If you’re getting ready to sell, donate, or recycle your computer, it’s important to wipe the hard drive of all sensitive data by securely erasing it. Doing this will prevent anyone from recovering your personal information, such as credit card numbers and passwords. Fortunately, Windows 10 makes wiping a hard drive easy with just a few simple steps. Learn How to Wipe a Hard Drive Windows 10?
How to Wipe a Hard Drive Windows 10?
- Back Up Your Data First – Before you start the process of wiping your hard drive, make sure that you have backed up anything important that you want to keep. You can back up files either to an external storage device or an online cloud storage service like Google Drive or Dropbox. Once you have backed up all of your data, you’re ready to begin the wiping process.
- Using Disk Cleanup – The easiest way to wipe a hard drive in Windows 10 is by using the Disk Cleanup tool. To access this tool go to Start > All Apps > Windows Administrative Tools > Disk Cleanup. In the window that appears select the drive that needs wiping and then click “Clean up system files” at the bottom of the window. A new window will appear with options for deleting temporary files and other items on your computer; check all boxes and click OK. Once Disk Cleanup is finished deleting temporary files it will open another window asking if you are sure you want to permanently delete these files; select “Delete Files” and click OK again. This process may take a few minutes depending on how large your hard drive is and how much data needs deleting but once it is finished, your hard drive should be wiped clean of any personal information or data stored on it.
- Using Reset This PC – Another option for wiping the hard drive in Windows 10 is by using Reset This PC feature which can be accessed by typing “reset this pc” into the search box on Start menu or by going into Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Reset This PC (you may need administrator privileges). In the next window choose “Remove Everything” and then select “Just remove my files”; this will delete all personal data but won’t affect any system settings or programs installed on your computer which can be useful if you’re planning to keep using the same computer after wiping its hard drive. Click Next and then follow on-screen instructions until resetting process is complete; this might take several minutes so be prepared for some waiting time before seeing results. Once resetting process is complete, your computer should be wiped clean of any personal information stored on its hard disk.
Conclusion
No matter what type of computer you have – whether it’s a laptop running Windows 10 or a desktop tower – wiping its hard disk is essential if you’re getting rid of it or giving it away so that no one else can access any sensitive information stored there such as credit card numbers, passwords etc… Windows 10 makes the job easy with two different tools – Disk Cleanup and Reset This PC – making it simple for anyone even without technical know-how to securely erase their personal data from their computer’s hard disk before moving on!