Photos and files will only be permanently deleted from memory cards and flash memory in this manner, making them unretrievable.
Depending on the data you have stored on a hard drive or USB device, formatting it carelessly before leaving it with someone may present a minor privacy risk.
The best way to protect your data is to destroy the hard drives or USB drives you wish to format if you don't intend to use them again. Today, we'll show you how to safely delete the data on hard drives and USB drives using one of the available tools, though, if you do wish to reuse them.
We selected Disk Wipe because it is a very user-friendly Windows tool. Accessing the Disk Wipe download page should be your first step. When you click the red "Click here to download Disk Wipe" link, the program will begin downloading automatically.
Simply launch the DiskWipe.exe file that you downloaded; no installation is required. When you double-click the program, you will be prompted for administrator permissions because its icon looks like a shield. It prompts a large window, but don't be intimidated; say yes to give it permission.
Choose the drive you wish to delete and the drive you have connected to your computer in the left column of the app once it has launched. Once you've chosen one, you can verify that it's the one you want by seeing its details in the center pane. To begin the wiping process, click Wipe Disk in the upper left corner once you are certain that you have chosen the right option.
There are three options or parts to setting up the erase process. Prior to formatting the drive, you must decide which file system to use. NTFS, FAT, and FAT32 are the options available to you. Click the Next button to proceed after selecting your preferred option.
Selecting the wipe mode is the most crucial step in the procedure. A 35-pass wipe or a basic single wipe are your options. Although the process will take longer, the higher the number, the more confident you are that all data will be deleted.
In any case, select the final mode—Peter Gutmann's 35-pass—and click "Next" to proceed, as your goal is to permanently delete your data. Naturally, you should only do this when you can leave your computer alone, as the process may take several hours, depending on the size of your external hard drive, SD card, or USB.
That's it; the application window will show the progress and the process will have started. Be patient and wait until the process is completely finished if you don't want to damage your storage drive.
- Link: Disk Wipe