How to Erase PC Windows 10 Completely and Securely

Erasing a PC running Windows 10 involves more than just deleting files. To truly ensure data is unrecoverable, specific procedures must be followed. Whether you're looking for a quick refresh or a deep, secure wipe, this article provides comprehensive instructions on how to erase PC Windows 10 effectively. We'll cover different scenarios and methods, equipping you with the knowledge to choose the best approach for your needs.

Why Do Some Users Choose to Erase PC?

Understanding the reasons behind the need to erase PC Windows 10 can help you appreciate the importance of doing it correctly. This section outlines common scenarios where users decide to wipe their computers.

Preparing for Sale or Donation

Before you sell or give away your computer, you must ensure that all your personal data—documents, photos, financial information, browser history, and passwords—is completely removed. Simply deleting files isn't enough, as they can often be recovered with specialized software. A thorough wipe using methods detailed in how to erase computer Windows 10 ensures the new owner cannot access your sensitive information.

Resolving Persistent Malware or Virus Infections

Sometimes, a computer can become so riddled with viruses, spyware, or other malware that standard antivirus software fails to remove them completely. In such severe cases, the most effective solution is to erase PC Windows 10 and reinstall the operating system from scratch, ensuring a clean and uninfected environment.

Improving Sluggish Performance / Starting Fresh

Over time, Windows computers can accumulate junk files, registry errors, and fragmented data, leading to slower computer performance. While there are maintenance tools, some users prefer to erase pc for a completely fresh start, restoring the system to its original speed and responsiveness.

Repurposing an Old Disk

If you're planning to reuse an old hard drive in another computer or as an external storage device, it’s wise to erase Windows computer data from it, especially if it previously held an operating system and personal files.

How to Erase PC Windows 10 running on

When you need to ensure data is irretrievably gone, especially from your primary system disk, built-in Windows options might not be sufficient. This section introduces a professional tool, AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional, designed to erase PC Windows 10, even the system drive securely.

AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional is highly regarded for its powerful and user-friendly features. For users needing to erase pc, two functions are particularly relevant: "Wipe Hard Drive" and "SSD Secure Erase." These two functions are specifically engineered to overwrite existing data (for HDDs) or use an SSD's built-in secure erase command, making data recovery virtually impossible. This is crucial when you want to how to erase computer Windows 10 before selling it or disposing of it.

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1. For HDDs: Leveraging the "Wipe Hard Drive" Feature

The "Wipe Hard Drive" function in AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional is designed for traditional magnetic hard disk drives (HDDs). It works by overwriting the entire disk with zeros or random data multiple times, ensuring that previous data cannot be reconstructed.

Since you're looking to erase PC Windows 10 (meaning wiping the current system drive), you'll need to perform this operation from a bootable environment. AOMEI Partition Assistant allows you to create one.

Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional on a working Windows computer (it can be the one you intend to wipe if you create the bootable media first or another PC). Connect a USB flash drive (or blank CD/DVD) to the computer.

Step 2. In the AOMEI main console, click on "Tools" in the top toolbar, then select "Make Bootable Media." Follow the wizard. Choose your USB drive as the target and let the software create the bootable environment.

Step 3. Insert the bootable USB drive into the Windows 10 PC you want to erase. Restart the PC and enter the BIOS/UEFI settings (usually by pressing F2, F10, F12, DEL, or ESC during startup). Change the boot order to prioritize the USB drive. Save and exit. The PC will now boot into the AOMEI Partition Assistant environment.

Step 4. Once AOMEI Partition Assistant loads, click the "Wipe" main tab and select the "Wipe Hard Drive" option.

Step 5. Select the disk you want to wipe and click "OK" to continue.

Step 6. You'll be presented with several wiping methods (e.g., Fill sectors with Zero, Fill sectors with random data, DoD 5220.22-M, Gutmann). For most secure home use, "Fill sectors with Zero" (1 pass) or "Fill sectors with random data" is sufficient. DoD and Gutmann offer higher security but take significantly longer. Choose a method.

Step 7. Click "OK" and then "Apply" in the top toolbar to execute the operation. Confirm the operation when prompted. The process can take a considerable amount of time depending on the drive size and chosen wiping method.

2. For SSDs: "SSD Secure Erase" Advantage

SSDs work differently from HDDs. Traditional wiping methods used for HDDs are not ideal for SSDs and can even degrade their performance and lifespan. The "SSD Secure Erase" feature in AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional utilizes the ATA Secure Erase command, which is built into the firmware of most SSDs.

This command resets all storage cells to their factory empty state, efficiently and securely erasing all data without causing unnecessary wear. This is the recommended method for anyone needing to erase a computer Windows 10 when an SSD is the primary drive.

Note: You need to install AOMEI Partition Assistant on a Windows 7 PC and use this Windows 7 PC to securely erase your SSD.

Step 1. Connect your SSD to a Windows 7 computer via SATA port (since SSD Secure Erase is only workable in Windows at present). Install and run AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional.

Step 2. In the top menu of AOMEI Partition Assistant, Click "Wipe"> "SSD Secure Erase" and click "Next". 

Step 3. Select the SSD that you want to securely erase and click "Next".

Step 4. Double-check the SSD identification information in case of erasing the wrong SSD because the data is unrecoverable after the Erase. Now, you will see the SSD is in a frozen state. To continue, you need to perform a hot swap.

✨ To perform Hot Swap: Sometimes, Secure Erase SSD requires hot-swapping the drive to unlock it from the frozen state. To avoid unexpected issues, follow the steps below:
1. Open your computer case. If it is a laptop, open the computer's rear cover or drive shell.
2. Locate the SSD that needs to be securely erased.
3. Unplug the power cable from the SSD.
4. Disconnect the SATA data cable from the SSD.
5. Then reconnect the SATA cable to the SATA port on the SSD.
6. Finally, plug the power cable back into the SSD's power connector to complete the hot-swap.

Step 5. click "Next" to start the SSD Secure Erase.

Erase Windows Computer via Factory Reset

For users who don't require the forensic-level data destruction of specialized software but still want to erase Windows computers for a fresh start or before passing it on, Windows 10 offers a built-in Factory Reset feature. This section details how to use it.

Windows 10 includes a "Reset this PC" feature that allows you to reinstall Windows while removing your files, settings, and applications. While generally less secure against determined data recovery efforts than a dedicated wipe tool, it's a convenient option for many users looking to erase Windows computer.

Step 1. Open the Settings window.

Step 2. Click Update & Security and choose Recovery on the left-side panel.

Step 3 Click on the Get started option under Reset this PC.

Step 4. Here are two options you can choose:

• Keep my files: Keeps your files but removes apps and settings.
• Remove everything: Perform a full factory reset for your computer.

Ending

Learning how to erase PC Windows 10 is an essential skill for maintaining data privacy and system health. We've explored various reasons for wiping a PC, from preparing for a sale to eliminating stubborn malware. 

For maximum security, especially when dealing with sensitive information or repurposing drives with an SSD, AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional offers specialized tools like "Wipe Hard Drive" and "SSD Secure Erase" that ensure data is virtually unrecoverable. For less critical situations or a simple fresh start, the Windows "Reset this PC" option with the "Remove everything" and "Clean the drive" settings can suffice.

Free Download
Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7

100% Secure