How to Easily Reset a Hard Drive in Windows 11/10 [Step by Step]

When you bought a new computer, you will need to reset your hard drive on your old Windows computer. Anyway, it is a necessary step for various reasons to reset a hard drive in Windows. Resetting a hard drive can release storage space, erase all your data from recovery, and troubleshoot persistent software issues. If you want an effective method to reset your hard drive, please read on.

Part 1: When to Reset Hard Drive on Windows PC

Knowing when to reset your hard drive is crucial for maintaining the performance and security of your computer. Here are some common scenarios where resetting your hard drive might be the best solution:

- Performance Issues: If your PC is running slowly or frequently crashing, resetting the hard drive can help remove unwanted files, fix system errors, and improve performance.

- Virus or Malware Infections: If your computer is infected by malware or a virus that is difficult to remove, resetting the hard drive can help erase all malicious software.

- Selling or Giving Away Your PC: When you want to wipe personal data to ensure it doesn't get into the wrong hands, a hard drive reset can erase all your files securely.

- System Recovery: If your system is experiencing major issues and you want to restore it to its original state, resetting the drive can return it to factory settings.

Part 2: How to Reset a Hard Drive in Windows to Factory Settings

Restoring your hard drive to its factory settings will erase all data, apps, and personal files, so be sure to back up anything important before proceeding.

Here's how to reset your hard drive in Windows 11:

Step 1: Click the "Start" menu, and click "Settings".

Step 2: Tap "System" > "Recovery". Then click "Reset PC".

Step 3: To reset your hard drive, please choose "Remove everything", which will wipe all data from your hard drive. All the data on your PC will be removed.

Step 4: Reinstall the Windows system and then complete the settings. Once done, you will restore your hard drive to its original state.

Tips: On Windows 10, you need to click "Settings" > "Update & Security" > "Recovery", and tap "Get Started" under "Reset this PC". Confirm your decision to start resetting your computer.

Part 3: How to Reset a Hard Drive on Windows 11/10 via iReaShare Data Wipe

If you just want to reset one hard drive on your Windows PC, and don't want to lose your data on other drives, please use iReaShare Data Wipe. This PC eraser can wipe a whole local HDD and SSD without trouble. Your data on the hard drive will be erased thoroughly. Additionally, you can wipe the free space only on your hard drive to permanently delete those deleted data.

Main features of this hard drive eraser:

* Erase a hard drive completely on a Windows PC.

* Effectively wipe HDDs, SSDs, external hard drives, SD cards, and other storage devices.

* Erase files and data without the possibility of recovery.

* Provides Quick Erase and Deep Erase modes.

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Here's how to wipe a hard drive on a Windows PC with this software:

Step 1: Download and install Data Wipe on your Windows PC, and then launch it and choose "Drive Wiper".

Step 2: Choose your hard drive and an erasing mode.

Step 3: Click "Erase Now", and tap "OK" to confirm the process. Then the program will begin to wipe your hard drive. After that, all the data on the hard drive will be gone forever.

Part 4: How to Wipe a Hard Drive on Windows PC via Disk Management

Windows Disk Management is another built-in tool that allows you to wipe or format a hard drive. This method is useful if you want to erase data without resetting the entire system.

Here's how to format a hard drive on a Windows PC:

Step 1: Right-click the "Start" menu and select "Disk Management".

Step 2: In the "Disk Management" window, locate the drive you want to wipe. Right-click on the drive and select "Format".

Step 3: Choose the file system (usually NTFS for Windows) and select "Quick Format" or "Full Format" depending on your needs.

Step 4: Click "OK" to confirm that you want to erase all data on the selected drive.

Part 5: How to Reset a Hard Drive on a PC with Command Prompt

For advanced users, Command Prompt can be used to reset a hard drive to its original state by formatting and clearing data.

Here are the steps:

Step 1: Press "Windows" and "R", type "cmd", and press "Enter".

Step 2: Type "diskpart" > "list disk" to display all available disks. Identify the disk you want to reset.

Step 3: Type "select disk X", and replace "X" with the disk number you want to reset.

Step 4: Type "clean" to remove all partitions and data on the selected disk.

Step 5: After the disk is cleaned, type "create partition primary" to create a new partition on the drive. Then click "Enter".

Step 6: Type "format fs=ntfs quick" and press "Enter". Next, type "assign letter=[drive letter]" (replace [drive letter] with the desired drive letter) and press "Enter".

Step 7: Type "exit" and press "Enter". Now, you have reset your hard drive.

Part 6: FAQs About Resetting Hard Drives on Windows PC

Q1: Will resetting my hard drive delete everything?

Yes, resetting or formatting a hard drive will erase all data on it. It is essential to back up important files before performing this action.

Q2: What is the difference between resetting and formatting a hard drive?

Resetting a PC typically refers to restoring the system to factory settings, while formatting involves erasing the data from a drive without necessarily reinstalling the operating system. Formatting can be done via Disk Management or command-line tools like Diskpart.

Q3: Can I recover data after resetting or formatting a hard drive?

It depends on the method you used to reset the drive. If the drive was simply formatted, there may be data recovery tools that can help restore your files. However, if you used a full reset or wiped the drive securely, recovery chances decrease. If you don't want others can recover your data from the hard drive, you can use iReaShare Data Wipe to erase the HDD completely. All existing and deleted data can be wiped permanently.

Conclusion

Now you understand how to reset a hard drive on a Windows PC with different methods. If you don't want to use the complicated commands and erase your data completely, you can try iReaShare Data Wipe. With it, you can wipe your hard drive with ease, regardless of whether it is a local or external hard drive. Furthermore, it can overwrite your deleted data with its Deep Erase mode.

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Elowen Wilson Senior Editor

Elowen has been specializing in iOS devices and data transfer for over three years. She is very familiar with all generations of iPhones and iPads, so she is able to provide readers with all kinds of useful guides and tips about iOS backup, data recovery, unlocking, system repair, etc.