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Yep, for the paranoid DBAN is my goto tool. I use it when I'm donating old computers, wipe it with DBAN and then reinstall the OS.
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So how do I get the installation code?
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If the system already had a version of Windows that was activated, MS stores (on their end) a fingerprint of the hardware that allows you to nuke the system, reinstall Windows, and it'll still recognize the hardware and re-associate it with the key it already knows about.
The details of which have never been fully documented, I believe, but that's the gist of it.
I went through that process a number of times, and I don't believe I was ever asked to re-enter a key under these sorts of circumstances.
If you start changing the hardware at the same time however, then all bets are off.
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Microwave it for 10 minutes
Nothing succeeds like a budgie without teeth.
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https://www.bing.com/search?q=windows+clean+reset
The box on top of the results page gives you a couple pointers.
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I would go to a linux distro. Linux Mint is a favorite for alot of people. Main Page - Linux Mint[^] It works alot like Windows 7 did which is an old favorite.
If you want something alittle mac like. You can try out Garuda. Garuda Linux | Home[^]
Garuda is my current favorite. It does take a more beefy machine. And alittle more linux knowledge. But the rewards are worth it I think.
To err is human to really elephant it up you need a computer
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Since its Windows 10, there is a "fresh start" option that wipes everything from your drive and gives you a clean Windows 10 setup. You can access it by going to:
- Open up the Settings app
- Go to the "Update and Security" section
- Next to the "Recovery" tab
- And finally click on the "Reset this PC" button
Windows will do the rest, wiping everything from the drive and re-installing a fresh copy of Windows 10 with the same license you currently have on it.
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dban FTW
M.D.V. 
If something has a solution... Why do we have to worry about?. If it has no solution... For what reason do we have to worry about?
Help me to understand what I'm saying, and I'll explain it better to you
Rating helpful answers is nice, but saying thanks can be even nicer.
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Hi,
GOT a Certified or legal copy of Win ten in there? If so and if you can get the activation code from the Microsoft label or you know what ever that bunch of char' are... then...
Back when I could see to use DOS I would use SpinRight to completely rehab all hard drives with a deep wipe just in case there was sensitive or compromising crap that a forensics could uncover... Then do a fresh install?
Or take the old drives outside and put in a shallow hole and put in plenty of thermate and burn the drives until atomized?
The second solution is likely to get you in some trouble depending on your neighbors?
..., But seriously, Spin Right was my goto for several reasons. Besides security there is the nice feature of rehabilitating the drives.
Hope this is of use.
blessings
chuck
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I don't see any activation code in the paperwork with the system.
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Hi swampwiz,
Sorry to be so late to reply. Does Microsoft still advise putting a label somewhere on or in the case of the system? I used to put the label under the power supply at the bottom of my personal unit rather than gluing it to the outside. But I'm not playing the game their way. I like some of the other solutions I am reading like switching to a Linux distro or using the built in reset. If you do do the built in reset you can then use one of the free wiping utilities to clean up what is left... Some even clean up under files by moving them from place to place on the physical disk or a good defrag program will let you do that... but it is best to recover a license. Many times you can call in to activate a system and get win ten activated without the original code Or... What is the name of that utility... something advisorDuckDuckGo? Thanks.
Gather detailed system information with Belarc Advisor ... — https://www.techrepublic.com/article/gather-detailed-system-information-with-belarc-advisor/
You may be able to get the license code that way?
I am sorry if I am rambling. Only just got my coffee pressed and really I'm not qualified to do more than pretend to know anything official. Still I suggest a good wiping just in case some pervert was using the system or there is a root kit on one of the system drives.
hope I was some help.
PS... some root kits etc even hide partitions so badly as to render a drive unclean-able without something like spinright doing a low level decontamination or... what is that term? something using professional tools like a forensics lab would use to root out those hidden partitions.
blessings
chuck
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Member 14751866 wrote: I would use SpinRight to completely rehab all hard drives with a deep wipe
SpinRite is all about data recovery, not secure wiping. I'm rather familiar with the software, and I listen to its author's podcast weekly, and I've never heard him mention anything about some wiping feature in his software.
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You are right... dandy72 , I am old and have forgotten so much of what I knew. Spinright used to be able to do a low level format that could root out hidden partitions but not any more... and the Boot Tools I used to use had some other thing for the best wiping practice? I should keep my peace lest I show any more of my ignorance... sorry.
reff: ""The ability to low-level format hard drives was lost back in the early 1990's when disc surfaces began incorporating factory written "embedded servo data". If you have a very old drive that can truly be low-level reformatted, SpinRite v5.0 will do that for you (which all v6.0 owners are welcome to download and run anytime)."" fromGRC | SpinRite 6.0 FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions — https://www.grc.com/sr/faq.htm
I'll learn to keep quiet perhaps when I am dead? LOL
thanks
chuck
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It's been a long, long time I've had to do that...but I can't imagine a low-level format is much significantly secure than a "normal" format, in terms of recoverability...?
If that's the goal, that's still where I recommend DBAN.
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Right... I endorse your first posting about that and fully agree. As far as I can tell there are few tools that can dig out hidden partitions now short of tools for professionals and legal forensics like DOE etc. Being paranoid as I am I like the thermate solution. AKA buying new hard drives all together and ditching the old ones... but that is for me if I am going to use a used system for myself... That said, now there is no clean and secure computer that you did not build yourself from the chip level up. There is no sort of secure? Like being sort of pregnant? Building our computers and vital infrastructure with hardware from a rival country seems like a really bad idea?
but what do I know
In short ignore the old man cringing and wincing in the corner and you are so right.
thanks
chuck
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ACSC ISM provides the following:
Security Control: 0354; Revision: 5; Updated: Sep-18; Applicability: O, P, S, TS
Non-volatile magnetic media is sanitised by booting from separate media to the media being sanitised and then overwriting the media at least once (or three times if pre-2001 or under 15 Gigabytes) in its entirety with a random pattern followed by a read back for verification.
You can boot from a linux boot disk and use DD to achieve that.
How to Wipe Hard Drive Clean Using dd Command in Linux - LookLinux[^]
Or: Security Control: 1067; Revision: 3; Updated: Sep-18; Applicability: O, P, S, TS
The ATA secure erase command is used where available, in addition to using block overwriting software, to ensure the growth defects table (g-list) is overwritten.
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I finally bit the bullet and got the first dose of Moderna Covid vaccine today. I asked the guy how long these vaccines will protect me and he said after the 2nd dose I should be protected for 4-6 months.
What!!??? That's it? 
So, I doubt herd immunity will ever be reached by way of vaccines. It's hard enough to get people to vaccinate but now you want them to do it every 4-6 months? It doesn't feel like it's ever going to happen.
I'm not sure it's even worth me getting the second dose now. If I do get Covid, it's unlikely to be bad.
And he said natural immunities from getting Covid only last 3-4 months. Crazy.
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SeeSharp2 wrote: If I do get Covid, it's unlikely to be bad.
What makes you think that? My perception (and I may be wrong) is that there seems to be no way to predict if a particular person's response to Covid will be marginal or fatal. (Other than those with significant pre-existing conditions, especially those with respiratory conditions). Last week I met two friends I've not seen for a couple of years. One is 78, and has not been in great health for many years. He had Covid 18 months ago, and had a couple of short spells in hospital over a four week period. After that he's been absolutely fine. The other is a 19-year old student, physically (and mentally) fit. He had Covid 18 months ago. He wasn't hospitalised, but remains unwell and had to drop out of Uni studies for a year. He gets out of breath walking up a slight incline, and some days cannot get out of bed. He's hoping to resume studies remotely this year but isn't too optimistic about being able to do so.
If you're an average, "healthy" adult it seems to be virtually random whether you feel slightly under the weather for a couple of days, have a severe illness, suffer ongoing symptoms for months, or die.
The more time goes on and the fewer non-vaccinated people there are, the more stories we see in the (UK) press about people dying of Covid and, from their deathbed, urging "non-believers" to get vaccinated.
I for one don't see it as a waste of time getting a shot once every 6 months if it may keep me from a fatal disease. It's a bit like saying "What?! I have to use my seatbelt for every car trip?!"
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DerekT-P wrote: It's a bit like saying "What?! I have to use my seatbelt for every car trip?!"
Nailed it. 
M.D.V. 
If something has a solution... Why do we have to worry about?. If it has no solution... For what reason do we have to worry about?
Help me to understand what I'm saying, and I'll explain it better to you
Rating helpful answers is nice, but saying thanks can be even nicer.
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DerekT-P wrote: What makes you think that?
Very few people that I have seen get Covid (which is a lot) have had anything severe. In fact, I think covid already went through our family but we weren't tested.
DerekT-P wrote: If you're an average, "healthy" adult it seems to be virtually random
That has not been my experience but your point is valid.
DerekT-P wrote: It's a bit like saying "What?! I have to use my seatbelt for every car trip?!"
Not quite. We don't inject ourselves with something that could kill us or make us sick when we put on a seatbelt. A seat belt is a passive aid, whereas the vaccine is an active one with potential negative consequences.
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SeeSharp2 wrote: should be protected for 4-6 months.
SeeSharp2 wrote: If I do get Covid, it's unlikely to be bad.
Just get the second dose and any boosters. It's the correct thing to do!
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Slacker007 wrote: Just get the second dose and any boosters. It's the correct thing to do!
Is it? Maybe. Why? (In your opinion)
I never have gotten the seasonal flu virus and when he told me how long this stuff lasts, I thought of the regular flu.
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Every report I have seen from folks that got Covid, the effects were serious, and the lingering effects were very serious in those that survived. To a person, they all said on camera, they wished they would have gotten the shots.
Additionally, the chance of contraction and spreading Covid to others, were greatly reduced after having the shots.
Finally, wear a mask any time you are in contact with other people. Is that "passive" enough for you?
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Quote: To a person, they all said on camera, they wished they would have gotten the shots.
Selective interviewing by the merchants of doom porn. It's certainly serious for some, but not for most, and many are asymptomatic. But those in the latter categories make for boring fare.
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Nobody has enough data yet to say what the protection period is: the first jabs were only administered in December last year! And the same goes for "natural immunity" - we don't have sufficient data yet to say what to expect.
Remember, none of the jabs are 100% effective, and they all need a 2nd jab booster to reach their maximum effectiveness.
Your "good reaction" / "oh my gawd, get an ambulance!" is uncertain - a lot of the data is indicating that the Delta variant is hitting the young hard when they get it, harder than it hits the elderly, so it's going to depend on which version(s) you might come in contact with.
You've had the first, get the second.
I can tell you from personal experience that you don't want this, and that you really don't want to give it to your loved ones. As I sit here, Herself has just turned on her oxygen machine on so it sounds like the road is being dug up outside - and that's because Covid hit her lungs really badly. And she wasn't hit badly enough to need hospital when she got it ... and gave it to me ...
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
"Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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