Keeping your business up to date with the latest technology helps keep operations running smoothly and efficiently. If you are upgrading to new computers or dealing with a major viral attack to your network, you might need to wipe everything to format the computer from original factory settings. When you wipe a hard drive, you are doing a system restore. Windows 7, 8 and 10, Linux Ubuntu and the Mac iOS operating systems make it easy to clear data while restoring the computer to its original operating system ready to format as needed.
System Restore Windows 7 and Higher
As with any major action on your computer, make sure you first back up all data required for your business needs. Store this data on an external hard drive or in the cloud. Remember that you will not be able to restore data to this or a new computer if you don’t have a proper backup. Windows 10 has an option to refresh, which doesn’t reformat the computer nor does it wipe out the data. It restores settings to the factory default without touching data. This is recommended for systems working slowly but not for wiping data clean.
Before restoring, make a note of all software serial numbers. You will need to this to enable downloaded software you have paid for. Click the Start button and locate Settings. In Settings select Update & Security and then Recovery. You are given two options here. The first is the Refresh which keeps files. The second is to Remove Everything. Not only will your data files be removed, but you will remove any installed plugins, programs and user settings. This may take a few minutes to complete. When it is completed, shut down the computer and reboot it. You should see an original Windows start page. Scroll through the Documents section as well as the Programs in the Start menu to confirm there is no information remaining.
Restore Mac iOS Computer
Like Windows, Mac has an option to restore factory settings with or without touching personal files. Mac systems use Time Machine to backup data but you will need to make sure you keep any serial numbers for your installed software programs. While Time Machine is designed to reinstall programs, relying on a seamless process without the serial numbers is risky. Time Machine is much faster than manually backing up data into the cloud or an external hard drive.
Because Macs integrate devices so well, you’ll need to do a couple of things before you reset to factory settings to protect data from other devices. First, Deauthorize iTunes so a new user can’t log into your account. Open iTunes, click Account and look for Choose Authorizations, then select Deauthorize This Computer. Turn off FileVault as well to prevent a new user from being able to access encrypted files after the reset. In the Apple Menu select System Preferences. In Security & Privacy, select FileVault. Enter the username and password for your system then choose Turn Off FileVault. Disable the iCloud and iMessage through Preferences.
Now you are ready to wipe the hard drive. Go to the Utilities window and choose Disk Utility. Choose the startup disk. Click Erase. Of the options given, choose Mac OS Extended and then click Erase. When it is done, restart the Mac to ensure you have erased the data.
Restore Linux Ubuntu Operating System
As with any reboot to factory settings, make sure to backup all pertinent data and record all serial numbers of programs you use. To restore the Ubuntu system back to original factory settings, restart the computer with the key command CTRL+ALT+DEL pressed together. Open the GRUB Recovery Mode by pressing Esc during startup. Keys F11 and F12 can also get you to recovery mode. From the options listed, select Restore Ubuntu to Factory State. When the process is complete, restart the computer to make sure it was done properly.
🔥Warning
Regularly back up information to ensure you are able to restore clean data if you experienced a virus or crash. If you are cleaning a computer to sell, properly wipe all data and reformat the hard drive to prevent a buyer from obtaining sensitive or private information.
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