How to format a laptop, that doesn't have a dvd drive?

[SpeedZealot369]

I have a laptop that doesn't have a dvd drive, and also I don't have a usb stick to put windows on either. I need to format the laptop because I am selling it.

So the question is, where can I find an application that can format my hd from within windows? I.e. keep windows but erase everything else that's on the hd?

 

[mechBgon]

Formatting would erase everything, Windows included. It sounds like you want to do a secure wipe of the free space. Maybe this would do what you want:

1. create a new user account and log into it

2. use the new user account to install CCleaner

3. delete the old user account(s) you'd been using

4. run CCleaner and clean up temp files and stuff, then use its Secure Wipe feature to obscure the unoccupied disk space.

 

[Steltek]

If the laptop has a built-in factory restore partition, you should just be able trigger a reinstall back to factory defaults.

 

[yinan]

Buy a USB stick they are cheap

 

[Gooberlx2]

Buy a USB stick they are cheap

This.

http://arstechnica.com/business/news/2009/12/-the-usb-flash-drive.ars

http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/

 

[Modelworks]

Look in the bios and see if there is a disk sanitizer option. My HP has that option where it will erase the entire drive.