9

The PC will be given away, but it should be reduced to a clean and empty disk without any OS on it, with a user in mind who is possibly interested in recovering confidential data.

The PC was reset to work settings, hence features just Win 8 Pro. But that needs to go as well.

In the end, nothing should be on the disk, and it ideally should consist of 0 partitions.

Disk Management does not offer formatting the OS partition, and a good old Format C: won't work either. Also MSConfig doesn't seem to offer a solution. What else can I try?

Herb
  • 723

6 Answers6

18

  1. Prepare a bootable Windows medium. If you don't have a Windows DVD or flash drive, you can download Windows ISO and create one.

  2. Boot using the medium you have just created.

  3. Wait for a window with an Install now button. When it shows up, press Shift+F10. Command prompt will appear.

  4. Type diskpart, press Enter and wait until Diskpart is ready.

  5. Type list disk Enter. A numbered list of disks will be printed. Note the number next to the disk you want to erase.

  6. Type select disk <number> Enter (replace <number> with your disk's number).

  7. Type one of these commands:

    • clean - to quickly erase all partitions without wiping entire disk, data will still be recoverable if one attempts to
    • clean all - to wipe entire hard disk, it will take a long time but data won't be recoverable

Performing full erase is not recommended on SSD disks, which have their lifespan limited by number of write commands. Overwriting entire disk with zeros (using any method or tool, not just clean all) will reduce it significantly. For self-encrypting SSDs resetting the encryption key is way quicker and just as secure, but doesn't wear out SSD cells. For other SSDs ATA secure erase may be a better choice, although performing it is more complex.

gronostaj
  • 58,482
8

GParted Live

  1. Download GParted Live
  2. Burn to CD or USB with Rufus
  3. Boot from CD/USB (in the rare case it won't start run GParted in compatibility mode and it will for sure.)
  4. Delete your partitions.

It's really that easy easy. (As an alternative any popular live linux distro has GParted included.)

Community
  • 1
LateralTerminal
  • 372
8

If you want to be really sure there's nothing left behind, look at a secure disk erase program. There are several included with UBCD, which you can download and make bootable using the same techniques promoted by other answers here.

But the main point everyone agrees on is, "You can't do this from within Windows."

Whatever happens, you'll need to prepare and boot to a different operating system in order to complete this task.

Joel Coehoorn
  • 28,637
7

Luckily, you have several options in your hand to follow. I will tell about two of the easiest and convenient ways you can try:

1. Using windows installation disk: If you have windows operating system installation disk around you, simply put the disc in your CD-Rom and restart your PC. This time boot your PC from the inserted Disc (Not from your hard drive). Actually you should go through the windows installation steps (But don't install fully) and when the Drive options come up, then delete all the drives and take off the disc and power off your PC forcibly (Maybe by unplugging it). That's it, now you will be with a fresh hard drive.

If you are unfamiliar with the Windows Installation, have a look at: The Ultimate Guide to Installing Windows 7. Trust me, it is as easy as 1-2-3.

2. Using a Bootable Partition Manager: This technique is also very simple and you may do some more advanced task through this method. You may use WinPE from Microsoft which offers similar task: WinPE: Create USB Bootable drive

Some third-party bootable Partition Manager are available in the market also which can be booted to a USB-drive and launch from there. Then you will have a nice GUI (Graphical User Interface) of an advanced Partition Manager. From there, you can simply achieve your task. You may look at this tool: IM-Magic Partition Resizer

UkFLSUI
  • 1,342
6

Want to do this task thoroughly?

Create a DBAN disk. Download and burn the ISO and boot to it. It is also possible to burn an ISO to bootable USB.

At the boot: prompt type autonuke and press enter.
WARNING: This will permanently destroy data on all detected hard drives connected to the system.

Wait for it to do its magic.

This will not simply delete everything, it will destroy all data by 3x overwriting with random data and theoretically prevents even forensic recovery. Under a separate function, a wipe to full DoD 5220.22-M method is possible.

Willtech
  • 194
3

Alternatively use Hiren's Boot CD

Undoubtedly the most controversial option, but to be fair it has a plethora of handy tools for partitioning/formatting which are open source and/or free (or whose old editions were free when Hiren's boot CD was created) which might save time instead of trying one thing after the other.

This all in one tool, boasts a wide array of options when it comes to partitioning tools; Partion Wizard, GParted, Partition table etc that are good in terms of wiping/formatting data on HDD. You are spoilt for choice in this case.

Usage is similar to other Live CDs setup:

  • Perhaps the preffered live usb creator is Universal USB Installer (which optionally gives a direct download link to Hiren's boot CD) or rufus.

  • Boot into OS and select on the the partitioning tools to work with.

Community
  • 1
xavier_fakerat
  • 2,584