How to Format a Windows Computer

When a PC gets old or when you put it back in, you want to erase everything on the PC. In fact, you also erase the PC safely so that the files are not recoverable. In this article, we look at various tactics to format a Windows 11/10 PC.

Before you begin, you may want to do a few things depending on the scenario. Have you lost access to the PC and want to format it?Do you have a Windows 11/10 installation disc or bootable USB drive?In addition, technical expertise will be needed to determine what to remove, where to relocate, and what to do. It’s not difficult, but you need to be careful not to waste a lot of time repeating the procedure or accidentally losing data.

Finally, before you begin, you want to back up all the data on the computer, adding the data that is possibly in your folders, download folders, and desktop. If you entrust the PC to someone else, you will need to delete the files from all connected walls and drives once the backup is complete. How to Format a Windows Computer

Although I have tried to make the advisor as undeniable as possible, the subject has many technical aspects. While they’re running, you’ll want to know exactly what you plan to do. Using Windows 11/100 Installation Media Reset Windows 11/10 PC Connect the storage device to another PC Secure SSD and Hard Drive Erase Format a data drive.

Note that this is not the same as formatting a drive, hard drive, or partition. 1] Using Windows 11/10 Installation Media

If you’ve lost your PC and can’t access your account, you’ll want to use your Windows bootable USB drive or DVD, if you have one. Otherwise, you can download the Windows Media Creation Tool to create one.

Once that’s done, the first thing you need to do is make sure that the first boot device in the BIOS is set to the USB drive and then the computer’s SSD/HHD. It will make sure of this when you restart the computer; it will launch the USB device.

When it finally boots up, you’ll see a screen that will look exactly like a new installation process. During this Windows installation process, the Disk Management interface will appear.

It is thanks to this that you can format or delete existing walls and recreate new ones. You can decide on each partition and then click Format.

Finally, install Windows and your PC will be as good as new and you can safely reinstall it. 2] Reset Windows PC 11/10

This approach is the simplest and most straightforward to use. Available in Windows Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Reset this PC. When you use this feature, you will have the option to keep the files and folders or delete everything from the computer.

Since you have planned to format the PC, proceed with the Delete All option. It will delete all files and apps and then Windows.

Read our comprehensive advisor on how to reset a Windows PC. This is convenient when you don’t have a bootable CD or drive with you.

TIP: This article may help you if you receive the message A problem occurred while resetting your PC. 3] Connect the storage device to another computer.

If the above features don’t fit your choice, you can connect the storage device to the computer. This will allow you to copy all the data to the computer and then you can use the disk management tool to format the walls of the drive you just plugged in. You can then reconnect the drive to the original computer and your computer will be as smart as new.

Related: How to Restore Factory Image and Settings in Windows. 4] SSD and Secure Erase Hard Drive

While this is essential, it’s optional if you don’t care much about your data. Although formatting deletes all the files, the recovery software can still locate the files on the drive. Therefore, it is vital to use software to securely erase SSDs and hard disk drives.

Most SSDs come with OEM software that can delete files smoothly and safely. For example, Samsung Magician Software offers secure-erase SSDs with the ability to create a bootable Windows USB drive. You can then use the USB drive to boot and install Windows. However, this only works with the SSD and not the HDD. For everything else, check out our recommended list of software that can erase hard drives safely. 5] Format the data drive

If it’s a knowledge drive that needs formatting (where the operating formula isn’t installed, or a USB or external drive), you can use the Disk Management tool. Open it from the WinX menu, the unit of knowledge, right-click on it and Format. This will erase all data from the disk, so make sure you have stored the important data on the disk.

Here are some of the most productive execution strategies you can follow to format a computer. Windows 11/10 has come a long way and now it’s pretty straightforward to get rid of a computer or reinstall Windows. While the OEM secure erase option is the most productive way to go; if you don’t have an SSD, you can follow one of the strategies above.

However, be sure to back up your knowledge before taking this excessive step.

Read: Does formatting it make it faster?

Updated December 5, 2023Tags: FeaturesRelated ArticlesEnable or Disable the Use of Mouse Key When Virtual Lock Is Allowed in Windows 11Event ID 1034 or 1036: Secure Boot DBX Update Has Been Effectively AppliedHow to Allow Case Sensitivity Feature for Folders in Windows 11/10AshishMohta@TWC

Ashish has a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering and is a Windows veteran. He was an MVP of Microsoft (2008-2010) and excels at writing tutorials for the everyday experience with his devices. Main sidebar

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