I have been looking to erase all the data from my hard disk drive. As the data is confidential and authenticated, so I cannot trust any software to do the task. Is there any method that does not use external means? Please let me know how to wipe my hard drive clean manually?
Manual Steps On How To Wipe My Hard Drive Clean Without Software?
In Windows 7, you can use the format command to erase the entire data from the hard disk drive. The steps are as follows:
- Wiping a secondary hard drive
- Click on Start and go to Computer. Determine the hard disk that you want to clear.
- Again, go to Start and type cmd into the search bar. The MS-DOS command prompt will open.
- Type the following command: d: /fs:NTFS /p:1 where D: is the hard drive which is to be formatted.
- The flag /p overwrite the hard drive with zero and erases the previous data.
2. Wiping a primary hard drive
- Firstly, insert a CD into your optical drive. Now, follow the path: Start > Control Panel > System and Maintenance > Backup and Restore
- Click on ‘Create a system repair disk,’ and burn the CD correctly.
- Restart your computer and press the key when asked to do so.
- Now, click on ‘Use recovery tool that can help fix the problem starting Windows.’
- Choose the Windows installation, and then select Command prompt. Type the following code: c: /fs: NTFS /p:2 since C: is the hard disk drive.
Manual Steps On How To Wipe My Hard Drive Clean Without Software?
If you want to wipe the entire data on your hard drive, you can do it by either bleaching the drive or a simple file shredding. These methods erase data on the drive without the possibility of recovering them back. This is a good way to permanently delete sensitive data on your hard drive. I know two applications that can do this: CCleaner and PC Tools.
To try the first application, download the free version of CCleaner and install it. Once installed, start CCleaner then go to “Tools” on the left pane and select “Drive Wiper” on the right. In “Wipe”, set the type of deletion you want. You can select between “Free Space Only” and “Entire Drive (All data will be erased)”.
Selecting “Free Space Only” will wipe only the free space on the drive while “Entire Drive (All data will be erased)” will erase the contents of the entire drive both free space and existing files and folders. In “Security”, select the level of deletion you want and in “Drives”, check the drive you want to wipe. Click “Wipe” to start wiping the drive.
To try the second application, download PC Tools Performance Toolkit and install it. Once installed, start PC Tools then go to “Privacy” tab and click either “Bleach Disks” or “Shred Files”. Selecting “Bleach Disks” will wipe only the free space of the drive permanently erasing deleted files and folders. Selecting “Shred Files” will permanently shred or delete files and folders.
This is best if you have a confidential file that you want to permanently delete.
