When you delete a file/folder you select the delete option and the file gets disappeared from your drive but by deleting the files it doesn’t actually remove from your hard drive.
Instead, those files are still located on the hard drive and only the reference of the data gets removed in the allocation table and you can’t find it.
There are some data recovery software, which let you recover the deleted data and files from your hard drive even if you overwrite some new data to the hard drive, some data may still be able to be recovered if the new data doesn’t occupy the entire cluster space of the old data.
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How to Wipe a Hard Drive
Wiping of a Hard Drive will take several hours to days depends on the hard disk types and the type of methods you choose. Wiping of a hard disk will vary depends on the type of software you are using.
As you can see in this article, we have listed 10 best hard disk software in 2022. Each software has its own interface and way of methods to wipe a hard disk.
So, basically wiping of hard drive will depends on the type of software you choose from the following best disk wipe software.
Why you need to use Disk Wipe Software?
If you are planning to sell your old computer/laptop or you are claiming a warranty replacement for your hard drive, then you should definitely use any drive wiper software to completely remove your data from the hard drive.
Because your personal data can be misused by bad people. You do not need to buy any software to wipe your hard drive but there is some trusted drive wiper software available in the market which can do this free of cost.
The Best Free Disk Wipe Software in 2022
01 DBAN
DBAN Is a popular free and open-source software consider as the best hard drive wipe software. Darik’s Boot and Nuke (DBAN) is designed for completely wiping the entire drive permanently.
You can choose different wiping methods to erase data from various kinds of drives in Windows 10/8/7. It also supports several advanced algorithms like DoD 5220.22-M, random data destruction method.
However, you need to burn the ISO image of this software to a flash drive or DVD/CD with a DVD burning software, and then run it from the external hard drive when restarting Windows.
02 Diskwipe
Diskwipe is also a top hard drive wipe software. Unlike MiniTool Partition Wizard Pro Ultimate or DBAN which allows you to create a bootable CD/DVD, so that you can use them to wipe personal hard drive data without an operating system.
Diskwipe is a windows app, so you can only run this tool in the existing Windows OS. You cannot use it to wipe the hard drive which runs the current operating system. But you can use it to erase internal SSD, external hard drives.
03 KillDisk
KillDisk is also a top free hard drive wipe software for Windows 10/8/7. It has a free version and an advanced version. Its free version only has one type of hard drive erasing method, namely, erase hard drive with one pass zeros.
If you want to try other ways to wipe the hard drives, you need to pay for the professional version. KillDisk support from Windows X to Windows 10 but some of its features not work in freemium version.
04 CCleaner
CCleaner is a cool PC hard drive wipe software also allows you to wipe computer or external drives. You can use it to wipe data from free space on the hard drive or wipe the entire drive. The advanced version also needs to pay.
CCleaner drive wiper operate from the inside Windows operating system so you cannot wipe the C drive and the drive this software is installed. But CCleaner let you wipe free space of that drive.
05 Windows 10 Built-in Hard Disk Wiper
If you want to wipe a hard drive on Windows 10, then you don’t need to go anywhere. The operating system comes preloaded with a hard drive eraser that can make your hard drive look like a new one.
But this pre-build hard drive wipe software is only helpful if you want to clean the hard drive that’s installed on your computer and you want to get rid of all the data.
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- Go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery.
- Under Reset this PC, click on Get Started.
- Click on Remove everything and follow the steps.
06 MHDD
MHDD is another freeware best hard drive wipe software that can be used to securely erase both mechanical and solid state hard drives. MHDD is a pure MS-DOS operating system, very easy to download and use.
Like other software it let you download the software in ISO which can be mounted to disc. Refer the MHDD official page for the detailed information on how to use this software to securely wipe your hard drive.
07 Eraser
Eraser is an another hard drive wipe software which offer free robust data wiping tool that can completely remove sensitive data from your hard drive. Eraser is offers multiple data sanitization techniques.
Eraser is the best DBAN alternative software which offers bootable media.
Eraser software can be used to wipe from individual folder to an entire hard drive on the system. Eraser lets you schedule the disk wiping task at a particular time if you wants to start the disk wiping automatically for some reasons, you can also create and save multiple disk wipe task depending on your needs.
08 Hardwipe
Hardwipe is another best hard drive wipe software that runs from inside Windows operating systems, works with all the operating system from Windows XP to Windows 10.
Hardwipe let you wipe free space or even wipe an entire drive either SSD or HDD. Hardwipe is very simply and easy for anyone to use.
To start wiping just load the drive you wanted to wipe and choose a data sanitization method as per your requirement.
Hardwipe support the following Data destruction Methods: DoD 5220.22-M, GOST R 50739-95, Gutmann, Random Data, Schneier, VSITR, Write Zero
09 CBL Data Shredder
CBL Data Shredder is the great hard drive wipe software which let you boot via disk or USB stick. One of the best DBAN alternative software, you can even installed this software on your Windows to operate from the inside.
CBL Data Shredder software works from Windows XP to Windows 10 operating systems.
If you are inside the Windows operating systems you can wipe the internal or external hard drives but to wipe the primary drive you need operate this software from boot.
CBL Data Shredder offers the following Data Sanitization Methods: DoD 5220.22-M, Gutmann, RMCP DSX, Schneier, VSITR.
10 Secure Eraser
Secure Eraser is another great hard drive wipe software that helps you wipe hard drive. Either you can select the whole drive or a single partition that should be wiped, by simply clicking the state deletion button.
Secure Eraser offers the following Data Sanitization Methods: DoD 5220.22-M, Gutmann, Random Data, VSITR
Secure Eraser operates from inside the Windows not like (DBAN in our list) so, by default you can’t use Secure Eraser the primary hard drive that it’s installed on it (like the C drive).
Secure Eraser support HDDs and SSDs, as well as USB-connected storage devices.
How to Wipe a Hard Drive Windows 10
To wipe a hard disk in Windows 10 following the below steps very carefully.
- Attached the hard drive which you want to wipe securely
- Select and Installed any of the one of the Best Hard Drive Wipe Software in 2022
- Following instruction very carefully
Wiping of a hard drive will depends on the software you choice. If you don’t want to install any third party software on your device, then you can use the Windows 10 option to wipe your hard disk. For more information check out How to wipe a hard disk using Windows 10 Built-in process.
Hope this article helps you choose the best free software. If you still have questions about how to completely destroy data in your hard drive please let me know in the comment section I will do my best to clarify your doubts.
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There is also Redkey USB. I have one and it is very good and easy to use.
Thank for the list. It was helpful to choose the best one.
Great Article.Many Thanks for researching this just what I was looking forward to reading.
Thank you Fraser. 🙂
very helpful information great Article.Many Thanks for researching this just what I was looking forward to reading. and use