How to Wipe Hard Drive From BIOS - 4 Safe Methods?

Updated by

Linda 

Written by

Sherly 

Updated on Apr 22, 2024

A more comprehensive method of erasing data is to wipe the hard drive through BIOS (Basic Input/Output System). This is advantageous for individuals or organizations seeking to dispose of a computer or hard drive, as it securely erases the drive, ensuring that sensitive data cannot be recovered. Additionally, the operating system is removed, making the deletion process more efficient and secure.

• Method 1. Use Partition Master - Easier for Beginners
• Method 2. Use the Installation CD - Difficult with Commands
• Method 3. Format a Hard Drive From Boot
• Method 4. Wipe a Hard Drive During Windows Installation

How to Wipe Hard Drive from BIOS – 4 Methods

This section will outline the four most efficient and result-focused methods to wipe a hard drive from BIOS. The first approach involves using the tool Partition Master, which guarantees a simple and time-saving process for accomplishing your task. Let's delve into the methods in greater detail, explaining the steps involved.

Method 1: Use Tool Partition Master - Easier for Beginners

tools Partition Master is an all-in-one solution that lets you wipe a hard drive and create bootable media. This tool enables you to safely and easily erase a hard drive in BIOS without needing to type any commands, making it user-friendly for beginners. After wiping the hard drive, the tool can boot your PC from the bootable USB. Its great compatibility ensures stability when wiping the hard drive in BIOS and booting your PC from the bootable USB afterward. Download the tool and follow these steps to get started.

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Here's how to create a bootable USB and wipe a hard drive from BIOS:

Step 1. Properly connect a USB drive, flash drive, or a CD/DVD disc to your computer. Then, launch the Partition Master tool, go to the "Bootable Media" option, and click "Create bootable media." Click "Next."

Step 2. When the drive is available, you can select either USB or CD/DVD. After making your choice, click "Proceed."

If you don't have a storage device at hand, you can also save the ISO file to a local drive and then burn it to a storage media later.

Step 3. Connect the WinPE bootable disk to your computer. Restart your computer and press F2 or Del simultaneously to enter BIOS. Set your PC to boot from "Removable Devices" (bootable USB drive) or "CD-ROM Drive" (bootable CD/DVD) instead of the hard drive. Press "F10" to save the changes and exit.

Step 4. Install and launch tools Partition Master. Select the HDD or SSD that you want to wipe, and right-click to choose "Wipe Disk".

Step 5. Set the number of times you want to overwrite the data. The maximum is 10. Tap on "OK" when done.

Step 6. Click "Execute 1 Task(s)" and then "Apply" to begin the data erasure process.

That's a simplified process of wiping the hard drive from BIOS using this user-friendly tool. Quickly decide and download Partition Master to make things easier for yourself.

Download this tool to access its additional features, such as:

• Format a hard drive from BIOS
• Boot PC from a bootable USB
• Completely erase a hard drive, including the operating system
• Wipe a hard drive from BIOS for HP/Dell/Lenovo/ASUS/MSI laptops

Method 2: Use the Installation CD - Difficult with Diskpart Commands

This method of using an installation CD is effective for thorough data erasure from the BIOS in Windows 10 or Windows 11. However, it's crucial to ensure that you have an installation disc for your operating system before proceeding. Assuming you have the installation disc, follow these step-by-step instructions to reset a hard drive from the BIOS:

< strong > Step 1. < /strong > To start the process, insert the installation disc, such as a CD or USB, into your computer and then turn off the system.

Step 2. Next, access the BIOS setup by turning it back on and pressing the designated BIOS key such as F2, F10, F12, DEL, or ESC. Do this repeatedly during the startup process until the BIOS screen displays. Inside the BIOS setup, use the arrow keys to navigate to the "Boot" tab and move the "CD-ROM Drive" to the top of the boot order. Save the changes by pressing the "Enter" or "F10" key and confirm by selecting "Yes."

Step 3. Next, click "Next" and choose the "Repair your computer" option at the bottom to proceed to the installation screen. After that, select "Troubleshoot" and then choose "Command Prompt."

Step 4. In the Command Prompt window that opens, you need to type and execute the following commands individually. After typing each command, press the "Enter" key.

1. diskpart
2. list disk (displays a list of all existing volumes on the selected disk)
3. select disk 0 (replace "0" with the appropriate disk number)
4. clean

Moreover, wiping the hard drive using the installation CD requires proper attention to be executed correctly. Hence, Partition Master is a more convenient option among these methods. This tool only necessitates a few clicks to erase data from your hard drive.

Method 3: Format a Hard Drive from Boot

This method assumes that you already have installation media. You can format or erase the hard drive when starting up, then reinstall Windows 10 or a previous version, sell it, or use it as a second-hand storage device.

Step 1. Completely power off the computer and connect the installation media. Restart the computer, press the Boot Menu key on the splash screen to enter the BIOS, and set the media as the primary boot option.

Step 2. Next, restart your computer, and you will be prompted to boot from the disk. Please choose your installation media option.

Step 3. In the popup window, you'll see a set of commands. Select the drive you wish to wipe and remove all partitions on it.

Step 4. Choose the unallocated space and create a new partition using it. If prompted for the desired file system format, select NTFS or FAT.

Step 5. Wait for the formatting process to complete.

Method 4: Wipe a Hard Drive During Windows Installation

Do you wish to erase the hard drive through BIOS? If yes, you can follow these steps to format or erase your hard drive during the system installation process.

Step 1. Connect the installation media to the target computer and set its boot priority in the BIOS.

Step 2. Restart your computer and access the Windows installation screen. Accept the default settings and click on Next.

Step 3. Click Install Now to proceed.

Step 4. At this point, you need to enter your operating system's product key or skip this step. If you're installing the same version of Windows, it will activate automatically once your computer connects to the network.

Step 5. Choose the "Custom: Install Windows Only (Advanced)" installation option.

Step 6. Next, you'll see several options, including formatting. You need to select the system partition and click on Format.

Step 7. Click "OK" to confirm the erasure of the system partition and wait for the final result.

Why Erase or Wipe a Hard Drive from the BIOS?

When it comes to the reasons for wiping your hard drive from the BIOS, reinstalling Windows or performing a clean installation of Windows is likely one of the most common scenarios. This process necessitates formatting the system partition (typically the C: drive), an action that cannot be carried out within Windows itself.

Typically, users can delete data by formatting or erasing the hard drive while the computer is operational. However, if you attempt to erase the system drive, such as the C partition, you need to do so from the BIOS because the system drive cannot be erased while it is in use.

When you're reinstalling Windows on a device or performing a clean installation of Windows, you'll also need to wipe or erase the hard drive from the BIOS. To accomplish this, you need to format the system partition; however, this cannot be done within Windows. You'll need to erase the hard drive through the BIOS. But before commencing this process, it's highly recommended that you back up your important data (if you have any).

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Conclusion

In conclusion, the process of wiping a hard drive through BIOS involves intricate and technical steps that must be executed carefully. A minor error can lead to complications. Nevertheless, utilizing tools such as Partition Master offers users a significantly simpler and faster approach to erase the contents of their drive.

Moreover, the tool provides a broad range of features to manage partitions on their system. These reasons make it the best tool to wipe the hard drive from BIOS. We recommend giving this user-friendly tool, Partition Master, a try to efficiently accomplish the task with just a few clicks.

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"Securely Erase Hard Drives from BIOS Frequently Asked Questions"

We have thoroughly explained each method, but if you're still confused, these FAQs can aid in better understanding the concept. Browse through these frequently asked questions to simplify the process for yourself.

< strong > 1. Can you erase the hard drive from BIOS? Yes, it is possible to erase a hard drive from the BIOS, but it's not a direct process. Typically, BIOS does not have built-in features to wipe data or format the hard drive. However, you can use the BIOS to boot from a utility disc or USB drive that contains disk wiping software, such as DBAN (Darik's Boot and Nuke) or Hirens BootCD. Once booted into the utility, you can then proceed to erase the hard drive. Here's a general outline of the process: 1. Insert the utility disc or USB drive into your computer. 2. Restart your computer and enter BIOS by pressing the relevant key (usually F2, F10, F12, or Del, depending on the system). 3. Change the boot order settings to prioritize booting from CD/DVD or USB. 4. Save the changes and exit BIOS, which will initiate the boot process from the utility disc or USB. 5. Follow the on-screen instructions to erase the hard drive using the disk wiping software. Remember that this process will permanently delete all data on the hard drive, so ensure you have backups of any important files before proceeding.

From BIOS:

1. Restart your computer.
2. Enter your BIOS.
3. Locate the storage drive you want to erase.
4. Find a Secure Erase option.
5. Use Secure Erase to wipe your drive.

2. How do I wipe my operating system from the BIOS?

You need to create an installation media before erasing the operating system from the BIOS. Follow the steps below to accomplish this task.

Step 1. First, restart your computer and access the BIOS setup by pressing the designated key during the boot process, like F2, F12, DEL, Esc, or others.

Step 2. Next, you need to head over to the "Boot" or "Boot Order" section and set the bootable media USB or CD as the first boot option.

Step 3. You can save the changes made to the BIOS settings and exit. Your computer will restart and boot from the bootable media you've inserted.

Step 4. Follow the on-screen prompts to reinstall the operating system. During the installation process, you'll have the option to format or delete existing partitions, which will effectively erase the current OS.

3. Does a BIOS data wipe remove Windows?

No, erasing data from the BIOS does not directly remove Windows from your system. You need to use a bootable disk or installation media to wipe the partition where Windows is installed in order to remove it from your system.