There are several reasons why someone may want to completely wipe their Windows 10 computer:
- Selling – Before selling your computer, you’ll want to wipe it to remove all personal files and reset it to factory settings. This protects your privacy and makes the system ready for the new owner.
- Donating – Donating your old computer? A full system wipe removes private information so you can donate without worry.
- Fixing software issues – Sometimes malware, bugs or performance issues can be resolved by resetting everything to factory defaults.
- Starting fresh – Wiping your PC gives it a fresh start, removing any clutter and restoring it to peak performance.
Completely wiping a Windows 10 machine erases all data, settings, apps and personalization. It restores the computer to the state it was in when you first unboxed it or received it from the manufacturer.
Back Up Your Files
Before wiping your computer, it is crucial to back up your important files and data. A factory reset or clean Windows install will remove everything on your hard drive, so you don’t want to risk losing your documents, photos, music, or other irreplaceable files.
The easiest way to back up files on Windows 10 is to use the built-in Windows Backup and Restore utility. To do this, click the start button and search for ‘Windows Backup’. Open the app and select to create a system image and/or file backup. Choose an external drive to save the backup files to. Make sure the drive has enough space for all the data you want to preserve (at least 50GB is recommended).
You can also manually copy important folders like My Documents, Pictures, Videos etc. to an external drive. For a full backup, consider using third party software like Macrium Reflect which can clone your entire hard drive.
Backing up beforehand avoids data loss and gives you the peace of mind to securely erase the hard drive knowing your files are protected. Be sure to verify the backup files are accessible before wiping the computer.
Sources:
[1] https://gadgetmates.com/how-to-backup-your-computer-before-a-factory-reset
[2] https://www.cbackup.com/articles/backup-computer-before-factory-reset.html
Reset Your PC
One option for wiping a Windows 10 computer is using the Reset Your PC feature in Settings. This allows you to choose between keeping your personal files or removing everything from the system.
According to Howtogeek, the Reset Your PC option provides two choices: “Keep my files” or “Remove everything.” The “Keep my files” option reinstalls Windows 10 but maintains your personal data like documents, photos and music. It removes all apps and settings. The more thorough “Remove everything” option resets Windows 10 to its factory default state and erases all of your personal files and accounts (source).
Resetting your PC through these options essentially reinstalls a fresh copy of the Windows 10 operating system. It’s a built-in recovery tool that restores the system to its original state. This can help resolve problems caused by software errors or corruption. According to a Quora thread, resetting your PC in Windows 10 doesn’t require a password or product key, as your license stays linked to your Microsoft account (source).
Overall, the Reset Your PC option provides a simple way to wipe and restore a Windows 10 computer through the Settings app, without needing installation media. It provides flexibility in choosing whether to keep personal files or not.
Use Diskpart
One method to completely wipe a Windows 10 computer is by using the Diskpart command line tool. Diskpart allows you to clean, create, delete, extend, and format partitions on your hard drive from a command prompt window.
To use Diskpart to wipe your drive, first open the Command Prompt as an administrator. Then type “diskpart” and press enter to launch the Diskpart tool. Next, type “list disk” to view available disks and identify the number of the disk you want to wipe. Select this disk by typing “select disk X” where X is the disk number. Finally, type “clean” to completely wipe and erase all data on the selected disk (Source).
The clean command will delete all partitions, data, and disk signatures from the selected drive. This will leave you with a blank, raw disk with no file system or data remaining. You can then use Diskpart to create new partitions, or install a fresh version of Windows 10.
Diskpart provides a quick and easy way to completely erase a drive from the command line in Windows. Just be sure to backup any important data first, as the clean command cannot be undone.
Format the Drive
One of the most effective ways to completely wipe your Windows 10 computer is to format the C drive. The C drive contains the Windows operating system and installed programs, so formatting it will essentially reset your PC to a clean slate.
To format the C drive, first open the Disk Management tool by pressing Windows Key + R, typing “diskmgmt.msc”, and hitting Enter. This will open the Disk Management console.
Right-click on your C drive partition (typically labeled “Drive C”) and select “Format”. Make sure you select the correct drive before formatting to avoid accidentally wiping other disks.
In the format dialog, choose “NTFS” as the file system. Leave the allocation unit size as default. Check the “Quick Format” box to format the drive quickly.
Click “OK” to begin formatting the C drive. This will completely erase all data and partitions on the disk.
Once finished, you will have an empty, unallocated C drive ready for a fresh install of Windows 10 or another operating system. Formatting the C drive erases all your programs, files, and Windows system files, effectively resetting your computer.
For guidance on formatting the C drive, see this tutorial: How to Format C Drive in Windows 11/10? [4 Efficient Ways]
Clean Install Windows
Doing a clean install of Windows 10 means wiping your hard drive completely and installing a fresh copy of the operating system. This ensures there are no leftover files or programs and gives you a “clean slate” to work with.
To do a clean install, you’ll need a Windows 10 installation media like a USB drive or DVD. The easiest way is to use the Windows 10 media creation tool to make a bootable USB. Then, boot your PC from the USB drive and follow the on-screen prompts to install Windows 10. Make sure to select “Custom” when given the option to keep nothing or personal files. This will wipe the hard drive before installing Windows.
The main benefits of a clean install include removing any built up junk, malware, or corrupted files. It also resets all settings to default. The downside is having to reinstall all your applications and drivers. So make sure to back up any important data first. But for a fresh start, a clean install is the way to go.
Use Third Party Software
One of the most thorough ways to wipe a hard drive is by using third party disk wiping software. These dedicated programs are designed to completely overwrite all data on a drive.
Some top options include:
- Darik’s Boot and Nuke (DBAN) – This free, open source tool can wipe your drive from a bootable CD or USB stick. It supports various standards like DoD 5220.22-M or Gutmann to overwrite data. See this guide for instructions.
- Active@ Killdisk – A fast, secure drive wipe utility that offers multiple overwrite algorithms. The free version can erase free space, while paid options support full drive wiping. Get it from Killdisk’s website.
These advanced disk wipe utilities utilize multiple overwrite passes and standards endorsed by governments and regulators for secure data destruction. They provide comprehensive drive erasure tools while being easy enough for personal use.
Wipe Free Space
Wiping the free space on your hard drive involves overwriting the deleted data so that it cannot be recovered. This is an important step if you want to completely remove all traces of data from your computer. Here are some methods to securely wipe free space in Windows 10:
The built-in Disk Cleanup tool in Windows 10 has an option to clean up system files and securely delete files. To use it, go to Settings > System > Storage > Disk Cleanup. In the Disk Cleanup window, click ‘Clean up system files’ and then check the ‘Securely delete files’ option.
Another option is to use the cipher command in Command Prompt. Open Command Prompt as administrator and type:
cipher /w:C
This will overwrite the free space on your C: drive with random data. You can also specify other drive letters.
There are also third party tools like Eraser that can target free space specifically. Eraser overwrites data multiple times to make it unrecoverable. Refer to this guide for instructions on using it.
Encrypting your drive is another way to make deleted files unrecoverable. BitLocker on Windows Pro versions can encrypt drives. Free tools like VeraCrypt also encrypt free space. Just be sure to decrypt the drive before wiping it.
Overall, wiping free space is crucial to ensure deleted files are completely erased before disposing of or repurposing a drive. The methods above provide secure options to accomplish this.
Physically Destroy Drive
Physically destroying a hard drive should only be used as a last resort when all other options for securely wiping the drive have been exhausted. There are significant risks and disadvantages to physically destroying a drive.
Destroying a hard drive creates physical security, safety, and environmental hazards. Hard drive platters are made of glass or aluminum and can shatter into dangerous shards when destroyed. Protective equipment like goggles, gloves, and masks should be worn. The process also generates metal shards, dust, and debris that must be disposed of properly. Physically destroying drives is loud and can bother coworkers.
Furthermore, physically destroying a hard drive does not guarantee data will be unrecoverable. Research has shown that data can still be recovered from platters even after physical damage unless the platters are completely pulverized. Simply drilling holes in a drive or smashing platters can still leave recoverable data behind. The process must completely shred and demolish the platters to render data unrecoverable.
Given these downsides, physically destroying a drive should not be the first approach for drive wiping. It is much better to use software wiping, disk formatting, or degaussing instead. Only if these other methods fail after repeated attempts should physically destroying a drive be considered. When done, it should be performed by trained professionals with industrial shredders.
Conclusion
In summary, there are a few main methods to thoroughly wipe a Windows 10 computer. The most secure options involve completely resetting or reformatting the hard drive using the Windows Reset feature, Diskpart utility, or a clean Windows reinstallation. This will wipe all data by overwriting the drive with zeros or random data.
For the most sensitive data, consider physically destroying the hard drive through degaussing or shredding methods. While software wipes or free space wipes may be quicker, they can leave data recoverable. Take particular care that personal files, financial information, or proprietary data is not left behind.
Completely wiping a computer takes time but is essential before disposing of, selling, or repurposing the device. With the right preparation and tools, you can ensure no valuable or private information remains for the next user.
