Table of Contents
It is not possible to simply delete everything that is stored on how to Wipe a Hard Drive on PC. It will be necessary for you to perform a few additional actions in order to permanently delete files from a hard drive. The deletion of files or formatting of the hard drive is not sufficient to safeguard privacy when a computer is being given away or when the hard drive is being changed. This is because data recovery software makes it simple to retrieve files that have been deleted or deleted. Before, we had a lengthy discussion regarding the proper way to delete data from devices that contain internal memory.
The topic of this post is going to be how to deal with devices that are external. Continue reading to find out more about the reasons why you might need to erase your device as well as the steps you need to take to do so, including the specific tools that are required for each operating system. Keep in mind that many of the apps we’ll talk about are for PC operating systems like MacOS and Windows. However, there are some options for Android users as well. You can also go to the Microsoft official Website to know more information. Here are the steps how to Wipe a Hard Drive on PC.
How to Wipe a Hard Drive on PC
- Press the Windows key.
- Type “Settings” to find the Settings app.
- Open Settings.
- Click Update & Security.
- Click Recovery.
- Click Reset PC.
- Use the Remove everything option.
- Chose Local reinstall or Cloud download.
- Find and click Change settings in Additional settings.
- Enable Clean data.
- Click Confirm.
- Click Next.
- Click Reset.
How to wipe an SSD on BIOS
- Restart your computer.
- Enter your Bios.
- Find the storage drive you want to wipe.
- Find a Secure Erase option.
- Use Secure Erase to wipe your drive.
Why Wipe a Hard Drive?
- Data security: The act of wiping a hard drive deletes all private and sensitive data fully. This is very important when getting rid of or selling a computer, since removing files or formatting the drive might not get rid of the data for good.
- Protection of Privacy: Wiping a hard drive helps protect the privacy of the last person who used it by stopping personal or private data from being retrieved. This is especially important if you are giving or selling a computer.
- Stopping Data Recovery: deleting or formatting a file the old way doesn’t really get rid of the data; it just makes the room available for new data. Wiping makes it so that the data can’t be quickly retrieved with normal file recovery software.
- Compliance with Regulations: Businesses and organisations are sometimes required by law to delete data safely before getting rid of computers. This is often required by privacy and data security laws to keep sensitive information from getting into the wrong hands.
- Identity Theft Prevention: When you wipe a hard drive, any personal information that is stored on it is permanently erased. This includes bank records, login information, and other sensitive data.
- When reusing or repurposing a computer or hard drive, wiping makes a clean start so that the device is free of any previous data and ready for a new user without putting their security at risk.
Types of Hard Drives
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| HDD (Hard Disk Drive) | Traditional storage with spinning magnetic disks |
| SSD (Solid State Drive) | Flash-based storage without moving parts |
| Hybrid Drive | Combines HDD and SSD technologies for efficiency |
| SATA Drive | Uses Serial ATA interface for data transfer |
| NVMe Drive | Non-Volatile Memory Express, faster than SATA |
| External HDD/SSD | Portable drives connected externally |
| RAID Drives | Multiple drives configured for data redundancy |
| Enterprise HDD/SSD | Designed for heavy-duty use in business servers |
| Portable HDD/SSD | Small, lightweight drives for on-the-go use |
| Desktop HDD/SSD | Larger capacity drives for desktop computers |
Ensuring Data Security and Privacy
| Step Number | Action | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Encrypt data | Use robust encryption algorithms to secure the entire hard drive or sensitive files. |
| 2 | Regular Backups | Implement scheduled backups to prevent data loss and facilitate recovery. |
| 3 | Update Security Software | Keep antivirus and anti-malware programs up-to-date for real-time protection. |
| 4 | Secure Disposal | Properly erase data before discarding or repurposing hard drives. |
| 5 | Access Controls | Implement strong access controls, limiting who can read, write, or modify data. |
| 6 | Monitoring and Auditing | Regularly monitor and audit access logs for any unauthorized activities. |
| 7 | Physical Security | Secure physical access to hard drives, especially in data centers or server rooms. |
| 8 | Firewall Protection | Employ firewalls to prevent unauthorized access and data breaches. |
Conclusion
Are you keeping an outdated computer because you are unable to remove all of your personal information off the hard drive? If yes, you are currently holding on to it. Do you have concerns that even after you have emptied the recycle bin, there may still be data hiding in there? You always have the choice to arrive at the thing with a baseball bat in your possession. Destroying something physically is, in fact, one way to go about things (more on that later). On the other hand, there are methods that are significantly less time-consuming, more dependable, and less enjoyable to ensure that your Windows computer is as clean as the day it was manufactured.
Questions and Answers
Wiping a computer hard drive is different from shredding because wiping just gets rid of the information saved on the hard drive, but the hard drive itself stays the same. This is also different from putting documents in the trash or recycle bin, since the files stay on the computer even though they can’t be seen.
Unlike removing, wiping is a very different thing to do. While erasing deletes everything on the given partitions or disks, wiping only deletes files and places on the hard drive that neither the OS nor you can use.
Depending on the size of the drive and the way you choose, this could take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. See the tip at the bottom of the page to learn how to use the format command in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista to do a “simple” wipe.