How to Use CMD to Wipe Hard Drive Securely on Windows 11/10

User case: How to completely wipe computer including OS?

If you have the same need likely, you have come to the right place. Here is the full guide on how to use CMD to wipe hard drive. Additionally, Here are 3 other ways to securely and completely erase your focused drives. Let's start to read, or you can see the content column to have a quick address.

Why do you want to wipe hard drive?

Overview of CMD

CMD, short for Windows Command Prompt, is a command-line tool with powerful functionalities such as file recovery, drive letter assignment, and disk conversion from MBR to GPT. Moreover, users can efficiently use CMD wipe hard drives. If you're interested in gaining further insights into erasing hard drives with CMD, continue reading.

The benefits of wiping hard drives

Disk wiping involves thoroughly erasing or overwriting data on a storage device to ensure it cannot be recovered. Here are some situations where disk wiping is applied:

1. Secure Data Disposal: It is essential for old storage devices, like hard drives or flash drives, to comply with data protection rules and protect sensitive information from unauthorized access.
2. Device Reallocation: Necessary when reallocating a storage device for use by a different individual, ensuring that the new user cannot access any previous data. Applies to personal computers, servers, and mobile devices.
3. Repurposing Backup Devices: Before using a backup device for something else, make sure to wipe it clean. This ensures that no one can access the old backup data. This applies to devices like external hard drives and network storage.
4. Recycling Old Electronics: When getting rid of old electronics, such as computers or phones, use disk wiping to ensure your personal information stays private. This not only protects your data but also helps the environment.

In the tutorial below, we'll guide you on how to use CMD command to wipe hard drive. However, before proceeding, ensure all the necessary data is backed up in case of operation mistakes.

How to wipe hard drive from Command Prompt

The built-in Windows tool DiskPart can help you format the target hard drives. Below is the full instruction to use CMD command to erase hard drive.

►Caution: Please backup your important data on your computer for there lies with high level of risk when wiping hard drive using Command Prompt, as any mistakes could potentially damage the drive or ruin the system.

Step 1. Press Windows + S to open the search bar. Type cmd in the search bar and select Command Prompt from the result.

Step 2. Launch Command Prompt, and then enter the following commands one by one, and each follow with Enter.

• diskpart
• list disk
• select disk # (# refer to the drive number which needs to be formatted.)
• attributes disk clear read-only (this Command changes the attributes so that it is no longer read-only)

Step 3. To wipe the hard drive using CMD, enter the following commands separately, pressing Enter after each one. If you wish to make the drive accessible again, type create partition primary.

• clean (Alternatively, type clean all and instead of just clean , it will fill the drive with zeroes hence shredding the drive.)
• create partition primary
• format fs=ntfs
• exit

Now you have wiped hard drive using Command Prompt successfully.

✍Tip: clean V.S. clean all
You can use the clean or clean all Diskpart command options to erase (wipe) a disk leaving it unallocated and not initialized. There is difference between the two commands:
✔The "clean" command eliminates all partition or volume formatting from the currently focused disk. On master boot record (MBR) disks, it overwrites only the MBR partitioning and hidden sector information. For GUID partition table (GPT) disks, it overwrites the GPT partitioning information, including the Protective MBR, without any hidden sector information. Importantly, the clean command merely marks the data on the disk as deleted and does not perform a zero (secure erase) on the disk like the "clean all" command described below.
✔The "clean all" command carries out the same function as the "clean" command mentioned earlier but adds the specification that every sector on the disk is zeroed (secure erase). This comprehensive process completely eradicates all data on the disk, rendering it unrecoverable. Running the "clean all" command on a disk typically takes approximately an hour per 320 GB.

Additional 3 ways to erase hard drives on Windows 10/11

# 1. Erase disk via Windows Settings

Step 1. Press Windows + I to open Settings and then click Update & Security > Recovery > Reset this PC.

Step 2. Then Under the Reset this PC page, choose Remove Everything.

Step 3. Then you need make a choice between Just remove my files and Fully clean the drive.

Step 4. Confirm your operation and click Reset.

# 2. Erase disk via Disk Management

Step 1. Open Disk Management by pressing Windows + X.

Step 2. Then right-click on the hard drive that you want to wipe and choose Format.

Step 3. Check out the box of the Perform a quick format option in the pop-up format hard drive window, and make sure the Enable file and folder compression option is unchecked.

Step 4. Click OK to begin hard drive wipe.

# 3. Easier way: erase hard drive completely via professional third-party software🔥

However, if executed improperly, the previous methods will cause unignorable disasters like damaging drives or even cause a system crash.

Therefore, it is recommended that you choose a more professional third-party disk erasing software - AOMEI Backupper Professional to help you achieve your goal. It is user-friendly with a clean interface and simple settings to enable all even non-technical users to know how easy it is to erase a hard drive.

■Apart from wiping entire disks, you can erase specific partitions or unallocated space on the disk, significantly boosting overall work efficiency.
■Regarding the wiping method, there are four options available: Fill sectors with zero, Fill sectors with random data, DoD 52220.22-M and Gutmann.
■The third option, the DoD 52220.22-M wiping method, provides the capability to erase the disk from 3 times to 7 times, depending on the selected configuration.
Moreover, for the most comprehensive erasure, selecting the Gutmann method allows for wiping a disk a total of 35 times.
■Additionally, it supports various types of disks, including HDDs, SSDs, USB flash drives, SD cards, and more.

Now I will show you how to erase hard drives securely and completely via AOMEI Backupper. Please download this software and install it on your computer. It supports almost all the Windows versions including Windows 11/10/8/8.1/Vista and XP. For Server users, consider AOMEI Backupper Server.

Step 1. Launch AOMEI Backupper and click Tools at the left side menu, and then choose Disk Wipe under Common Tools section.

Step 2. Then in the Wiping Type page, choose the second Wipe disk option and click on the Next button.

Step 3. Choose the disk you want to clean and click Next.

Step 4. On the Wiping Method page, choose Fill sectors with Zero. Then click Start to begin the zero-filling process.

Step 5. You will then be taken to the erase process page. If you want to stop the process, you can click Cancel in the right corner. When the operation is complete, click Finish.

Verdict

This article guides you on how to use CMD wiping hard drive. While you can use the Windows Command Prompt for this task, exercise caution as errors in the operation may lead to disk or system damage and data loss.

What’s more, the built-in Settings and Drive Management can also erase hard drives. For a simpler and more professional approach, consider using AOMEI Backupper Professional, specialized disk wiping software. This tool offers four distinct wiping methods to thoroughly clean your disk and prevent data leakage.

Additionally, if you need to migrate all data from the source disk to a new one with a guaranteed successful boot, the Disk Clone feature proves helpful. Explore more features by downloading the software.