Resetting old pc with windows 10 for resale without using my microsoft account

Ellen Burnell 0 Reputation points
2025-08-28T23:43:27.0066667+00:00

I want to sell my old laptop (Toshiba Satellite with a factory reset to Windows 10 from the device). I've completed a full reset on the Toshiba (choosing to remove everything and just reinstalling Windows 10) and all seems to have gone well, arriving at the new set up screen. However, I realise it wants you to enter your Microsoft Account details, etc., to set up and sync everything across your profile, which of course I don't want to do. I've seen suggestions of doing the start up without internet connection to create a 'local' account. Before I do this, would someone be able to answer a couple of questions I have?

  1. I want to be able to sell the laptop with Windows 10 installed. If I create a local account, offline, will this allow a new user/owner to easily set up their own account from that (if I supply them with the username I've used) or will they have to do another factory reset, or something?
  2. If I create a local account, will this allow me to ensure that there's no trace of my personal data left on the laptop before I sell it on (assuming there shouldn't be but good to check all went to plan during the reset!)?

Thank you for any suggestions, Ellen

Microsoft Security | Microsoft Identity Manager
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