![]() ![]() This can be done easily in Windows versions 8, 8.1, 10, and 11 for either an HDD or an SSD. If you’re just recycling, donating, or selling your PC, the Reset function makes it acceptably difficult for someone to recover your data, especially if it’s also encrypted. Reset: In most cases, wiping a PC is as simple as reformatting the disk and reinstalling Windows using the Reset function.Now that you know what kind of drive you have, there are two options for wiping your PC: Click on “Defragment and Optimize Your Drives.”.Most desktops and laptops sold in the last few years will have an SSD, but you can easily find out to be sure: How to Completely Wipe a PCįirst, you’ll need to figure out if your Windows PC has a hard disk drive (HDD) or solid state drive (SSD). Once you’re backed up, you’re ready to wipe your PC’s internal hard drive. ![]() Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, and 11 all have basic utilities you can use to create a local backup on an external hard drive that you can use to move your files to a new computer or just to have a local backup for safekeeping. If you’re not backing up an off-site copy, now is a great time to get started. And the third copy should be kept in an off-site location like the cloud. Your second copy can be kept on an external hard drive or other external media. Your first copy is the one on your computer. First Things First: Back Upīefore you break out the Louisville Slugger (or follow our simple steps below), make sure your data is backed up as part of a 3-2-1 backup strategy where you keep three copies of your data on two types of media with one off-site. But, there are much easier and more reliable, if less satisfying, ways to make sure your Windows PC is as clean as the day it left the factory. Truly, physical destruction is one way to go (more on that later). You always have the option of taking a baseball bat to the thing. Blank DVDs can get scratched and wear out over time.Are you hanging on to an old PC because you don’t know how to scrub the hard drive clean of all your personal information? Worried there’s data lurking around in there even after you empty the recycle bin? (Yes, there is.) Find out more here.Īrchive older personal files and downloads to a reliable storage format, such as a large external USB hard drive. Want some more help with managing your files? Our friendly tech team can help you with one-to-one support on a range of tech issues. We suggest you avoid removing files from locations other than your Downloads, Documents, Music, Pictures or Videos folders and your Desktop. Watch outĪccidentally deleting important system files can cause your PC to stop working properly. Click Tools > Duplicate Finder to run it.Īgain, we recommend backing up duplicates before permanently deleting anything, just in case. The free version of CCleaner includes a handy automated tool to find duplicates. Uncovering duplicate files manually can be harder. Use your own best judgment, though it’s possible to view files and folder by their age by navigating to your Documents folder, then right-clicking an empty space and selecting Sort by and then Date modified. Once you’ve installed a program you downloaded, you should no longer need the installer files on your system.Įstablishing which older documents and other personal files you can archive is more difficult. Installer files are a good example of what you can delete. This is Windows’ default storage location, but you may also have downloads on your desktop, so check there too. To get rid of downloads, open the Downloads folder (on the left in Computer/File Explorer). ![]() Tech tips you can trust - get our free Tech newsletter for advice, news, deals and stuff the manuals don’t tell you Remove old Download files Tick the categories you want to remove, then click OK > Delete Files. Right-click your main hard drive (usually the C: drive) and select Properties.Ĭlick the Disk Cleanup button and you’ll see a list of items that can be removed, including temporary files and more.įor even more options, click Clean up system files. Windows has a built-in tool (Disk Cleanup) for cleaning up hidden junk files.Ĭlick Start > File Explorer > This PC (Windows 10). ![]() Files you no longer use can be archived to an external drive, while downloads, duplicates and temporary files can be deleted altogether. Too much clutter on your hard drive not only consumes space – it means your PC has to work harder to find the files you do need. Is your PC full of old files and junk? We show you how to tidy up your hard drive ![]()
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