How to Wipe Disk Using CMD [Step-by-Step Guide]

Cici updated on Jun 27, 2024 | Home >Computer Instruction

Wipe Disk Using CMD Alternative - Use EaseUS Partition Master

How to Wipe Disk Using CMD - Step-by-Step Guide 

You might need to wipe your disk when you replace your hard drive with a new one or give it away to sell. You need to do more than simply delete the files on it, but clean it completely. CMD, also known as Command Prompt, is a built-in tool for users to interact with your Windows operating system to carry out multiple tasks. There are over 280 command lines designed, including wiping the disk. 

However, the complex commands and syntax in CMD makes it hard to master for non-IT professionals. The challenges users face make it hard to achieve what they need. Thus, this article on EaseUS explores how to wipe disk using CMD and provides a more friendly and safe way for all level of users. A more user-friendly tool called EaseUS Partition Master will be introduced. Read on to fix your problem with ease. 

Wipe Disk Using CMD Alternative

There is a much simpler and more direct way for you to wipe your disk without leaving a trace. You don't have to be scared off by the complex command lines in CMD. A third-party tool, EaseUS Partition Master Professional, can help execute the task of wiping disks, whether on an internal or external hard drive. You will have a fresh experience of performing tasks with your computer as all you need to do is select and click.

Free Download 

Windows 11/10/8/7100% Secure

Compared to CMD, EaseUS Partition Master has several advantages:

  • A clear and simple interface.
  • Read your disk information, such as brand and capacity.
  • Check disk partition information. 
  • Friendly to all levels of users.
  • Quick and safe. 

Here is how you wipe data on your disk with EaseUS Partition Master:

 Warning: Wiping your disk works by overwriting the existing data with random data, often multiple times, which will make it almost impossible to recover your data. Thus, you should back up the important data before you wipe your disk.

We've set two options for you to wipe data. Choose the one you need.

Option 1.  Wipe Partition

  • Right-click the partition you want to erase data from, and choose "Wipe".
  • In the new window, set the time for which you want to wipe your partition, then click "OK".
  • Click the "Execute 1 Task(s)" button in the lower right corner, check the changes, then click "Apply".

Option 2. Wipe Disk

  • Select the HDD/SSD. And right-click to choose "Wipe Disk".
  • Set the number of times to wipe data. (You can set to 10 at most.) Then Click "OK".
  • Click "Execute 1 Task(s)" and then click "Apply".

As a tool designed for disk management, EaseUS Partition Master can execute the task of wiping disk for you effectively and efficiently. It is equipped with features to adjust your disks and partitions, such as extending, shrinking, creating, and cloning. For all levels of users, you can perform the tasks without too much hassle.

Click to see what else EaseUS Partition Master can do regarding wiping disks:

How to Wipe Disk Using CMD

In the above section, we discussed how to wipe your disk with the help of EaseUS Partition Master. If you are curious about how to wipe disks using CMD, you can continue to read the following section. We will give you detailed instructions with the exact steps you should take to wipe the disk.

💡Note: Remember to type in the exact commands to execute the task successfully. Otherwise, errors might arise and cause unexpected issues.

Share this article to help more people to wipe disks using CMD.

 

If you need to wipe an external one, insert your disk onto your computer in advance. Then, follow the steps below to wipe your disk using CMD:

Step 1. Search for Command Prompt from the Start Menu. Click "Run as administrator".

run cmd

Step 2. In the command window, type diskpart and press Enter. Click to learn more about how to use Diskpart

run diskpart

Step 3. Type list disk and press Enter. You will see a list of disks appear in a text format.

list disk

Step 4. Type Select disk x (x represents the letter drive of your disk for wiping) and hit Enter.

sekect disk

💡Note: Diskpart Clean will permanently erase all data on your selected drive. Please be certain you select the right disk.

Step 5. Type clean all and hit Enter to wipe your disk.

clean all

💡Note: Once you press Enter, your drive will be erased without warning.

Step 6. Wait until you see the message "Diskaprt succeeded in cleaning the disk". Type exit when the process completes.

This is how you wipe your disk using CMD. Using CMD requires carefulness as it can only detect the right commands to execute tasks.

If you can't type commands in cmd, read the article below to get help:

related articles

How to Fix Can't Type in Command Prompt

This article explains more about this error and why it is caused. By the end of this discussion, you will also be able to learn some common fixes to resolve this issue.

fix cannot type in command prompt

Conclusion

In this article, we focused on how to wipe your disk using CMD. A step-by-step guide is provided for you to wipe your disk completely. For Windows users, using CMD to solve problems can be convenient. Nevertheless, its complex syntax and lack of user-friendliness put challenges on non-IT professionals. If you find it too challenging, you can resort to a simpler way. EaseUS Partition Master, a reliable tool in disk management, can help you wipe your disk safely and quickly.

Free Download 

Windows 11/10/8/7100% Secure

Wipe Disk Using CMD FAQs 

If you still have questions about how to wipe your disk using CMD, continue to read on. We list some frequently asked questions and answers to them in the section below.

1. Should I wipe my disk?

This depends on your specific needs. If you are getting rid of your old drive, you should wipe all the data on it to avoid identity theft and prevent information from being stolen. You definitely don't want your important data, such as financial accounts, credit reports, and personal data, to fall into the wrong hands when you sell your PC. In this sense, you should wipe your disk.

2. Can you truly wipe a hard drive?

Yes. It is possible to completely wipe a hard drive. Deleting files from a hard drive doesn't actually wipe them. Properly wiping a drive ensures the data are erased and truly gone by overwriting them with random data. This prevents anyone from recovering the deleted data. That's why you should make a backup for the data.

3. How do I delete partitions using CMD?

Here is a guide for you to delete partition in CMD:

Step 1. Open cmd and type diskpart.

Step 2. Type select disk 0 (Select the disk.)

Step 3. Type list partition.

Step 4. Type select partition x (Select the target partition on your disk).

Step 5. Type delete partition.

Step 6. Type exit.

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Updated by Cici

Cici is the junior editor of the writing team of EaseUS. She accepted the systematic training on computers at EaseUS for over one year. Now, she wrote a lot of professional articles to help people resolve the issues of hard drive corruption, computer boot errors, and disk partition problems.

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