Wiping the SSD of my Acer Swift 3 (SF314-511) for reselling

DizzyCloth
DizzyCloth Member Posts: 1 New User

Hello Community,

this is my first question here :)

I want to resell my Acer Swift 3, for that I want to wipe the NVMe SSD, so that no files or passwords can be restored. I have read that wiping a SSD is very different from wiping a HDD (which I did before). So I need your help. How can I achieve this? Any easy step by step tutorial or link would be very handy. I also have installed an Intel Rapid Storage Technology driver so I can install Windows on the SSD (don't know If this information is necessary).


Please note that I am not very familiar with Hardware things, I am more the software guy. So if you use any technical terms related to SSDs or BIOS please elaborate so I can understand, thanks :)

Answers

  • Hi,

    You want to wipe the SSD and perform a clean Install of Windows, is that correct? If so, please follow the instructions below:

    1.Backup all your important files and folders to another external drive.

    2.Prepare a USB disk for clean installation.

    3.Download and install MiniTool Partition Wizard, use Wipe partition feature to wipe the drive

    4.Install a fresh copy of Windows.

    https://www.partitionwizard.com/help/wipe-disk.html

    https://www.elevenforum.com/t/clean-install-windows-11.99/

  • sri369
    sri369 ACE Posts: 2,623 Pathfinder
    edited September 2022

    Personally, whenever I intend to dispose my laptops, I pull out all the disks - put in a new HDD/SSD based on the laptop style, and install windows clean and set up with a dummy user - no worries here about data being retrieved from a laptop sold. Also considering a 256 GB SSD is barely a few $, even 500GB one is like $50, i feel this a safer process.

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  • William_mk2
    William_mk2 Ally Posts: 4,044

    @DizzyCloth


    I understand you say "I want to resell my Acer Swift 3, for that I want to wipe the NVMe SSD, so that no files or passwords can be restored"


    Let us make things simple.


    If you are able to boot the computer and load into windows you can always do a reset in this way.


    click on start - settings - update and security - recovery - reset this pc - get started 


    or 


    on start - type here to search - type reset this pc - click on reset this pc on the top - click on get started 


    It will show you keep my files and remove everything

    chose remove everything 

    click on local reinstall - just remove my files - click on reset

    It will be in progress


    Note:


    If you do refresh ( keep my files ) - all your personal files like pictures, music , documents , videos will still be intact.  Only the applications will be lost


    If you do reset ( remove everything ) - you are doing a factory default.  It will become like a day one computer.  It will wipe out everything and take your computer to day one like a new computer. 



    You can also do the recovery in an alternative way..



    There are two alt keys on the keyboard. If you look at the bottom row of keyboard you can see the one on the left side of space bar and the other on the right side of space bar. The alt key on the right side will be looking like alt, alt gr or alt car. Turn off the computer. Hold the alt key on the left and tap f10 continuously.  It will go to repair mode. It will show you chose an option, continue, troubleshoot.  If it is not going to repair mode, turn off the computer. Turn on the computer. Hold the right alt key ( alt gr or alt car or alt ) and then tap f10 continuously. It will go to chose an option continue and troubleshoot..


    It will show you chose an option, continue, troubleshoot

    Go to troubleshoot - click on reset this pc

    click on remove everything – click on local reinstall – just remove my files – click on reset 

    It will reinstall windows. 


    If the just remove my files is not working.. 


    Go to troubleshoot - click on reset this pc – click on remove everything – click on local reinstall – Fully clean the drive – click on reset 

    It will reinstall windows. 


    Note: You can also go to chose an option , continue , troubleshoot by holding the alt key + tapping f10 or alt gr + tapping f10 on the keyboard while turning on the computer.  Once you see the troubleshoot option, you can stop tapping the f10 and stop holding the alt key.  Then you can try the keep my files and remove everything ( just remove by files and fully clean the drive ) by following the steps which was mentioned above. 

    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful 

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  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 31,454 Trailblazer
    edited September 2022

    Just use the Alt-F10 boot option to restore to factory. You then end up with the same load as came originally, with all drivers and utilities.

    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.