Help with wiping a Computer

[kleisinger]

Can anyone give me a link or step by step directions to how I would fully wipe a PC's hard drive (on windows 7) 

 

I'm asking because I intend to change out the motherboard and CPU and then re install windows 7 on to it.

 

thanks

[Godlygamer23]

Moved to OSes and Software. Please ensure you are posting in the proper sub-forum in the future.

[MatthewEnderle]

just take the instalation media and when you go to install, don't choose update and then click on the drive you want to delete. You can also do format if you want.

[zlolslavez]

When you are reinstalling it you can wipe the hard drive.

When choosing the drive, press Shift+F10, type in "disk part" (choosing the drive when reinstalling OS)

type "list disk", then type "sel disk (number)" depending on the drive

type "clean"

 

and you have wiped the hard drive

you can also do this in windows with an elevated command prompt, but if the drive is your os you need to do it when you are installing the drive.

[Stuff_]

If you're planning on reinstalling Windows onto the same HDD, during installation (via the proper boot media i.e. USB drive) it will ask if you would like a clean install, and if you would like to format the disk.

 

If you want to format it within Windows, that isn't possible. You will need to do it via a linux boot disk (easy enough) or during Windows installation.

[kleisinger]

If you're planning on reinstalling Windows onto the same HDD, during installation (via the proper boot media i.e. USB drive) it will ask if you would like a clean install, and if you would like to format the disk.

 

If you want to format it within Windows, that isn't possible. You will need to do it via a linux boot disk (easy enough) or during Windows installation

 

I will be installing windows back on to the same SSD that it is currently on... Does that mean I have to wipe everything else on that SSD? Or should just installing it be pretty straight forward?