FAQs
- Type and search [Reset this PC] in the Windows search bar①, then click [Open]②.
- Click [Get started]③ in Reset this PC section.
- Select [Remove everything]④.
- Click [Change settings]⑤.
- Based on your request, select the appropriate settings⑥, then click [Confirm]⑦.
- Confirm the settings, then click [Next]⑧.
Wiping your hard drive
- Select Settings (the gear icon on the Start menu)
- Select Update & security, then Recovery.
- Choose Remove everything, then Remove files and clean the drive.
- Then click Next, Reset, and Continue.
You can manually delete all files from a hard drive as the operating system will remain unaffected in any way. That said, this is probably the least secure and most risky to find out how to wipe a hard drive without deleting Windows and should be avoided.
How do I wipe my hard drive of everything but Windows? ›
So, simply follow the below-mentioned steps.
- Step 1: Open your windows search bar and type "Reset This PC." The following screen should appear.
- Step 2: In this step, a blue screen will appear. ...
- Step 3: Once you click on "Remove Everything," a new screen will pop up. ...
- Step 4: Place an arrow on clean data.
To reset your PC, go to Start > Settings > System > Recovery . Next to Reset this PC , select Reset PC. Then, select Keep my files, or Remove everything or choose cloud or local, change your settings , and set Restore preinstalled apps? to No.
What is the best way to wipe a computer? ›
Go to Settings > System > Recovery and click Reset PC. When asked what you want to erase, select Remove everything. Choose Local reinstall to reinstall Windows from this device, since it will run faster than the cloud download.
How to erase data permanently from a hard disk? ›
Back up your data to an external hard drive, or a cloud backup service such as OneDrive.
- Go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Reset PC.
- Select Remove everything, and then Remove files and clean the drive.
- Click Next, Reset, and then Continue.
To protect your and your customer's identity
If he sells the hard disk, this list can get public. That's why is extremely important to completely and securely erase all computers and devices even if you are not using them anymore.
How to make a hard drive unrecoverable? ›
If you're selling or giving away your computer, you should clear all the data off first. To do this, backup all of your files, then delete all of your files from your PC. Finally, use a file erasing tool (e.g. CCleaner's Drive Wiper) to clear your hard drive data permanently.
How to wipe a PC before selling? ›
How to wipe your computer hard drive
- Go to “Settings.”
- Choose “System” on the left side menu.
- Click “Recovery.”
- Click “Reset PC.”
- Choose “Keep my files” (removes apps and settings but keeps your personal files) or “Remove everything” (removes apps, settings, and your personal files).
To summarize, securely overwriting hard disk drives involves: One overwriting pass for most HDD erasure. Remember to weigh data sensitivity against the costs of a higher level of security and the time you want to spend on each processed asset. More passes take longer and are usually unnecessary.
How do I wipe my hard drive before disposing of my computer? ›
Let's see what those steps are:
- Open the Settings of the system.
- Click on 'Update & Security'
- Go to 'Recovery' option in the menu on the left side.
- Choose the option 'Get Started' under the Reset This PC.
- Select 'Remove Everything' from the dialogue box that pops up like the one below.
How to wipe a hard drive – Windows 10
- Press the Windows key.
- Type “Settings” to find the Settings app.
- Open Settings.
- Click Update & Security.
- Click Recovery.
- Click Get Started.
- Use the Remove everything option.
- Chose Local reinstall.
How to wipe a hard drive without deleting Windows - 2 ways
- >> If you can log on to Windows 10: Start > Settings > Update & Security > Recovery Reset this PC. ...
- After selecting it to start, you can select Remove Everything on the next page to clear all personal files, applications and settings from your hard drive.
Reset the system and keep your file
This reset option will reinstall the Windows operating system and preserve your personal files, such as photos, music, videos, and personal documents. It will remove installed applications and drivers, as well as revert any changes you made to the settings.
How do I do a full System wipe on my computer? ›
Factory reset on Windows
- Click Start, then Settings.
- Click Update & Security.
- Click Recovery. Under “Reset This PC,” click Get Started.
- Click Remove everything. Junk files and malware might remain if you choose “Keep my files.”
Let's see what those steps are:
- Open the Settings of the system.
- Click on 'Update & Security'
- Go to 'Recovery' option in the menu on the left side.
- Choose the option 'Get Started' under the Reset This PC.
- Select 'Remove Everything' from the dialogue box that pops up like the one below.
If you want to remove all the data but not the operating system, several methods exist. It can be done by using Windows reset; wiping everything using the software, erasing the disk and reinstalling the Windows/macOS, and running Diskpart CMD Command are useful and quick methods to wipe out the data from your PC.
Does wiping a computer remove everything? ›
Wiping a computer hard drive is different from shredding because it merely erases any stored information while keeping the physical hard drive intact.
