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How do I permanently wipe my hard drive in Windows 10 computer?
Even if you think you’ve deleted your files normally (e.g., moving them to the Recycle Bin), that doesn’t mean they’re gone for good. Deleting files simply marks the space as available for new data, while the original data can often be recovered using simple data recovery tools. A permanent wipe hard drive on Windows 10 ensures that the data cannot be restored.
I followed this tutorial to completely erase my data:
https://www.gicmodo.com/securely-wipe-hard-drive
Permanently wiping hard drive on Windows 10 PC to ensure that all personal data is irretrievable is an important step before disposing of or selling your computer. If you’re wiping an SSD, the built-in method using Windows settings is designed for this purpose.
1. Backup Important Files: Ensure that you back up any important data to another device or cloud storage.
2. Open Settings:
- Click on the Start menu.
- Go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery.
3. Reset This PC:
- Click on Get started under the “Reset this PC” section.
- Choose Remove everything.
4. Remove Files and Clean the Drive:
- Select Remove files and clean the drive for more secure erasure (this option takes longer but is more thorough).
5. Follow Prompts: Complete the prompts and wait for the process to finish.
Note: This method works well for SSDs, but be aware that simply resetting may not fully secure traditional HDDs.