Completely Erase External Hard Drive

Dec 03, 2020 • Filed to: Answer Hard Drive Problems • Proven solutions

1. Wipe External Hard Drive Windows 10
2. Erase External Hard Drive Completely Cmd
3. Secure Erase External Drive
4. Erase Entire Hard Drive Free
5. Microsoft Drive Eraser Free Download

Gone are the days when our system's hard drive was enough to store our data. Now, most of us keep an external hard drive to backup our data and keep our content accessible on the go. Though, there are times when users need to erase external hard drives as well. Gimp for windows 7 64 bit. If your external drive has sensitive data that you want to get rid of permanently, then you need to walk the extra mile.

Connect your external hard drive to your computer Open your Disk Utility App Select the drive you want to wipe clean (just to be sure you don't erase the wrong hard drive, disconnect any other external hard drives and double-check that the correct drive is selected). The following are five different methods to wipe an external hard drive (HDD) using Windows 10. El capitan 10 11 0 download iso. Please note that I included an extra section for SSDs at the end. Eraser is a free, open-source data destruction tool that lets you safely destroy data and wipe the external hard drive with the help of various data destruction algorithms.

• Part 1: How to Completely Erase External Hard Drive
• Part 2: How to Erase an External Hard Drive with Eraser Software

You might already know that even after deleting your data from the drive (and the recycle bin) you can retrieve it with the help of a data recovery tool. Therefore, if you wish to permanently remove your data with no scope of recovery, then you need to take the assistance of a third-party tool. In this post, we will teach you how to permanently erase the external hard drive without any trouble.

Part 1: How to Completely Erase External Hard Drive

There are plenty of ways to erase an external hard drive. Even after formatting it, chances are that your data can still be retrieved. If you don't want to use a third-party tool to delete it, then you can always choose to physically destroy the drive.

Physically Destroy the Hard Drive

This is the simplest and cheapest method to get rid of your data entirely. By physically destroying the hard drive, no one would be able to use it to extract your data. There are plenty of ways to physically destroy an external hard drive. After removing the case of the hard drive, you can simply melt it. Setting it on fire is another safe option.

If you want to go extreme, then you can simply hammer the hard drive and break it into pieces. Some people also prefer to perform electrolysis to destroy the drive or simply shredding it into small pieces. No matter what approach you adopt, it will destroy your hard disk and its data forever.

Though, it has a severe disadvantage that you won't be able to use the external hard drive to store your data after destroying it. Your data would be destroyed, but you would have to bear the cost of your hard drive. To avoid this, experts always recommend using a dedicated tool to erase external hard drive without physically destroying it.

Part 2: How to Erase an External Hard Drive with Eraser Software

Stellar BitRaser for the file is one of the best eraser tools out there that can readily be used to wipe your hard drive's data entirely without any scope of recovery. Simply perform a deep cleaning of your external hard drive using this remarkable application and be sure to get rid of your data forever. It has an easy to use interface and comes with tons of features as well.

• It can remove every type of file and folder from a hard drive without any scope of data recovery.
• Furthermore, the tool can also erase internet activities, applications, system traces, log files, and more.
• It works on a system's internal storage, USB drive, external hard drive, etc.
• One can also set up scheduled erasing of data.
• It features an advanced algorithm and generates an erase certificate in the end.
• Fully compatible with all the leading versions of Windows and Windows server.

Erase external hard drive with BitRaser

By taking the assistance of Stellar BitRaser for Files, you can easily erase the external hard drive in no time. It provides an easy to use interface that will let you wipe your drive entirely in seconds. You can simply follow these instructions to do it.

Step 1: Free download and launch Stellar BitRaser for File on your PC.

Step 2: Connect your external hard drive to it via a USB cable. Wait for a while as your system will automatically recognize the drive.

Step 3: Select the external hard drive and click 'Erase Now' to start to erase files from external hard drive.

Step 4: Wait for a while as the application would permanently erase your external hard drive. It will let you know as soon as the operation is completed.

In a few simple steps, you can erase the external hard drive by using Stellar BitRaser. If you have sensitive data on your drive, then you can also perform multiple passes. Follow the above-mentioned steps a few times to perform multiple passes (three times would be enough). This will make sure that your data has been removed permanently.

Tips for securely erasing an external hard drive

• Only choose a secure and reliable tool to wipe your hard disk. There are plenty of third-party data eraser tools out there, but only a handful of them (like Stellar BitRaser) are considered reliable.
• To make sure that your data is removed permanently, you can always do multiple passes of the erasing process.
• Try not to physically damage your external hard drive, as this would make it inaccessible and might cause some accidents as well.
• Go with a tool that will erase log files, system traces, and application traces as well for a complete deletion of data.
• Avoid formatting of hard disks on Windows, as even after formatting, your data can be recovered. Ideally, a reliable third-party tool should be used.

We hope that after following this informative guide, you would be able to erase the external hard drive without any trouble. Stellar BitRaser is a highly useful application that will let you get rid of your data permanently without any recovery scope. Feel free to give it a try and let us know about your experience in the comments below.

Video Tutorial on How to Format an External Hard Drive

What's Wrong with Drive

Recover Your Drive

Fix Your Drive

Format/Wipe Drive

Know Your Drive

Last updated on December 15th, 2020 at 06:06 am

You are definitely on the right place if you are looking for best Hard Drive wipe software (free and paid). There is so many software available online and it becomes really tough to choose one that suits you. For this reason, we are here to provide you with complete and comprehensive detail of hard drive cleaning software.

Recommended: How to uninstall Windows 10 built-in apps?

It is always recommended to go for paid software when it comes for privacy and security of your data as there is much-advanced software available that recover wiped data. But if you have used some of the top nothch hard drive cleaning software then it becomes almost impossible to recover any traces.

There is also a query related to deleting data from a dead computer, for all those who have a similar question, please refer to How to wipe hard drive on a dead computer?

Why use hard drive cleaning software?

Most of the people now switching to cloud storage and the demand for hard drive reducing day by day, those days are gone when everything was stored in hard drive. So people now removing all their personal information, privacy data from the hard drive and keeping them in more secure places. To completely remove everything from hard drive, cleaning software is a must.

Or there might be the reason to sell your old hard drive and you are looking to remove everything permanently from it. For this reason, you need to have a hard drive wipe software.

Most people think that deletion of files, folders, removing password, and other information is enough but the reality is different, you can reconstruct everything you have deleted.

10 Best Hard Drive Wipe Software

1. MacPaw CleanMyDrive

MacPaw is one of the top recommendations for Mac products. It is well known for CleanMyMac and CleanMyPC. You can use them to speed up your computer. And on the other side, it also offers CleanMyDrive to wipe out everything from your Mac. It has an amazing platform that shows everything you have on your MacBook.

No matters how tiny the file is, it wipe out everything and left no traces. Let is check some of its features

• Clean Junk files: CleanMyDrive intelligently remove every junk for your drive which are hard to locate.
• Copy your drive: Suppose if you are looking to transfer your important data to another hard drive, simply drag and drop the files to copy instantly.
• Multiple language support: CleanMyDrive works with different languages so you need not worry about this.
• Compatible with all hard drives: CleanMyDrive works with SSD, external hard drives, SD cards, USB flash drives.

Pricing

CleanMyDrive is free to use and available in the Mac App Store, install it and start using it.

2. CCleaner Drive Wiper

CCleaner is another one of the top-rated software recommended to wipe out hard drive data. CCleaner is widely use for removing junk, hidden, temporary, duplicate files to remove unnecessary data from your computer. It also offers Drive Wiper to remove everything from your hard drive.

CCleaner Drive Wiper uses advanced algorithms to permanently delete everything. Once you download CCleaner, go to tools tab, Choose the type of wipe you require: Free Space Only or Entire Drive, it will warn you before proceeding.

You can either clean a specific partition of the entire drive as per your need. Complete wiping of the drive takes some time and you have to be on hold for a while.

Pricing and plans from CCleaner

CCleaner Drive Wiper is a part of CCleaner application and you can get if for free. CCleaner comes in the paid and free version, but for unlocking its feature, Pro version is the best choice. Our readers get a special discount on CCleaner, check out the latest pricing and discount offer here.

3. Eraser

Wipe External Hard Drive Windows 10

Eraser is an advanced security tool specifically designed for Windows to remove sensitive data from your hard drive. It overwrites it several times with carefully selected patterns to ensure complete data removal. It also supports Windows file systems including FAT32 and NTFS. Along with your PC's hard drive, it also works with other drives that work with Windows PC.

It offers you a feature that let users schedule disk wiping as per there timings. User can set up a data destruction task to repeat itself.

Pricing

Eraser is a free and open-source software for hard drive data cleaner. Download it for free from the official website. Eraser update the software from time to time.

4. KillDisk

KillDisk is a paid software that has tons of feature along with just erasing hard drive. So far we concluded that KillDisk is one of the fastest cleaning software and the best thing is its ability to work in erasing disks parallel. KillDisk works for Windows and some of its version works for LINUX Operating System. It has the ability to start programming form the bootable disk or the USB to erase the disk.

KillDisk shows the current status of disk health and this is good for Disk Examination for bad sectors & Examine Grading.

KillDisk Features

• Supports 32-bit PC architecture
• Erasing disks in parallel
• Business usage
• Automatic Mode allows to discover & erase hot-swappable disks
• Disk Wipe sanitation of unused clusters on live volumes for most file systems

Pricing and Plans

KillDisk comes with different plans such as Active@ KillDisk, Industrial Software, Desktop / System. You can check out the latest pricing. You can also try the demo version for free to test KillDisk.

5. Disk Wipe

Disk Wipe is a free and portable Windows application for permanent data removal. It also uses advanced algorithms to destroy every trace of data such that recovery is almost impossible. The best thing is, it does not contain adware or malware. Let us check out some of its feature here

Disk Wipe Features

• Delete data permanently from volume disk
• No installation required to delete data
• Works with NTFS, Fat, Fat32 (all major File Systems)
• Lightweight, add free application
• Works with external hard drive

Pricing

As already discussed, Disk Wipe is completely free to use and you can download it from the official website.

6. DBAN

DBAN is widely used open–source data wiping software for personal use. You get the benefits of two with using DBAN. Firstly, you can delete every bit of information and secondly, it also removes viruses/spyware from Microsoft Windows installations. DBAN clearly claims that it does not provide any certificate of data removal from a drive and for this, you have request Blancco Drive Eraser Trial.

Pricing

Erase External Hard Drive Completely Cmd

There are two plans, first DBAN and secondly Blancco. DBAN is completely free to use and recommended for personal use. On the other side, Blancco is recommended for business purpose and you can use its trial version.

7. PCDiskEraser

PCDiskEraser is another free application that wipe out hard drive permanently in the for of partition or completely. It is fast in process, easy to use and one of the best tool in its category. You do not worry if you have erased your data through PCDiskEraser. It permanently deletes the information by actually overwriting all of the data on your hard drive.

PCDiskEraser Feature

• Runs Offline
• Supports File System NTFS, FAT16, FAT32, EXT3, EXT2, Linux swap, Reiser FS and so on.
• Easy to use and processes quickly
• Wipe in a partition and complete drive

Pricing

As already discussed, PCDiskEraser is completely free to use and you can download the latest version from the official website.

8. Super File Shredder

Secure Erase External Drive

Super File Shredder keeps its place under top 10 best hard drive wipe software. The reason is its advanced security tool for Windows that removes all the data by overwriting it many times. All you need is to install this amazing application and remove all your sensitive data and stay with peace of mind.

Pricing

Super File Shredder is completely free to use and you can download it from here.

9. Windows Built in hard drive wiper

Erase Entire Hard Drive Free

Most of us are not known about the in-built option for hard drive wipe tool. Windows offers this feature to completely erase the hard drive data. You do not require to download any external application once you use security tool from Windows 10.

Follow some simple steps to erase hard drive completely

• Open Settings> Update & Security > Recovery.
• Under Reset this PC, go to Get Started button.
• From the following options, tap on Remove everything.

This completely remove your hard drive data and your computer works as it is new.

10. Disk Utility for macOS

Disk Utility is an option for macOS to remove data completely from hard drive. You can also check the storage consumption and delete them in partition also. Follow some simple steps here.

• Go to Spotlight search and type Disk Utility.
• Select your Drive and tap on Erase button.

Microsoft Drive Eraser Free Download

This completely erase your drive on MacBook.

Conclusion

These are the list of Best Hard Drive Wipe Software. I hope you find the information here useful and definitely found the right choice as per your need. For the latest tech tutorial and software deals, follow us on Facebook, Twitter.

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