hard drive formatting tool for windows 10

Where ‘ –p’ denotes passes, number ‘ 5’ number of passes, and ‘ D:’ is the drive volume letter.

Now type sdelete –p 5 D: and press the ‘ Enter’ key.

Press and hold the ‘ Shift’ Key and right-click on the ‘ Desktop.’.

Extract the compressed folder on the Desktop.

Download SDelete utility from Microsoft Internals website.To use SDelete to wipe your drives empty storage, follow these steps: The utility is safe to work with, but it runs via Command Prompt terminal. SDelete is a Microsoft utility that erases empty storage space on a drive volume that may contain previously deleted confidential files. It can’t erase anything from the C: Drive, which contains most confidential information about your online and offline activities in the form of application traces, system traces, and internet activities. You can’t full format C: drive volume in Windows 10. Use full format when you need to wipe data from the entire drive volume and get rid of sensitive data. That’s because full format overwrites entire drive volume with zeroes and destroys the existing recoverable data. However, when you uncheck the ‘Quick Format’ option, the system performs a full format, which is quite slow. In Quick Format, only the Master File Table or File Allocation Table is erased, but data remains intact on the drive that can be recovered quickly. That’s because the ‘ Quick Format’ option is selected by default. Generally, when you format a drive volume, it is quick formatted. Steps to Erase Hard Drive in Windows 10įollow them carefully to erase hard drive data in Windows 10 beyond the scope of recovery.

To help you, we have outlined a few secure erase methods that you can use to erase hard drive data in Windows 10. For wiping confidential data, it’s recommended that you use methods and tools that are compliant with international data erasure standards. To prevent this eventuality which can lead to data breach, you must use a secure file erasure method. However, a few users know that the deleted and formatted files can be potentially recovered from any storage media with the help of publically available data recovery software.

Ideally, users tend to delete particular files or format entire drive volume to destroy and prevent access to their confidential files and sensitive information. After the end of life, data must be securely erased from the system to prevent incidents such as data breach, identity theft, and unauthorized access to your sensitive information. You can also use a powerful file eraser tool, such as BitRaser File Eraser to erase hard drive data efficiently.ĭata has a life span. Check out this blog to learn how to erase hard drive data in Windows 10 permanently. Simply deleting data from the hard drive or formatting the drive doesn’t erase your data.

Hard drive formatting tool for windows 10