Question wiping the SSD and HDD on a pre-built PC and installing Windows 10

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Turbonium

Platinum Member
Mar 15, 2003
2,157
82
91
I'm looking to help a friend (i.e. guide them through) doing a complete/proper wipe (including all factory reset partitions etc. on any of the drives) of their pre-built PC (iBUYPOWER AM001i), and to do a clean install of Windows 10.

I'm not sure the best way to go about this, as they're not a computer expert (but not a stranger to technology either, by any means); I originally recommended DBAN, but is it still the standard go-to for this sort of thing? I basically need something that will truly wipe/zero the drives (both the SSD and HDD), including any and all factory reset partitions, etc., while also being relatively straightforward to use.

Also: using Microsoft's own installation media creator tool should work, right? That, along with them logging into their Windows install with their usual account/e-mail address as far as Windows Activation goes. Or will they run into problems with activating their copy/digital license, given it was a pre-built PC and the partitions will have been wiped?
 

Zoozuu

Member
Oct 21, 2020
140
20
41
I try for different/weird/off road as much as possible. :) also I always thought that diskpart was weird along with command prompt. diskpart is a man/woman/robot in a foreign land. lol
 

mikeymikec

Lifer
May 19, 2011
20,376
15,059
136
I try for different/weird/off road as much as possible. :) also I always thought that diskpart was weird along with command prompt. diskpart is a man/woman/robot in a foreign land. lol

Yeah, I'd prefer a GUI for partition management typically too, but I do like the 'clean' command. I tend to run 'list disk' more than once before committing to a clean though :)