Wiping OR Factory Reset for Compaq 420 Notebook PC

[utkarsh10]

Hello! As afore-written, I am using a Compaq420 for the last six years without a problem. However, I had some problems with the BIOS memory sometime back(which got rectified). I am using Ubuntu and Linuxmint in a dual boot sequence. I used to have preinstalled Win7 for some time initially before moving to linux, sometimes the machine gets a bit slow, while also showing some bad sectors. So, I have decided to clean/wipe the hard drive totally and re-install OS freshly. QUESTION: I want to have a manufacturer's advice from this forum for the options best for the machine: - Go to startup menu and choose to clean/wipe disk (HP protocol preinstalled) - Go to startup menu and choose to restore factory settings (HP protocol preinstalled) - Try the 'dd' method of command line interface for wiping and/or overwriting with zeros. Please guide. System details: uc-ubuntu@ucubuntu-Compaq-420:~$ inxi -Fxz System: Host: ucubuntu-Compaq-420 Kernel: 4.4.0-104-generic x86_64 (64 bit, gcc: 4.8.4) Desktop: Gnome Distro: Ubuntu 14.04 trusty Machine: System: Hewlett-Packard product: Compaq 420 version: F.20 Mobo: Hewlett-Packard model: 1526 version: KBC Version 71.0E Bios: Hewlett-Packard version: 68PVI Ver. F.20 date: 12/12/2011 CPU: Dual core Intel Core2 Duo CPU T6570 (-MCP-) cache: 2048 KB flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 8379.22 Clock Speeds: 1: 1200.00 MHz 2: 1200.00 MHz Graphics: Card: Intel Mobile 4 Series Integrated Graphics Controller bus-ID: 00:02.0 X.Org: 1.18.3 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa) Resolution: 1366x768@59.6hz GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Mobile Intel GM45 Express GLX Version: 2.1 Mesa 11.2.0 Direct Rendering: Yes Audio: Card: Intel 82801I (ICH9 Family) HD Audio Controller driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0 Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture ver: k4.4.0-104-generic Network: Card-1: Realtek RTL8101/2/6E PCI Express Fast/Gigabit Ethernet controller driver: r8169 ver: 2.3LK-NAPI port: 2000 bus-ID: 85:00.0 IF: eth0 state: down mac: Card-2: Realtek RTL8191SEvA Wireless LAN Controller driver: rtl8192se port: 7000 bus-ID: 02:00.0 IF: wlan0 state: up mac: Drives: HDD Total Size: 320.1GB (54.5% used) 1: id: /dev/sda model: WDC_WD3200BEKT size: 320.1GB temp: 38C Partition: ID: / size: 12G used: 8.6G (80%) fs: ext4 ID: swap-1 size: 2.10GB used: 0.09GB (4%) fs: swap RAID: No RAID devices detected - /proc/mdstat and md_mod kernel raid module present Sensors: System Temperatures: cpu: 18.0C mobo: 16.0C Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A Info: Processes: 204 Uptime: 5:15 Memory: 1019.4/1928.8MB Runlevel: 2 Gcc sys: 4.8.4 Client: Shell (bash 4.3.11) inxi: 1.9.17 uc-ubuntu@ucubuntu-Compaq-420:~$

[pritam2015]

Hi,
I'll try to help you assuming that You want to factory reset your notebook with win7.
First I want to clear that you have already wiped out the HDD, so hp recovery manager will not work.
You need to download win 7 iso using https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/software-download/windows7 and install win 7 manually.
NOTE: You will find the product key printed on backside of your notebook.
Use Rufus to create bootable USB drive.

[utkarsh10]

I am sorry that I did not preview my mail and it got all clubbed during pasting it from gedit. I very much want to go ahead with a fresh linux installation(i have the iso/usb). My only worry is for the best possible method for cleaning off everything from the disk except for MBR technically. QUESTION: I want to have a manufacturer's advice from this forum for the options best for the machine: - Go to startup menu and choose to clean/wipe disk (HP protocol preinstalled) - Go to startup menu and choose to restore factory settings (HP protocol preinstalled) - Try the 'dd' method of command line interface for wiping and/or overwriting with zeros. Thx. for your reply and sorry for the confusion.

[ieee488]

Having gone through a clean install of Windows 7 myself recently, I would suggest

booting into some version of Linux and using gParted to delete all the partitions, create one big partition, and format that  partition to NTFS.

Very simple.

You don't really need to do all of that as Windows 7 will take care of it, but it seems you are determined to do it.

[pritam2015]

Hi,
I recommend Performing clean install using USB. Since this method will clean up everything and reinstall the Linux.

NOTE: hp does not support installing Linux on HP computers, this is my personal advice and I DO NOT WORK FOR HP.

[utkarsh10 · Accepted solution]

@pritam2015 and @ieee Thank you guys for all the efforts. It sure seems to work for now, as i am still having a few bad blocks within the hrd disk. wanted to clean up the whole machine in one go/wipe, so rewrote all the clusters with zeros and fresh installed with gparted with 2 primarypartitions for dual boot. Solved for now. thanks again..utkarsh10