Wiping Windows 11 and 10 data may not be as easy as intended for OneDrive users
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What you need to know
If you’re planning on wiping your Windows PC using the built-in options for device reset operations, know that you may need to go further toreallyscrub your system clean. As it turns out, Windows' own tools may not be enough to properly clean a device.
As reported byRudy Ooms, the issue at hand is fixable with a PowerShell script (viaTom’s Hardware). Still, be on the lookout for the base problem if you use OneDrive and plan on attempting to wipe your PC anytime soon.
Sorry for ruining your Sunday, but performing a remote or local Wipe on Windows 10 21H2 also leaves the userdata readable in the Windows.old folder#intune#mem#msintune#mempoweredhttps://t.co/439FCyh59MSorry for ruining your Sunday, but performing a remote or local Wipe on Windows 10 21H2 also leaves the userdata readable in the Windows.old folder#intune#mem#msintune#mempoweredhttps://t.co/439FCyh59M— Rudy Ooms | MVP 🇳🇱 (@Mister_MDM)February 20, 2022February 20, 2022
Whether attempting to local or remote wipeWindows 11or Windows 10 version 21H2, Ooms found that some personal data ran the risk of being left on the PC in a capacity wherein it was still, with the right tools and know-how, accessible. To showcase this, he pointed to the Windows.old folder, which retained info even after a proper wipe was executed.
Here’s the catch: In an update to his initial report, Ooms clarified that “this issue only occurs when you are using OneDrive,” meaning those without OneDrive may have the smooth experience that Windows' built-in wiping tools are intended to offer. Though in the event you do use OneDrive, check out Ooms' post for a PowerShell script that’ll help you in totally resetting your device.
Microsoft’s operating systems are full of little bugs, but don’t let that dissuade you from checking out thebest Windows laptops, which are still some of the most capable machines on the market.
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Robert Carnevale is the News Editor for Windows Central. He’s a big fan of Kinect (it lives on in his heart), Sonic the Hedgehog, and the legendary intersection of those two titans, Sonic Free Riders. He is the author ofCold War 2395. Have a useful tip? Send it to robert.carnevale@futurenet.com.
