How to Scrub Hard Drive?

How to Scrub Hard Drive?

Geeks - Scrubbing a hard drive refers to the process of permanently erasing all the data on the hard drive. This is a useful technique if you are planning to sell or donate your computer, or if you want to reset your computer to its factory settings. Scrubbing a hard drive ensures that all personal and sensitive information is securely erased, protecting your privacy and preventing any potential data breaches.

Here are the steps to scrub a hard drive:

Back up all important data: Before you start the scrubbing process, it's important to back up any important data that you don't want to lose. This can include documents, photos, music, and other files. You can use an external hard drive or a cloud storage service to store your data.

Choose a data wiping tool: There are several tools available that can help you scrub your hard drive. Some popular options include DBAN (Darik's Boot and Nuke), CCleaner, and Disk Wipe. These tools allow you to securely erase all the data on your hard drive.

Create a bootable USB or CD: In order to use a data wiping tool, you'll need to create a bootable USB or CD. This will allow you to boot your computer from the USB or CD, rather than the hard drive, and access the data wiping tool. You can use a tool like Rufus to create a bootable USB or CD.

Boot from the USB or CD: Once you have created the bootable USB or CD, insert it into your computer and restart it. Make sure to set your computer to boot from the USB or CD in the BIOS settings.

Choose your data wiping tool: Once you have booted from the USB or CD, you will be presented with a list of options. Choose the data wiping tool that you want to use and follow the prompts to scrub your hard drive.

Wait for the process to complete: The scrubbing process can take several hours, depending on the size of your hard drive and the data wiping tool you are using. Make sure to leave your computer on and do not interrupt the process.

Once the process is complete, your hard drive will be scrubbed and all the data on it will be permanently erased. You can then sell or donate your computer, or reset it to its factory settings with confidence that all your personal and sensitive information is securely erased.