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- Does Windows Installation Media Wipe a Disk Clean

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10-04-2023 10:48 AM
Hi. I will be giving my old desktop away, and I want to thoroughly wipe the hard disk. I do not have a Recovery USB flash because when I purchased the computer, the organization I bought it from said that the system is set to prevent me from creating a Recovery drive due to a 1 year warranty and the licensed copy of Windows 10 Pro. I tried to Reset with the remove everything option, but the system said that there is no Recovery environment. I tried DBAN but there is an error and I cannot get past it.
I do have a Windows Installation media that I created when I first got the computer. If I use this Windows Installation media, will the hard disk be wiped clean so that I can safely give away the computer?
Thank you.
10-04-2023 11:13 AM - edited 10-04-2023 11:16 AM
No, using Windows installation media (such as through a bootable USB drive or DVD) itself does not wipe a disk clean. The purpose of Windows installation media is to install or repair the Windows operating system on a computer, not to erase data.
However, during the Windows installation process, you are given the option to format and partition the disk where Windows will be installed. If you choose to format a disk or partition during installation, it will erase all data on that particular disk or partition.
To wipe a disk completely and securely, you can use disk wiping tools or commands provided by your operating system. Here are general steps for wiping a disk on Windows:
Use the Disk Management Utility (for secondary drives):
- Press Win + X and select "Disk Management."
- Locate the drive you want to wipe.
- Right-click on the drive and choose "Format."
- Follow the on-screen instructions, select "NTFS" as the file system, and uncheck the "Perform a quick format" option for a more thorough wipe.
Use the DiskPart utility (for system drives or advanced users):
- Open a Command Prompt with administrative privileges (type in "cmd" or "Command Prompt" in your Windows search bar, right-click, and select "Run as administrator").
- Type diskpart and press Enter.
- Use the list disk command to identify the disk you want to wipe.
- Select the disk using the select disk X command (replace "X" with the appropriate disk number).
- Type clean and press Enter to wipe the disk. This will remove all partitions and data on the disk.
Use third-party software*: There are many third-party disk wiping tools available, such as DBAN (Darik's Boot and Nuke), which can securely wipe entire disks. These tools often provide more advanced options and better data security than the built-in utilities.
* In addition to DBAN, there are other reputable freeware disk-wiping utilities available, such as:
Eraser: Eraser is a Windows-based, open-source data erasure tool that can securely delete files, folders, and even free space on your drives. It supports various erasure methods, including Gutmann and DoD standards.
Website: https://eraser.heidi.ie/
Parted Magic: Parted Magic is a Linux-based live CD/USB distribution that includes a suite of disk utilities, including a secure disk eraser. It's a versatile tool for various disk-related tasks, including data wiping.
Website: https://partedmagic.com/
HDDErase (for older drives): If you have older hard drives that support the Secure Erase feature, HDDErase is a command-line utility provided by the drive manufacturers for securely erasing data. It's best suited for traditional hard drives and may not work with newer SSDs.
Please keep in mind that when using any disk-wiping utility, especially on SSDs, it's essential to understand the implications and limitations of the tool. SSDs have their own mechanisms for wear-leveling and data management, so secure erasure can be more complex. Make sure to follow the instructions carefully and, if necessary, consult the documentation or support resources for the specific utility you choose.
Hope this was helpful.
Kind Regards,
NonSequitur777
10-04-2023 11:24 AM
Thank you for your response. I will be looking into your information more thoroughly, but I have a question.
I have only one drive, Disk C, that I need to erase. Do I use the Diskpart Utility and not the Disk Management Utility, which says it's for secondary drives?
10-04-2023 01:02 PM - edited 10-04-2023 01:10 PM
I would use diskpart -you should be fine with that.
[EDIT:] Then again, come to think about it, since your C: drive is the only drive, perhaps your earlier idea to reinstall Windows wasn't such a bad idea to begin with:
Access Windows 10 Reset this PC by following approaches:
Inside Windows: Start > Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Reset this PC
From boot: Insert installation CD or recovery drive to boot to WinRE> Select language and region > Next > Repair your computer > Troubleshoot > Reset this PC
Kind Regards,
NonSequitur777
10-04-2023 02:52 PM
I don't have a Recovery environment on the computer. I tried to Reset with removing everything, but the system stated that there was no Recovery environment. I couldn't create a Recovery drive when I first got the computer because I was told it would invalidate the warranty.