• Created by user-6d108, last modified by user-29411 on Jun 05, 2018

 This guide contains the basics on how to wipe a hard drive, using the multiple tools available

See also

SSD's don't need as much wiping, apparently

Internal Hard Drive

Wipe Before Windows OSD (CM's OS Deployment)

  • Follow the directions here to get into the OSD
  • Before entering the password to load the OSD, hit F8
  • This will load a DOS prompt, allowing use of disk partition
    • diskpart → list disk → (Choose the drive you want to wipe, ex: disk 0 is the internal hdd) select disk 0 → clean
  • Exit the DOS prompt once it has said the disk has been successfully cleaned, and continue on with OSD

External Hard Drive (Toaster Method)

Obtain a “toaster” and the hard drive to be wiped. Setup the toaster and hard drive

Wipe Using Windows File Explorer

  • Open up windows explorer → This PC. Two new drives should show up by the computer’s internal hard drive
  • Right click "Local Disk" (F:) → Format → Keep all options the same. Do the same for "System Reserved" (E:)

Wipe Using Windows Disk Management

Windows 7

  • Access Disk management by typing partition into the start menu, or by opening the control panel and selecting create and format disk partitions under administrative tools
  • Select Disk partitions to be formatted or deleted. Right click on selected partition and select delete volume. Repeat for all partitions

Windows 10

  • Access Disk Management by going to the control panel -> administrative tools -> Disk Management. Make sure to run the program as an administrator.
  • select disk partitions to be formatted or deleted. Right click on selected partition and select delete volume. Repeat for all partitions.

Either Internal or External HDD

Using the Multiboot USB tool

  • Boot the computer using the USB by hitting f12 immediately after start up and selecting USB device.
  • once Main Menu appears, select system tools -> Ultimate Boot CD -> HDD-> Disk wiping -> HDShredder V4.0.1
  • press Y to begin the wiping program, Continue to press yes when prompted. Program will wipe the disk clean. May take a while depending on the amount of files on the disk.

Alternative to the Ultimate Boot CD method

  • Boot the computer using the Multiboot USB by hitting F12 on startup and selecting the USB drive.
  • Once in the Main Menu, Select system tools -> Parted Magic. (Note: In case of need Parted Magic is also available through Hiren's Boot CD as Linux based rescue environment).
  • Once parted magic boots up, open Disk Eraser.
  • Use the shred or dd methods for a quick wipe or nwipe for a more secure wipe (similar to DBAN but takes MUCH longer).
  • Choose the hard drive to be wiped (The USB can be disconnected once at this stage so as to not accidentally wipe it).

Using Windows Installer with USB boot

This method uses a USB that is used to install Windows. However, we just want the wiping/formatting capability this method provides, i.e.: AVOID INSTALLING ANYTHING.

  • Boot the computer using the USB by hitting f12 immediately after start up and selecting USB device.
  • Press any key when prompted to avoid booting into the OS
  • Once the Windows Setup window appears, click Next and Install Now.
  • After accepting the terms, choose Custom Install
  • Delete all Drive 0 partitions and do NOT click Next
  • Exit Windows Setup to cancel installation
  • If Windows Setup window shows up again, force shut down, remove USB, turn on again, and you should see that there is no boot device. Force shut down again and you are done.
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