"I need to wipe a drive clean but the built-in tools in Windows don't work? It does its thing for hours then just restarts as if nothing happened with everything still on it. Is there any 3rd party software that could do this for me?"
- from Reddit
Whether it's to clean up disk space, fix system issues, or completely erase data before selling or transferring your computer, resetting the Windows hard drive is an effective solution. This guide will introduce four methods to reset hard drive in Windows PC. Continue reading to find the method that suits you.
If you want to reset the entire hard drive and restore the Windows system, you can use the Windows "Reset this PC" feature. It allows users to choose whether to keep personal files or remove everything while reinstalling the Windows system.
Here is how to reset hard drive on PC by Reset this PC:
Step 1. Click "Start" > "Settings", then click "Update & Security" > "Recovery".
Step 2. Under the "Reset this PC" option, click "Get started".
Step 3. Choose "Remove everything".
Step 4. Click "Next". A confirmation prompt will appear.
Step 5. Click "Reset" to begin the reset process. Once it's complete, follow the on-screen instructions to set up Windows as if it's new.
Formatting the hard drive is an effective way to erase data. It will clear all data on the selected partition or the entire disk, restoring it to its initial state. This can be done through both File Explorer and Disk Management.
Here is how to format a hard drive on Windows using File Explorer:
Step 1. Open File Explorer and locate the drive you want to format.
Step 2. Right-click on the drive and select "Format".
Step 3. In the Format window, choose the file system you prefer (e.g., NTFS or exFAT).
Step 4. Uncheck the "Quick Format" option if you want a more thorough format (note that this will take longer and make data harder to recover).
Step 5. Click "Start" to begin the formatting process.
Step 6. A warning will appear notifying you that all data on the drive will be erased. Confirm by clicking "OK".
Step 7. Once the process is complete, the drive will be formatted and ready to use.
DiskPart is a built-in command-line tool in Windows that is more powerful than regular formatting. It can completely erase all data on the hard drive, including the partition table, turning the drive into an unallocated state.
Here is how to reset hard drive in Windows using DiskPart:
Step 1. Press "Windows + R" to open the Run dialog, type "cmd", and press "Enter" to open the Command Prompt.
Step 2. In the Command Prompt window, type "diskpart" and press "Enter" to launch the DiskPart tool.
Step 3. Type "list disk" and press "Enter" to display all the connected disks.
Step 4. Identify the disk you want to clean and note its number. For example, if the disk you want to clean is listed as Disk 1, make sure to choose that one.
Step 5. Type select "disk X" (replace X with the number of the disk you want to clean) and press "Enter".
Step 6. Type "clean all" and press "Enter" to remove all partitions and data from the selected disk. This will erase everything, including the partition table.
Step 7. After the process is complete, type "exit" and press "Enter" to close DiskPart.
If you want to ensure that the data is permanently deleted and cannot be recovered, Coolmuster Data Erasure is a better choice. It offers two erasure modes, Quick Erase and Deep Erase, and supports wiping the entire hard drive at once, ensuring that the data cannot be retrieved by recovery software.
Highlights of Coolmuster Data Erasure:
Here is how to completely wipe a hard drive on Windows using Data Erasure:
01Download and launch the tool on your Windows PC. In the main interface, select the "Drive Wiper" mode, then choose the desired erasure level, either "Quick Erase" or "Deep Erase", to proceed.
02Select the hard drive you wish to wipe, then click the "Erase Now" button to begin the wiping process.
03When prompted, confirm your selection. Ensure you have backed up any important data, as this will erase everything on the drive.
Video Tutorial:
Q1. What is the difference between formatting a hard drive and resetting Windows?
Formatting only erases data without reinstalling Windows while resetting Windows deletes data and reinstalls the system.
Q2. Does resetting the hard drive solve system failure issues?
Resetting the hard drive can usually resolve some common system issues, such as operating system crashes, virus infections, and performance degradation. However, if there are hardware issues with the hard drive, resetting it will not fix those problems.
Q3. How can I physically clean my hard drive?
The safest way to physically clean your hard drive is by using a mini vacuum cleaner. Be gentle and focus only on removing surface dust. Avoid using high-power vacuums, as they could damage the drive. Also, refrain from using methods that could generate static electricity.
That's all about how to reset hard drive in Windows. If you simply want to reset Windows, you can use the built-in reset feature; however, if you need to completely erase data, Coolmuster Data Erasure is the safest choice, ensuring data cannot be recovered and protecting your privacy.
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