The process takes 20 minutes to over an hour. Your PC will restart several times and finally boot to the initial Windows setup screen (like new). If you want to erase a D: drive, external USB drive, or any storage not running Windows 11, use this method.
Right-click the drive’s volume (the blue bar) and choose Format .
Whether you’re selling your old PC, recycling a drive, or troubleshooting persistent software issues, securely wiping your hard drive is essential. On Windows 11, "wiping" means more than just deleting files—it means permanently erasing data and the operating system.
Right-click the Start button and select Disk Management .