How to Wipe a Locked Hard Drive Easily (2 Ways)

Can You Wipe a Hard Drive without a Password?

Windows provides many ways for users to protect their data, one of which is locking the disk. However, while encryption protects data, it also introduces limitations. If a hard drive is locked, it may prevent software from direct disk access to that drive.

You can wipe a locked hard drive, but you need to do more than delete the files stored on it. Deleting files from your hard drive doesn't actually delete them -- it just reallocates space so new files can be added later.

To completely clean a hard drive, you need to actually delete the data. Properly wiping a hard drive ensures that files are wiped and truly gone, preventing anyone from recovering deleted data. You can read on to learn how to wipe a locked hard drive without password.

How to Wipe a Locked Hard Drive

Next, this article will introduce two methods in turn on how to wipe a locked hard drive. You can use Windows' built-in tool disk part or professional disk wiping software to help you. In this way, even if your hard drive is locked and you forget the password, it can help you achieve the goal of erasing the hard drive.

Way 1. Wipe a Locked Hard Drive via DiskPart CMD Command

The first way to wipe a locked drive is to use the Windows built-in tool disk part command prompt. It helps you remove locked hard drives. Be careful when using this method, if you make a mistake, you may damage the drive.

Step 1. Launch Command Prompt on your device.

Step 2. When the Command prompt launches, enter the following commands. Make sure that you have pressed ENTER button after every line.

• diskpart
• list disk
• select disk # (# refers to the disk number that is shown in the disk listing by the diskpart Command.)
• attributes disk clear readonly (this Command changes the attributes so that it is no longer read-only)

Notes:

• At this stage, the write protection on the drive is removed.
• You can recover the data or copy it before erasing the drive.

Step 3. To format or erase the drive contents, enter the following commands separated by the ENTER command after each line

• clean
• create partition primary
• format fs=ntfs
• exit

Way 2. Wipe a Locked Hard Drive via AOMEI Backupper (without Password)

The first method requires you to be proficient in using the disk part command prompt. If done incorrectly, it may damage the drive 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 has a clean interface and easy-to-understand step-by-step instructions. Even if you are a novice, you can know how to erase hard drive without password easily and complete this erasing process smoothly.

• As for the wiping method, it has 4 choices - Fill sectors with Zero, Fill sectors with random data, DoD 52220.22-M, and Gutmann.
• The third one - DoD 52220.22-M wiping method can erase disk from 3 times to 7 times.
• Furthermore, if you pursue the most thorough erasing way, you can choose Gutmann which can wipe a disk 35 times.
• It also supports multiple kinds of disks (HDD, SSD, USB flash drive, SD card,etc).
• And available in different Windows operating systems (Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/XP/Vista, etc). You can follow the graphic tutorial below.

Step 1. Download AOMEI Backupper Professional, install, and open it. Then click Tools > Disk Wipe.

Step 2. Select Wipe disk and click Next.

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.

Summary

This article describes how to wipe a locked hard drive. You can choose to use the Windows Command Prompt to help you, but please be careful with the procedure, if there is an error in the operation may damage the disk or the system and cause data loss. Therefore, you can choose a more simple and professional method to achieve the goal.

The professional disk wiping software AOMEI Backupper Professional provides you with four different types of wiping methods that can help you clean your disk thoroughly to avoid data leakage. It also allows you to choose to wipe the entire disk or a partition on it.

In addition, if you want to migrate all data from the source disk to a new one and guarantee a successful boot. Its Disk Clone feature will also be very helpful. You can download this software and explore more features by yourself.