How to Wipe Hard drive in Windows and Mac?

Sue Wayne

Aug 04, 2023 • Filed to: Answer Hard Drive Problems • Proven solutions

Have you ever thought of how to erase your hard drive and what you can benefit from the format? According to a technician in Apple and Microsoft corporations, they said your computer can benefit in the following aspects:

1. Erase data to improve computer performance. Sometimes, you have accumulated lots of data on your computer, it gets sluggish. In this condition, cleanup is needed.
2. Wipe the incursive virus out. Erasing hard drive data from the computer will wipe the virus out at the same time.
3. Maintain hard disk health. Wiping or erasing the disk will solve a lot of fragmentation and many other issues.
4. Merge or create a new partition. For that purpose, you are required to delete or format some partition on your computer.
5. Erase the old OS to install new. Hence, you will have to wipe the old data from the hard drive, to make way for a fresh installation.

In all the above cases, you have to figure out efficient methods to erase the data without a mark.

And you are in the right place, this article is going to address your doubt on how to wipe your hard drive on Mac or Windows OS completely.

How to Wipe Hard Drive under Windows?

Windows gives good options when it comes to erasing data from your windows computer. However, you must always back up your data before you erase hard drive data from your computer. You can always use third-party software but windows give you a more secure way of wiping data. You can use either the old installation disk or a new OS installation disk to erase the data from your computer.  

You can use the following steps to wipe or erase hard drive data on your Windows computer. You will require a backup CD or your windows CD to wipe the data.

Step 1 Insert the CD in the computer and restart your computer. Once the booting starts you will see a function button for entering into boot option. Press that button continuously when the computer starts and enter into the boot option and choose CD-ROM.

Step 2 It will start again and boot from the CD-Rom. On the next screen, you will see various setup options. And also there will a list of the disks on your computer. Select the disk you want to erase and then go to the option to Delete The Selected Partition. In case there is more than one partition, you can choose the other also to delete it.

Step 3 Now choose the NTFS option for a drive and choose the formatting option quick or normal.

It will automatically format your disk and it will restart again. Make sure there is an operating system on your computer and boots from that drive. Few options may change from OS to OS but the steps will remain the same while erasing the data. You reinstall the new OS or use the existing one to access your formatted computer.

How to Erase Hard Drive on Mac?

Erasing or wiping data on Mac is similar but options and steps are a little different as it is a different OS. However, Mac also gives you inbuilt options from erasing data from your Mac computer. Like in windows, use the backup option first to save your important data. You do not want to lose this data because it might become impossible to recover data after it has been erased from the computer.

Here are the steps you can follow to wipe or erase hard drive data from Mac.You will require an installation disk of the OS to perform this wipe.

Step 1 Insert the disc into your Mac and restart it. When the computer restarts keep C pressed until the logo of Apple appears.

Step 2 When the new screens pop, select the appropriate selection. To erase select Macintosh HD volume and go-to option button at the bottom. Choose to erase and install a clean OS of the operating system.

This is the best and easiest way to delete hard disk data on Mac. After the process, your computer will be restarted and it will be a fresh installation hence, you will have to restore your original data on your computer from the backup. However, you will require administrative permission before you make this change. Hence, enable the Root user to allow you to make this change.

Both methods are simple and easy to follow. Make sure you have back up your data and use the original installation OS disks to make the process smooth. And I also attach a video teaching you how to format your hard drive thoroughly.

Video Tutorial on How to Format an External Hard Drive

Wondershare Recoverit - Powerful Data Recovery Software

If you forget a copy a backup, don't be panic! There is a Solution.

Using Wondershare Recoverit, you are able to restore your formated hard drive safely and efficiently. The application is compatible with both Windows and Mac systems. Except that, it supports to recover lost data from hard drive, flash drive, external hard drive, and any other storage devices. Click the following link to download and launch the software.

Here are the instructions you can follow: Guide.