Usually you would want to wipe your figurer before selling it or trashing it, or maybe it's just getting a little rusty and you want to practise a reinstallation. Whether the reasons are legitimate or non, wiping your computer is sometimes a necessary step in data protection.

In 2021, one doesn't demand to be tech-savvy to wipe a computer. Read on and learn how to wipe your computer, with merely a few clicks.

In this commodity, you'll learn:

  • Volition the data exist gone for good?
  • Pre-steps before wiping a computer
    • Backup your files
    • Download device drivers
  • Methods to wipe a computer
    • Windows x
    • Windows eight
    • Windows vii

Will the data be gone for good?

Yes, and no. The answer depends on what blazon of hard bulldoze you're using.

More often than not in that location're 2 types of difficult drives: hard deejay drives (HDD) and solid-state drives (SSD). HDDs are an old-school storage, which tend to be thicker, slower just cheaper. And SSDs are a newer device that tends to be thinner, faster and more expensive.

It's virtually impossible to recover information from a SSD as it uses wink retentiveness. Merely if yous're using a HDD, it'll be a different story. In nearly cases, information technology takes more effort to thoroughly wipe data on a HDD.

You tin follow these steps to check what type of hard drive yous're using:

  1. On your keyboard, press the Windows logo key and R at the same time to invoke the Run box. Type or paste dfrgui and click OK.
  2. In the Media type column, you lot can find out which drive is a SSD, and which one is a HDD.

Pre-steps before wiping a computer

Hither're some pre-steps you should take before wiping your PC. They could save you from saying "Should have done that before blah blah blah…".

Backup your files

Wiping your reckoner means all your files will be lost. So if yous accept any precious data such as serial keys, documents and photos, make sure you relocate them to a secure location.

One way to backup is simply dragging your files to an external storage device, such every bit an USB wink drive or a hard drive. Simply external devices are not allowed to loss or theft. If yous value your personal data, you lot should consider using a cloud storage backup. A secure product like Acronis True Image combines encrypted cloud backups and antimalware, allowing you to restore your arrangement anywhere, anytime.

Acronis True Image

Download device drivers

Ordinarily Windows will install the corresponding drivers subsequently a reinstallation, simply that's not always the instance. In that situation, y'all'll need to download all device drivers beforehand.

Methods to wipe a figurer

Here're the approaches you can take to easily wipe your calculator. Simply choose the one that matches your operating organization.

Window 10

Every bit the latest flagship product, Windows x offers you a simple way to wipe all the data on your computer.

  1. On your keyboard, press the Windows logo fundamental and I at the same time. This volition open up the Windows Settings app. Then click Update & Security.
  2. From the left menu, select Recovery. Under the Reset this PC section, click Become started.
  3. In the pop-upward window, select Remove everything.
  4. Click Adjacent to continue.

    If you're using the latest 2007 build, you might then see 2 reinstall options:Deject download andLocal reinstall. You tin can chooseCloud download if you want to reinstall using the latest Windows installation files. If you don't wish to wait, chooseLocal reinstall.

  5. ClickReset. This will take some fourth dimension for Windows to wipe the information and reinstall.

Once complete, you'll detect all your data is gone.

Window 8

To wipe a Windows 8 computer is never something difficult. Y'all tin do that with just a few clicks.

  1. On your keyboard, press the Windows logo key and I at the same fourth dimension. This will open up the Windows 8 Settings Amuse Bar. Click Change PC settings.
  2. From the left menu, select General. Then roll downwards to the Remove everything and reinstall Windows department. Click Become started.
  3. Click Side by side.
  4. Select Fully clean the drive.
  5. Click Reset.

This will take some time for Windows to reset. After this process, you will have a clean reckoner with no personal information in it.

Windows seven

If you're using Windows 7, yous can follow these steps to wipe your computer.

  1. On your keyboard, printing the Windows logo key. Select Command Panel.
  2. Select System and Security.
  3. Select Backup and Restore.
  4. Click Recover organisation settings or your figurer.
  5. Click Advanced recovery methods.
  6. Click Return your computer to factory condition. Then follow the on-screen pedagogy to reset your figurer.

    If you lot don't encounter "Return your reckoner to factory condition", you need to utilize a installation media (a USB drive or a DISC with the Windows 7 installation image) to wipe your computer.

So these are the ways you lot tin wipe your computer. Hopefully, you have restored your computer to its former celebrity. If you lot take whatever questions or suggestions, please experience gratis to leave a annotate.

As a writer at supereasy.com, Marcus possesses a special insight about figurer issues and life hacks. In the quest of personal fulfillment, he writes handy tutorials and shares fresh information to help improve people'due south lives. In his free fourth dimension, he's obsessed with programming and web-developing.

View all of Marcus Liang's posts.