How Do I Securely Erase Hard Drive/SSD, Wipe Confidential Data? Your Reliable Guide Is Here

Securely erasing confidential information on a hard drive or SSD requires a multi-step process. First, completely power down the device and disconnect it from any power source.

To protect your privacy, it's essential to securely erase a hard drive before getting rid of it, whether it's an old drive, a dying SSD, or a non-functional external hard drive. This is crucial if you have confidential files stored on the disk, as selling or discarding it without proper erasure can put your sensitive information at risk of being accessed by unauthorized parties. By wiping the hard drive, you can ensure that your personal data is completely deleted and your privacy is protected.

If you have an old hard drive, SSD, or external hard drive that needs erasing, you'll need a secure disk eraser to help you. This guide is here to assist you in that process.

What Is Secure Erase Hard Drive

Securely erasing a hard drive refers to the process of completely and irreversibly deleting all data on the drive, making it impossible to recover any information. This process typically involves overwriting the entire drive with random data, often multiple times, to ensure that all data is completely erased and cannot be recovered by any means. This is different from simply deleting files, which only removes the reference to the file on the operating system, but does not physically remove the data from the drive. Securely erasing a hard drive can be done using specialized software or hardware tools, and is often used to prepare a drive for disposal or to ensure that sensitive information is not compromised.

Erasing a disk completely wipes all saved documents, images, audio files, videos, and other content from the storage device. There are three ways to erase a disk.

Use hardware erasing devices
Use disk erasing software
Physically break the device.

Securely erasing a hard drive involves more than just deleting or removing files, as deleted data can still be recoverable. Instead, it involves using disk erasing software to write 0s to the storage device at a sector or cluster level, completely wiping all confidential information and common files.

How to Securely Erase Hard Drive/SSD or External Disk

To securely erase a hard drive, SSD, or external hard drive, you need to select a suitable method based on your purpose. If you're selling or donating the drive, a quick and simple method like the "quick erase" or "secure erase" option in the device's settings may be sufficient. However, if you're looking to completely wipe the drive, you may need to use a third-party software or a specialized tool like DBAN or KillDisk. These tools can overwrite the entire drive with random data, making it extremely difficult to recover any information.

#1. Back-Up Your Data!

It's crucial to back up your essential files from your working hard drive before securely erasing it, as once the erasing operation is completed, your files will be irretrievable.

To backup a working disk, you can either manually copy files or use file backup software to transfer all data to another storage device.
To backup a failing disk, you can clone the failing disk to rescue as many files as possible.

#2. Check Your Need & Select a Right Wayt to Erase Hard Drive

Here are four different situations where most disk users need to erase their hard drive, along with a brief guide on how to wipe everything now:

1. Securely Erase (Data) Hard Drive for Reuse or Sell

2. Securely Erase Hard Drive with Windows Installed On

3. Wipe Hard Drive on a Dead Computer

4. Erase a Dead HDD/SSD

1. How to Securely Erase (Data) Hard Drive or SSD for Resue/Sell

To securely erase an external hard drive in Windows, follow these steps: Go to the Start menu and search for 'Disk Management.' Open the Disk Management tool and locate the external hard drive you want to erase.

Securely Erase Hard Drive using Disk Wipe Software

For beginners, using disk erasing software is a convenient and cost-effective way to securely wipe a disk, making all files unrecoverable with just a few clicks. To save time comparing various disk erasers on the market, we'll demonstrate how to directly wipe a hard disk using Qiling Partition Master.

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How to Wipe Data:

We've set two options for you to wipe data. Choose the one you need.

Option 1. Wipe Partition

Choose "Wipe Data" option in the tools page.

I'm happy to help! However, I don't see a window to click on.

To wipe a partition, set the time for which you want to wipe it, then click "Proceed".

Option 2. Wipe Disk

Choose "Wipe Data" option in the tools page.

In a new window, select the disk's head from which you want to erase data.

To wipe a partition, set the time for which you want to wipe the partition, then click "Proceed".

2. How to Secure Erase Hard Drive with Windows Installed On

To safely erase a hard drive with an operating system installed on it, you can't directly erase it using the above-presented solutions. Due to OS protecting mechanism, Windows system doesn't allow any users to delete, format, or erase the OS drive on a computer, making it a more complex process.

To achieve the goal of erasing a disk, you can use a professional tool like Qiling Partition Master, which comes with a bootable disk feature that can help you accomplish this task.

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Step 1. To create a bootable disk for Qiling Partition Master, prepare a storage media such as a USB drive, flash drive, or CD/DVD disc, and connect it to your computer. Launch Qiling Partition Master, then click the "Create bootable media" feature on the tools page.

Step 2. If the USB or CD/DVD drive is available, you can choose one of them to save the ISO file. Alternatively, you can save the ISO file to a local drive and then burn it to a storage media later. Once you've made your choice, click "Proceed".

Step 3. Connect a WinPE bootable disk to your computer, restart it, and enter BIOS by pressing F2/Del. Set the PC to boot from the removable device or CD-ROM drive instead of the hard drive, and save the changes by pressing F10.

Step 4. Launch Qiling Partition Master. And choose "Wipe Data".

Step 5. Select the HDD or SSD you want to wipe, set the wipe data times to a maximum of 10, and click "Proceed".

3. How to Wipe a Hard Drive on a Dead Computer

If your computer is dead due to a dying or non-working hard drive, you can wipe the hard drive to reinstall an operating system, effectively bringing your computer back to life.

If you have important files on the disk, recover them first. To do this, follow the steps in the article "Recover Files from Dead Laptop Hard Drive" to get your data back.

After safely retrieving data from the drive, you can utilize Qiling Partition Master's bootable disk feature to assist you.

To wipe the disk with an OS installed on, create a bootable USB drive with a Linux distribution, such as Ubuntu. Boot from the USB drive and select the "Try Ubuntu" option. Open the terminal and run the command "fdisk -l" to list all the partitions on the disk.

4. How to Securely Erase a Dead Hard Drive/SSD

It's not advisable to dispose of a dead hard drive or SSD directly, as someone with the necessary expertise might be able to recover your data or confidential information.

To take care of your privacy and data security on a dead disk, you can try two things: 1) securely erase the data on the dead disk, and 2) physically destroy the dead disk to prevent unauthorized access.

Repair dead drive - get data out of the disk and wipe it.
Physically break the disk.

If you have important data on the drive, consider taking it for professional repair first to recover your data. If the data is not important, you can manually break the drive, such as drilling holes or smashing it with a hammer.

What Is The Best Program to Wipe a Hard Drive

When searching for a hard drive wipe tool or hard drive eraser on Google, you'll likely find various software and hardware manufacturers offering services to erase disks.

Most disk eraser software, although not free, offers a convenient solution to wipe a hard drive, SSD, or external storage device. If you prefer an easy way to wipe a disk, consider using a disk wipe program, such as Qiling Partition Master's Wipe feature, which can be a helpful option.

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To Securely Erase a Hard Drive Is Easy, You Can Do It on Your Own

When you need to replace a computer disk, sell an old one, or protect your privacy from information theft, it's essential to wipe a hard disk, which means securely erasing its contents, to ensure your data remains confidential.

Follow the provided fixes on this page to erase your HDD, SSD, or external hard disk now. You can make it all by yourself.