Format Hdd Using Windows How To Wipe The

Image Credit: TechRadar (Image credit: TechRadar) Step two: Select Get started under the Reset This PC section.

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You may just want to free up space, set it up to work with a different file system, or delete every trace of data on the drive so you can sell it knowing no one will get your information after the fact.

Fortunately, regardless of the type of drive you want to wipe, the process is easy and straightforward.

It can get a little more involved depending on how secure you want your erased data to be, but well go over several different options you have to clear data off your drive.

Well also be sure you know what to do on both Windows 10 and macOS.

How to wipe a drive in Windows 10 The steps youll need to take to wipe (or format) a drive in Windows 10 will vary depending on whether the drive is simply used for storage or used for your active Windows installation.

Format Hdd Using Windows How To Wipe The

Well go over the former first, but afterward well explain how to wipe the drive you have Windows installed on.

The quickest way to format a drive is available right in the This PC window.

This will open a new window that shows some of your computer folders and the drives that are connected to it.

Image Credit: TechRadar (Image credit: TechRadar) Step two: Right click on the drive you want to wipe, and select Format.

This gives you several option for how to clear the drive and the option to name the drive after formatting, and the way you want to set it up for new data after the format.

Image Credit: TechRadar (Image credit: TechRadar) Step three: Choose your format settings and press Start to wipe the drive.

If you plan to continue using the wiped drive, you have the choice to use the Quick Format option, which will be a faster choice but offers less security.

A quick format will not remove any of the data, it just will remove the means of identifying where the data is stored, letting it all be overwritten as the drive is used.

If you want to be sure the data on the drive is erased completely, do not check the Quick Format option.

According to Microsoft Support, in Windows Vista and all newer versions, the format tool will erase data by overwriting it with zeroes.

Image Credit: TechRadar (Image credit: TechRadar) Alternative method: You can also format a drive in Disk Management (press Windows Key X and then select Disk Management).

Right click on the drive or partition you want to format, and select Format.

Again, note that a quick format is not as secure as a normal format.

How to wipe your main Windows 10 drive If the drive you want to wipe is where your Windows 10 operating system is installed, you wont be able to format it using the above steps.

Instead, youll need to perform a system reset (not to be confused with restarting your computer).

Image Credit: TechRadar (Image credit: TechRadar) Step one: Type Reset this PC into the Windows search bar and hit Enter.

This will take you to the menu for resetting and restoring your computer.

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