Does a factory reset with hp recovery manager delete data permanently before giving my computer away

[Silvan26]

Hi, we want to be sure that all our data is deleted before we give our old computer away. We did a factory reset with hp recovery manager. Does anyone know if this method really deletes all data so that no one ever can recover any data from us?  

[Huffer · Accepted solution]

Generally yes...on the recovery manager there is an option to do a couple different types of recovery. As long as you clicked the one that says "return to factory state" that does format the hard drive and start all over so all private data from previous install will be gone. There are other options, however that allow retention of some data. 

Professional IT staff would run a DOD (military)-type mutiple wipe on the hard drive before re-deploying the machine. 

We can help you with that if you would prefer which is not a bad idea, but addressing a very unlikely scenario of a really good hacker running high level data recovery software on the hard drive after the factory restore. . 

[Silvan26]

Hi, Thanks a lot for the quick response. How complicated would it be to run such a DOD (military)-type mutiple wipe?

[Huffer]

Not hard at all. But keep in mind it will remove the recovery partition too so you need to have an HP recovery media (usb thumb drive or DVDs) available to use after the hard drive is wiped squeaky clean. 

You just use a little program called dban:

https://filehippo.com/download_dban/

This little file will make a bootable disk which will then allow you to run a program which will make the drive so no force on earth can recovery anything from it. Here is a video showing how to use it. This guy uses something else but I like the Gutmann wipe which meeets DOD specifications for a secure wipe of the hard drive. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGQ-AIm8QsQ

Post back with any more questions