There's a program that overwrites everything with xxxx. I've always bought computers from PC specialist if that helps for the future. Built to your own spec.
Posted by Debster on 14 October, 2024 at 5:08 PM
Not that it helps, but the F5 thing is possibly related to the fn-lock status being on or off and that key having a dual purpose.
There may be a factory reset option in the Windows recovery menu.
Deleting all your data and filling up the disk with other files like photos downloaded from the internet should protect you from anything other than forensic professionals
Posted by Ian on 15 October, 2024 at 7:37 AM
The most secure disk wiping programme is DBAN, but it's not user-friendly. Also, it wipes the entire drive including the operating system, which is probably not what you want. If you search Windows settings for Recovery, you will find a setting that will wipe everything but the operating system.
Re F5 - check that you haven't got a Fn lock key near the space bar on the left. This works like NumLock, and changes the functionality of the function keys.
Posted by Tim W. on 16 October, 2024 at 8:10 AM
Thanks all.
Unbeknown to me, Mr BW had already researched a bit before I asked this and found that reloading the BIOS and Windows 11 should wipe everything, and the man from Asus agreed with that.
The F5 key definitely doesn't do a reload page. It only controls the brightness, which is F3 on an HP.
Posted by Blue Witch on 16 October, 2024 at 8:51 AM
There's a program that overwrites everything with xxxx. I've always bought computers from PC specialist if that helps for the future. Built to your own spec.
Posted by Debster on 14 October, 2024 at 5:08 PMNot that it helps, but the F5 thing is possibly related to the fn-lock status being on or off and that key having a dual purpose.
There may be a factory reset option in the Windows recovery menu.
Deleting all your data and filling up the disk with other files like photos downloaded from the internet should protect you from anything other than forensic professionals
Posted by Ian on 15 October, 2024 at 7:37 AMThe most secure disk wiping programme is DBAN, but it's not user-friendly. Also, it wipes the entire drive including the operating system, which is probably not what you want. If you search Windows settings for Recovery, you will find a setting that will wipe everything but the operating system.
Re F5 - check that you haven't got a Fn lock key near the space bar on the left. This works like NumLock, and changes the functionality of the function keys.
Posted by Tim W. on 16 October, 2024 at 8:10 AMThanks all.
Unbeknown to me, Mr BW had already researched a bit before I asked this and found that reloading the BIOS and Windows 11 should wipe everything, and the man from Asus agreed with that.
The F5 key definitely doesn't do a reload page. It only controls the brightness, which is F3 on an HP.
Posted by Blue Witch on 16 October, 2024 at 8:51 AM