How To Prepare A Windows 10 Computer For Sale

If you're planning to sell your sometime computer because you're moving to a new arrangement, or you're trying to brand some extra greenbacks to afford a more than premium device (such as the Dell XPS thirteen, Surface Laptop 2, or Huawei MateBook Ten Pro, preparing the old hardware is a necessary process to prevent giving away your personal data to a stranger. Y'all'll also need to brand certain the device is working correctly to get the virtually money while avoiding problems with the heir-apparent.

When preparing a device, there are three main steps you want to practise for a successful sale. The first pace involves creating a backup, so you lot don't lose your files. 2nd, you want to wipe out the drive using a secure method to make sure you've removed your personal information and applications across recovery, and install a clean copy of Windows ten to resolve performance and other potential issues. And the third and final step involves deciding how to sell the onetime estimator, and crafting a good product list if you choose to go with an online service.

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the steps to prepare for selling your desktop, laptop, or tablet without compromising your personal data, or giving away costly software.

How to prepare to sell a used computer

If you're looking into turning your used estimator into cash, information technology's of import to ensure that you're following the proper steps to protect your personal information, licenses for expensive apps, and leave the device fix for the next possessor.

Bankroll upwards files
Erasing everything
Selling onetime PC

Backing upward files

Before anything else, yous want to make certain to create a total backup of your entire organisation and another i for your files. A fill-in is an essential step in instance you need to revert the changes for any reason. As well, a file fill-in will be useful to continue a copy of all your files that you can then restore on some other device.

Y'all can apply a number of third-party solutions, only Windows 10 still includes the congenital-in feature to create a system image backup, which allows you to fill-in your installation, settings, apps, and files.

Create organization image

To create a organization image, connect an external drive with enough storage, and so use these steps:

Open Control Panel.
Click on System and Security.
Click on Backup and Restore (Windows 7).
On the left pane, click the Create a system image link.
Under "Where do y'all want to relieve the backup?" select the On a hard disk option.
Using the "On a hard disk" driblet-down bill of fare, select the location to save the backup.
Select any boosted drives that you may want to include in the backup.
Click the Next button.
Click the Start fill-in button.

Once you complete the steps, the feature volition create a total backup of your computer and files. If y'all need additional assistance or you need to restore your device, so refer to this guide.

Create file backup using OneDrive

It's likewise advised to create a carve up backup of your files to make it easier to motion your pictures, videos, and documents to some other computer.

The easiest way to backup your files is to move them to your OneDrive folder and expect until they sync up to your account. If you already utilise the deject storage service, all the files are probably already backed up in the cloud. If this is the case, setting up OneDrive on the new device will make the transfer super easy.

If y'all don't unremarkably upload files to OneDrive, utilise these steps:

Open File Explorer.
Locate the binder with files that you demand to backup.
Select the files and folders.
Click the Move to push button from the "Home" tab.
Click the Choose location option.
Select the OneDrive folder.

Quick tip: If you desire to keep your files organized, it's all-time to create a new folder and gear up it every bit the destination to backup your data.
Click the Move button.

Subsequently yous complete the steps, OneDrive will upload your files to the cloud, making them available beyond your devices.

If yous have more files than space in OneDrive, you may want to consider upgrading the storage by purchasing an Function 365 subscription, which will get you 1TB of space.

Create file backup using an external drive

Alternatively, you tin can re-create the files to an external hard drive.

To create a file backup, connect an external drive with enough storage, such as the 10TB external hard drive from Western Digital, and use these steps:

Open up File Explorer.
Locate the folder with files that yous need to fill-in.

Quick tip: If you want to fill-in your account folders (Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Music, Videos, and Pictures), make sure to select your profile folder located in this path C:\Users.
Select the files and folders.
Click the Copy to button from the "Home" tab.
Click the Choose location pick.
Select the external bulldoze.
Click the Copy push.

Once you complete the steps, the files will copy to the external difficult drive that you specified.

If y'all're moving a new device, in add-on to backing up your information, information technology'due south a skilful idea to save your web passwords to make sure that you can sign dorsum into your favorite websites.

Erasing everything

In the next step, you'll use the recovery options to securely erase and reset the device to the factory settings to let the next owner to set it up as their a new computer.

To use the "Reset This PC" feature to securely erase everything on the computer and reinstall Windows 10, employ these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on Update & Security.
Click on Recovery.
Nether the Reset this PC department, click the Get started button.
Click the Remove everything button.
Click the Modify settings option.
Plow on the Data erasure toggle switch.

Quick note: If you have multiple drives, you'll also see a "Data drives" option to erase your files from all drives. If yous encounter this choice, and it's considering you have an external drive continued, information technology's recommended to disconnect the drive and follow the steps again.
Click the Confirm push button.
Click the Next button.
Click the Reset button.

Quick tip: Once the reset is complete, it'southward not necessary to terminate the out-of-box experience (OOBE) as this is the part that volition allow the adjacent owner to set the device as their own.

After you complete the steps, the hard drive will be wiped out beyond recovery, removing your files, accounts, settings, and apps, and then Windows x will apply a fresh installation. The process could take a few hours, but it's worth information technology, every bit information technology'll be almost impossible for most people to recover your data.

Selling old PC

Once your computer is reset to the factory settings, it's time to convert the hardware into cash. However, before listing your desktop, laptop, or tablet for sale, you want to notice out how much money you can get out of the device.

If your device is simply a couple years old, so the chances are that you lot tin all the same purchase it brand new. In this instance, it'southward recommended to cheque online retailers, such as Microsoft Shop, Amazon, and others to understand the current toll.

Also, you want to find out the price other people are selling the aforementioned or equivalent product in a similar condition. Usually, y'all can use sites like eBay and Craigslist to practise your research.

Using the information to price the device and and so decide how you want to sell the figurer.

Although you can always try to sell the old device to someone you lot know, in that location are plenty of online services that tin ease the selling process. (Online services may not be available everywhere, it'll depend upon your location.)

Craigslist

Craigslist is one of the most common services that people typically use to sell most anything. Information technology's gratis to use, and the process to sell a used calculator is straightforward. You demand to create an account, start a new post, specify the production details, including some photos of the product clearly showcasing its condition, choose a price, and publish the listing.

If you lot're a first-timer, yous can refer to this guide to mail service a product on Craigslist.

Sell on Craigslist

eBay

eBay is another first-class service to sell your former laptop, tablet, or desktop. Unlike Craigslist, eBay offers an auction-mode service to sell near things, which means that if you're willing to wait, y'all may end upwards getting even more than money for your product. However, you can always apply the "buy now" feature to sell your device more chop-chop.

The only downside about eBay is that there are fees involve to access additional selling features and after selling the production.

If you're new to eBay, you can apply this resource to create your fist listing.

Sell on Craigslist

Swappa

Swappa is some other option to sell your sometime computer. Information technology offers similar features as other online services, and it even includes a feature that suggests the price for the particular yous're trying to sell.

The downside nigh Swappa is that y'all demand a PayPal business relationship to utilize it, and while listing products is free, you'll take to pay a small fee to increment the visibility of your detail.

If this is your first time using Swappa, you can use this guide to acquire the steps to list your used computer.

Sell on Swappa

Facebook Marketplace

You can likewise sell your used computer or laptop on Facebook using the Marketplace. The service is free, and because it'due south role of Facebook, you lot can create and publish a new list using the Facebook app.

One do good of the Facebook Marketplace is that you lot tin check the potential buyer contour to make certain it's not a scammer.

If you never use the Facebook Market, y'all can refer to this page on how to create your starting time listing.

Sell on Facebook Marketplace

Letgo

Letgo is however some other service that offers an online marketplace to buy and sell second-hand items locally. You tin create a new list using images or video for free, but you lot'll demand to pay a fee to boost the visibility of your list.

Too, Letgo doesn't offer a payment method because the interaction and negotiation happen between the buyer and seller.

Sell on Letgo

Windows Central

Windows Central offers a medium to sell or merchandise your used computer. Yous just demand to follow these guidelines.

Selling tips

If you're planning to use an online service, you should get-go look into trying to sell your device to a person you already know. When dealing with family and friends, y'all're likely not going to get the same amount of money, merely you'll avoid possible online hassles.

When creating an online listing to sell your used computer, make sure to include every bit many details about the item as possible. It'll non only help potential buyers to sympathize the product, but it'll also help the organisation to surface your post in relevant searches.

Whenever possible, use a short headline that clearly describes the product, and make sure to upload pictures from every angle showcasing that the device is working and functional. If you even so have the boxes, accessories, and documentation, make sure they appear in the images as it'll show potential buyers that you care near the product.

If yous can, offering free shipping may speed up the decision making for the buyer. Also, remember to use proper packaging, and make sure to follow the aircraft regulations in your region, especially when shipping computers with batteries.

Although services like eBay can act as an intermediary between buyers and sellers, a lot of online services, such as Craigslist and Letgo, only provide a platform to promote your product, and it's upwards to the buyers and sellers to negotiate and meet in person to proceed with the substitution. Equally a result, it's very of import that you take the necessary precautions to protect your safety.

Wrapping things upwards

While there are several steps to fix your sometime computer for sale properly, overall, it's not a complicated procedure. It just takes a piffling scrap of your time and at the end will aid you to protect your personal information as well as potential hassles with the heir-apparent.

More Windows ten resources

For more helpful manufactures, coverage, and answers to mutual questions virtually Windows 10, visit the following resources:

Windows 10 on Windows Central – All you need to know
Windows x assist, tips, and tricks
Windows 10 forums on Windows Key

Mauro recommends all these affordable accessories

Hi, I'1000 Mauro Huculak, Windows Central'due south help and how-to guru. I wrote the post you're reading now, and I know the Windows Os inside and out. But I'grand likewise a chip of a hardware geek. These are some of the affordable gadgets on my desk today.

Logitech MX Main Wireless Mouse ($72 at Amazon)

I know mice, and this is the one I use every day. The MX Master is a wireless high-precision mouse that's very comfortable to use and has many swell features, including the ability to connect with multiple devices, an space scroll wheel, back and forrad buttons, all of which yous can customize.

Ktrio Extended Gaming Mouse Pad ($12 at Amazon)

If you spend a lot of fourth dimension typing, your palms and mouse will leave tracks on your desk. My solution was to start using gaming mouse pads, which are big plenty for you to utilize the keyboard and the mouse comfortably. This is the one I employ and recommend.

Supernight LED low-cal strip ($20 at Amazon)

You could only use a regular low-cal bulb in your part, just if y'all want to add some ambient lighting with dissimilar colors, an RGB LED strip is the style to become. This ane is Mauro-approved.

We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more than.