How to Reformat a Hard Drive?

PC Instructions
  1. Select the drive you wish to format from the list.
  2. Right click on the drive and select Format.
  3. Enter a name for the drive in Volume label and select the format type in the File system dropdown box.
  4. Click OK. It will take a short while to delete all the files and change the format of the disk.

Does reformatting a hard drive erase it?

Formatting the hard drive is a bit more secure than simply erasing the files. Formatting a disk does not erase the data on the disk, only the address tables. ... For those who accidentally reformat a hard disk, being able to recover most or all the data that was on the disk is a good thing.

How do you wipe a hard drive clean and start over?

Go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery, and click Get Started under Reset this PC. You are then asked if you want to keep your files or delete everything. Select Remove Everything, click Next, then click Reset. Your PC goes through the reset process and reinstalls Windows.

Maya Lin-Takahashi

Maya Lin-Takahashi

Consumer Tech & Gadget Reviewer

Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.