How do I protect confidential information on the laptop I have to send in for repair?

[Epicurus1]

The hinges on my laptop broke after 18 months.  I arranged to have it repaired under my extended warranty, and I have to send it in to a repair facility.  How do I protect the confidential data on it, like my Quicken and TurboTax data?  My identity could easily be stolen with this information.

I would like to swap out the drive (SSD), but I can't find instructions on YouTube or elsewhere on how to take off the back panel of this model (several screws, some hidden I think).  Are there printed instructions somewhere?

If I can't swap out the drive, should I encrypt the drive or the data on it?  If so, can someone recommend a program?

Thanks!

[TheOldMan]

Typically sensitive information should be removed from the drives.  I would recommend making complete backups with dependable software to an independent media.  Actually more than one media to be redundant  Then wipe the information from the drives.  I have seen many users complain that all useful information was gone when a PC was returned from service.

While swapping out the drive may seem a correct route,  that might nullify the warranty.  I would recommend not doing that.  Just be prepared that the information will be lost if you do not keep a copy.

[Epicurus1]

Thanks for the reply.  A few more questions.

Would you recommend I clone the drive or back it up?  If I clone it, when I get the laptop back, can I restore my current internal drive contents from the clone?

Or can I re-create my current start-up drive from a backup?  (Seems like I recall there's a problem with creating a start up drive from a backup.)

When you say "wipe" the drive, do you mean getting a program to overwrite the drive Dept of Defense style? 

After the drive is wiped, do I send it in with nothing on the drive?

I bought MS office with the laptop and I don't think they gave me installation disks.  Do you know if I have the right to download Office again, assuming something goes wrong?

Is Macrium Reflect good backup/cloning software? 

Thanks so much.  This is scary to me.

[TheOldMan · Accepted solution]

Many users have recommended Macrium Reflect  but I have not used it, myself.  Here is a review pointing out several cloning software programs.  I have used Acronis,  And I like that.  I have also used  Clonezilla, but it is not as easy for a lay person.

https://www.thetechlounge.com/best-cloning-software/

The really cool thing is if you have either a WD or Seagate drive the manufacturer for the drive has a brand aware version of Acronis on their website under the tools support page.  That version is made for the user to clone the drive for free, assuming it detects a drive from the manufacturer's line .

If you are certain of what hard drive is installed (in other words, only one hard drive or SSD), then I would clone the drive to a new drive.  Clone the whole drive to the new one.  You state it is a SSD, but you would not HAVE to use a SSD if you clone and then use the clone as a source and clone back to the PC when it comes back from service.  Buy a USB adapter to connect the extra drive and do the cloning.  Something like this is what I like

https://www.amazon.com/AGPtek-Drive-Adapter-Converter-External/dp/B00BIE996S/ref=pd_sbs_147_t_1/133-...

It has all you need to complete the job after you get the software. It even powers the drive, so the USB port does not have to.

You can make your own Recovery Media from Recovery Manager, see here

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c04758961

Scroll down to the "Create Recovery media" and make the required software.  Once that is completed, do the cloning to a new separate drive.  Make sure the Recovery media works OK and you know how to use it, then wipe the existing drive in the computer Using the type of software that gives you the security desired,  and then run the Recovery media to reinstall the Windows 10 etc, then ship the laptop off to the service center.

When the PC comes back, wipe the drive in the laptop and use the clone you made to clone all the data back to the laptop and save the clone drive for future use.  As a side note, MS Office should work but for added protection, find the product key for Office just in case and write it done or copy it.  Make sure it is registered to you and recorded on the Microsoft site.  Then if it ever becomes necessary to get the download and reinstall it you are good.  You can find the Office product key by using software

http://m.majorgeeks.com/files/details/magical_jelly_bean_keyfinder.html

Or BelArc Advisor

http://m.majorgeeks.com/files/details/belarc_advisor.html

[Epicurus1]

Thanks so much!

Can you recommend a program to wipe the drive?

BTW, my laptop has both a 128 GB SSD (my start up drive) and a 1TB hard drive, the latter for "data" but I have never put anything on it. The model is HP 17t-by000.

[TheOldMan]

If a secure wipe is what you want, many use DBan.  Here is a guide on "How To"

https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-erase-a-hard-drive-using-dban-2619148

Before using that make sure you have done all the backups and cloning.  Use DBan on the SSD since it is the drive where you have put everything.  If you have not used the 1TB drive, just check it yo verify no important data is there.

BTW: just a side note for when the laptop comes back - it might be wise to set up the data saving to go to the 1TB drive, a 128GB is fairly small.  Many users have complained that the system drive fills up too fast and then you have to find a solution for a full drive.