In today's digital age, protecting personal and private data has become a top priority.
When requesting a Hofy equipment collection, we prioritize the removal of all personal data from the device by the current user and additionally, ensure the device is accessible to the new user.
[ACCORDION] How does device wiping work?
An essential part of the collection process is wiping the device to remove all personal data and installed applications.
The device wiping process includes the removal of the activation lock for Apple devices or unlocking BitLocker-encrypted Windows devices and completing a factory reset.
If our instructions are not followed and a device is collected unwiped and/or locked, we may have to charge $50 to your organisation.
Activation lock for Apple Devices
Activation lock is a feature intended to prevent your Apple device from being accessed. It is a part of the Find My app on iOS devices and can be enabled on any iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac that supports the feature. You may visit our article on What is Activation lock? for more information.
BitLocker for Windows Devices
BitLocker is a built-in device encryption feature of Windows operating systems that protects data by encrypting entire drives.
When a device has BitLocker enabled, it provides a layer of protection for the data stored on the device. This protection includes preventing unauthorized access to the device and the data stored on it. However, this protection also means that if a device has BitLocker enabled, we cannot access or wipe the device.
To access the BitLocker-encrypted device, we require a 48-digit recovery key. It's possible that the user or the organization may have enabled BitLocker encryption. Instructions for finding the recovery key can be found here. If the device was pre-configured by Hofy, we can provide the recovery key and can wipe the device accordingly.
Factory reset
A laptop factory reset is a process that erases all data and restores the laptop to its original settings. It is important to note that a factory reset will erase all personal files, documents and settings from the laptop, so it is recommended to back up any important data before performing a factory reset.
To perform a factory reset on a laptop, the exact steps may vary depending on the manufacturer and model.
The collection and device wiping instructions are shared with a team member by our collection team at the start of the collection process. This must be completed ahead of collection.
[ACCORDION] Device wiping at the end of the rental contract
When a laptop is returned to Hofy at the end of a rental contract, it must be accessible and in a usable condition. The responsibility of wiping that laptop lies with the end user. Our Collections team provides clear and simple instructions for wiping the device. It is the responsibility of the end user to complete this process before collection.
If a laptop is collected and has not been wiped, we reserve the right to charge the organisation for the cost of restoring the device to a usable condition or replacing the device entirely.
[ACCORDION] Device wiping for redistribution within the organisation
If the laptop is being redistributed to another user within the organisation, the responsibility of wiping the laptop and reinstalling the operating software lies with the organisation. During an active contract, all equipment is the responsibility of the organisation. Therefore, it is important that personal data is removed from the device and that it is suitable for use by the next person.
Furthermore, the responsibility for the rented equipment lies with organisations, and their employees must comply with Hofy's terms of service. If you have any questions about this process, please feel free to reach out to us.
Below you will find the step-by-step guides to wiping your device.
[ACCORDION] How to erase macOS (Ventura)
What does this do? This will remove all data & settings from a MacBook.
1. First, remove your device from iCloud:
2. Navigate to appleid.apple.com/account/manage
3. Log in using your Apple ID.
4. Select Devices.
5. Select the device.
6. Check the Serial Number to ensure you have selected the correct device.
7. Click Remove from account.
8. After you have removed your Apple ID, Erase the Mac:
9. Choose the Apple Menu in the top left of the display System Settings
10. Navigate to General, then Transfer or Reset.
11. Select Erase All Content and Settings
12. Enter the laptop administrator password when prompted.
13. Select Continue.
14. Select Erase All Content & Settings.
15. The Laptop will now reset.
[ACCORDION] How to erase macOS (Monterey)
What does this do? This will remove all data & settings from a MacBook.
1. First, remove your device from iCloud:
2. Navigate to appleid.apple.com/account/manage
3. Log in using your Apple ID.
4. Select Devices.
5. Select the device.
6. Check the Serial Number to ensure you have selected the correct device.
7. Click Remove from account.
8. After you have removed your Apple ID, Erase the Mac:
9. Choose the Apple Menu in the top left of the display System Preferences.
10. Select the System Preferences in the top left of the display.
11. Select Erase All Content and Settings.
12. Enter the laptop administrator password when prompted.
13. Select Continue.
14. Select Erase All Content & Settings.
15. The Laptop will now reset.
[ACCORDION] How to reset a PC (Windows 11)
What does this do? This will reset a Windows laptop back to factory settings.
1. Start by pressing the Windows key on your keyboard then proceed to navigate to Settings, you can get there by clicking the gear icon on the Start menu.
2. Select System.
3. Click Recovery on the left pane.
4. Choose the option to Reset PC and then get started.
5. Click remove everything.
6. Chose the option to Cloud Download a new version of windows if prompted.
7. Click Next.
8. Click Reset when prompted which will initiate the process of wiping the machine
[ACCORDION] How to reset a PC (Windows 10)
What does this do? This will reset a Windows laptop back to factory settings.
1. Start by pressing the Windows key on your keyboard then proceed to Navigate to settings, you can get there by clicking the gear icon on the start menu.
2. Select Update & Security.
[ACCORDION] How to reset a PC (Windows 10)
What does this do? This will reset a Windows laptop back to factory settings.
1. Start by pressing the Windows key on your keyboard then proceed to Navigate to settings, you can get there by clicking the gear icon on the start menu.
2. Select Update & Security.
3. Click Recovery on the left pane.
4. Choose the option to Reset this PC and then get started.
5. Click remove everything.
6. Chose the option to Cloud Download a new version of windows if prompted.
7. Click Next.
8. Click Reset when prompted which will initiate the process of wiping the machine.
How to reset your locked Windows Device
To start this process, which will delete data, programs, and settings:
1. Press the Shift key while you select the Power button > Restart in the lower-right corner of the screen.
2. On the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC.
3. From this point, you can follow the above steps for Windows 10 and Windows 11 resets, depending on your operating system.