How can I COMPLETELY wipe an HDD?

Doicraft

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Dec 18, 2013
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So recently my laptop gave out and broke. The HDD is still fine so I decided to take it out and put it into my desktop and get some extra storage. Everything went fine and I moved all the files around and the standard stuff, but the Windows files that were used for my laptop are just sitting on the drive being useless. Unfortunately, I can't delete any of the Windows files. When I try to do so, I get this:

http://gyazo.com/37c131346b30e363d4cf1482817a6406.png

So yeah, simple question. I already got all the files that I wanted from the HDD and put it onto my main hard drive for my desktop. I'm fine with removing ALL files instead of just the Windows files on the HDD. In fact, I'd rather just wipe it completely anyways so that I can use the HDD for random videos I have.

All help is apprecated!!

Laptop OS (The drive that I want cleared): Windows 8 64-bit(NOT 8.1!)
Desktop OS: Windows 7 64-bit
 
Solution
this method will get rid of all content on the harddrive
open 'my computer' icon on the desktop, right click on the harddrive you want to wipe and select format, leave all the settings as is and then click start.
hope that helps
Boot and nuke is a great option, or boot into a Linux liveCD and simply format the disk. Do you need a secure wipe, or just clear it? If so, simply use a boot disk of some sort to accomplish the task:
- Windows OS Disc (W7 or 8, you can format a partition without installing Windows)
- Linux (Pick your poison)
- Boot & Nuke
- Hiren's BootCD

Please note that the first option will offer the option of "formatting" which is empirically different from "wiping". A format deletes the filesystem tables and the data is lost to ordinary methods. It's still technically there, but will be overwritten the moment the controller opts to write that sector.

If you need the files overwritten securely with no hope of redemption, the latter options are better.
 

friedricezilla

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Jan 17, 2014
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this method will get rid of all content on the harddrive
open 'my computer' icon on the desktop, right click on the harddrive you want to wipe and select format, leave all the settings as is and then click start.
hope that helps
 
Solution

robax91

Distinguished
Make sure your desktop is booting from the Main OS drive. Plug your extra drive in, then right click your Computer shortcut and select manage, then click disk management (can also be found in search by clicking windows button and typing disk manage, it will say "create or format partitions")

Once you get in there, select the extra drive and delete all of its partitions. Then you can format it to NTFS and it will be a clean slate.

Edit- You should try this method because others will leave extra partitions on the drive that once served as back up and will contain space you can use! It is not the easiest but it is easy enough and gives you the whole drive worth of space.
 

Doicraft

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Dec 18, 2013
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10,520


Worked c:
Although the other replies would've worked I went with yours because it was the easiest and quickest. Literally took less than a minute! Thanks.