Erase hard drive

Just remember, if you format a hard drive, someone will need to have a Windows disk to reinstall Windows on it again, to be able to use the computer. Here is a good link with super info about erasing a hard drive: How To Completely Erase Hard Drive

If you want to wipe the hard disk and not reinstall Windows then -
Wipe Data off Hard Disk with Darik's Boot and Nuke, (DBAN)
Create a Darik's Boot and Nuke on CD disc, then boot up the computer with this disc.
http://www.dban.org/download

A hard drive is the brain of a computer. However, over time, that brain can become overworked and overly saturated with old software and outdated information. It becomes clogged and needs a fresh start. By erasing a hard drive, you can give your PC that fresh new beginning. With a few steps you can erase your hard drive manually, without the aid of expensive software.

Make sure your data is protected before you proceed. Whatever you do not save will be lost once you erase the drive. Use a CD or jumpdrive to save your information. Boot with a system disk. Before you continue to erase the hard drive, use the system to create a system disk. Use a 3-1/2 inch floppy disk and format it with the command "format a: /s"; this will create a bootable disk that contains system commands. Place it in the drive of your system and turn it off, then back on. Reformat the hard drive. Once you've booted with the system disk, type "format c: /s"; this will reformat the hard disk, virtually destroying the old hard drive you used to know. Depending on the of the drive, the formatting may take a fairly long time. Once the formatting is over, use the command "fdisk" to create partitions (which are logical sections for your hard drive's storage). Given the newer hard drives and operating systems of today, you can fdisk the drive and use all of the space. or if you dont have a floppy drive Download a disk wiping utility, such as Darik's Boot and Nuke (DBAN) or KillDisk. DBAN is an open-source product, while KillDisk is available as a free, closed-source download. http://www.dban.org/ http://www.killdisk.com/ Once you download the file, save it to your computer somewhere easy to remember. Insert a blank CD into your computer and use a CD writing program to burn the hard disk wipe utility to the blank CD. If you are using Windows Vista or 7, there is a built-in utility that will perform this task. Back up the data on your computer that you want to save, if necessary. Insert the CD that you created into the computer that is attached to the hard drive you wish to erase. Power on the computer and choose the setup option to boot from the CD. Once you have booted from the CD, you will enter into the hard disk wipe utility. Depending on which utility you chose to use, this screen will vary, but the choice you want to select is to erase or wipe a disk drive. Choose the hard disk that you wish to wipe and confirm that you wish to permanently erase the data on it. Before confirming this, you may wish to physically double check and ensure that you are erasing the correct drive. Once you start the erasing process, it cannot be halted, paused or reversed. You will have to wait for anywhere from a few hours to even a few days for the process to complete, depending on how large your hard drive is.
or you could just reinstall another operating system this will automatically delete the old wrong one you installed.



Hope this helps.

A hard drive is the brain of a computer. However, over time, that brain can become overworked and overly saturated with old software and outdated information. It becomes clogged and needs a fresh start. By erasing a hard drive, you can give your PC that fresh new beginning. With a few steps you can erase your hard drive manually, without the aid of expensive software.

Make sure your data is protected before you proceed. Whatever you do not save will be lost once you erase the drive. Use a CD or jumpdrive to save your information. Boot with a system disk. Before you continue to erase the hard drive, use the system to create a system disk. Use a 3-1/2 inch floppy disk and format it with the command "format a: /s"; this will create a bootable disk that contains system commands. Place it in the drive of your system and turn it off, then back on. Reformat the hard drive. Once you've booted with the system disk, type "format c: /s"; this will reformat the hard disk, virtually destroying the old hard drive you used to know. Depending on the of the drive, the formatting may take a fairly long time. Once the formatting is over, use the command "fdisk" to create partitions (which are logical sections for your hard drive's storage). Given the newer hard drives and operating systems of today, you can fdisk the drive and use all of the space. or if you dont have a floppy drive Download a disk wiping utility, such as Darik's Boot and Nuke (DBAN) or KillDisk. DBAN is an open-source product, while KillDisk is available as a free, closed-source download. http://www.dban.org/ http://www.killdisk.com/ Once you download the file, save it to your computer somewhere easy to remember. Insert a blank CD into your computer and use a CD writing program to burn the hard disk wipe utility to the blank CD. If you are using Windows Vista or 7, there is a built-in utility that will perform this task. Back up the data on your computer that you want to save, if necessary. Insert the CD that you created into the computer that is attached to the hard drive you wish to erase. Power on the computer and choose the setup option to boot from the CD. Once you have booted from the CD, you will enter into the hard disk wipe utility. Depending on which utility you chose to use, this screen will vary, but the choice you want to select is to erase or wipe a disk drive. Choose the hard disk that you wish to wipe and confirm that you wish to permanently erase the data on it. Before confirming this, you may wish to physically double check and ensure that you are erasing the correct drive. Once you start the erasing process, it cannot be halted, paused or reversed. You will have to wait for anywhere from a few hours to even a few days for the process to complete, depending on how large your hard drive is.

Hope this helps.

Instructions

1. • 1

     Open the system drive, usually titled "Macintosh HD." Open Applications, then Utilities and double click the "Disk Utility" program to open it. A window will open giving a list of all the drives currently mounted on the computer.
     

   • 2

     Select the disk that needs to be formatted on the left. It is not possible to format the startup disk unless the system has booted from the Install Disk. It is important to note that formatting the startup disk will permanently erase the data stored on the disk. If you are planning on erasing the startup disk, back up all important files and applications.
     

   • 3

     Click on the "Erase" tab to the right of the list of drives. The window will now display the options for erasing the hard drive and formatting it to work on the Macintosh computer.
     

   • 4

     Select the Volume Format from the pop-up list. In most cases it's best to leave it at "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" as this is the default. This setting is the best option for running Mac OS X. If there are other requirements for the disk, then select the format that best suits your needs. If you have questions about the formats, refer to the Apple user's manual.
     

   • 5

     Name the hard drive. Type a name for the disk in the field where it asks for the name. This name will always appear when the disk is mounted on a Macintosh computer.
     

   • 6

     Click the erase button. A window will open asking to verify the erase procedure. Click the erase button in this window to start the process of erasing the disk. Once the process is complete, the drive will appear with the name it was given on the left side of the window with the list of drives and on the desktop of the Macintosh computer.
     

Note: I'm assuming you have a working mac; if you don't, then post back to this solution with that information.

1. Connect the external hard drive to your mac.

2. Open the system drive, usually titled "Macintosh HD." Open Applications, then Utilities and double click the "Disk Utility" program to open it. A window will open giving a list of all the drives currently mounted on the computer.

3. Select the external hard drive that needs to be formatted on the left.
4. Click on the "Erase" tab to the right of the list of drives. The window will now display the options for erasing the hard drive and formatting it to work on the Macintosh computer.
5. Select the Volume Format from the pop-up list. In most cases it's best to leave it at "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" as this is the default. This setting is the best option for running Mac OS X.
6. Name the hard drive. Type a name for the disk in the field where it asks for the name. This name will always appear when the disk is mounted on a Macintosh computer.
7. Click the erase button. A window will open asking to verify the erase procedure. Click the erase button in this window to start the process of erasing the disk. Once the process is complete, the drive will appear with the name it was given on the left side of the window with the list of drives and on the desktop of the Macintosh computer.

Good luck, please post back to this solution if you have any difficulties, and thanks for using FixYa.

Get an install disk for the operating system you wish to install (Make sure your computer is able to handle that operating system first), then put the disk in and boot to the disk. If your computer is not set up to boot to disk first then you will have to go into the BIOS, usually F2 of F12 on boot (whatever says press to enter setup), then change the boot settings from there.

Once you are inside the installer for that Operating System, it will give you an option to erase the hard drive you are wanting to install the operating system on, and restart new. Just so you are aware, this will reformat and ERASE EVERYTHING on that hard drive, so make sure that you have anything you want saved backed up somewhere else.

Once that is done, continue installing the operating system and then your hard drive will be erased, and the operating system will be reinstalled.

If you were just looking to erase a hard drive, then you can go to my computer, then right-click the hard drive you want to erase, then click format. THIS WILL ERASE EVERYTHING!

Hope this helps!

If you aren't sure what you're doing, bring it to a service tech or you may render that external hard drive completely useless:
Before you start cleaning make sure you back everything up onto another disk. If you are giving your computer away check with the person or organization to see if they plan on cleaning your hard drive for you. However, the best thing to do is to clean it yourself.
Download a hard drive cleaning program or go to a computer store that sells computer software and buy the program. This is the safest way to make sure the hard drive is all wiped clean. Running the software program over writes all the data on your drive, making the hard drive impossible for anyone to read. The software works by over writing the drive many times.
Make sure you give yourself plenty of time in wiping your hard drive clean because if you have a lot of stuff it will take longer to clean.
Once your running your program and the box comes up to erase your hard drive don't forget that this process is irreversible. You will now type in the word format drive letter and hit confirm that you want to erase everything on your computer.
Installing a new external hard drive if you are not getting rid of your computer, is another option you have. You still go about erasing the old drive because you're getting rid of your hard drive. Install the new one.

To Erase everything on the drive you can format it. To do this, plug it in, then go to 'my computer' Right click on the drive, and select 'format'. BE AWARE, THIS WILL COMPLETELY ERASE EVERYTHING ON THE DISK! So make sure that there is nothing that you want to keep on there.

Boot up the laptop as normal. Then insert the install disc.
The disc will mount and a window will open to show the install icon.
double click on this. The computer will prompt to restart. Do so.
DO NOT HOLD DOWN THE 'C' KEY. The laptop will boot from the install disc. After selecting the prefered language, select 'Disc Utilitiy' from the 'Utilities' menu on the top tool bar. Choose the laptop hard drive in 'Disc Utility' and select 'Erase'. If you are passing the laptop onto another person, choose the 7 pass erase from the secutity options to completely over-write the hard drive. This will make all your data un-recoverable and keep your personal details secure. (Normal erase only destroys the index on the drive. Your data is still there and can be recovered).