vista Normally and by Phone Activation"

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/84488-activate-vista-phone.html

Microsoft is the one who says yay or nay for Activation.

You have to go through them, but lately a lot of posters have been referred back to here by them when using phone activation.

If that happens use this method of contacting Microsoft:

Contact support

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/contact-support

Also: https://partner.support.services.microsoft.com/en-au/contact/menu/software/windows/setup/

Cheers.

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Bill Smithers - Microsoft MVP July 2013 - Dec 2020