How to Securely Wipe Your Windows 10 Computer Clean

27 May 2020 | Jetico Technical Support

How to wipe your Windows 10 computer clean? Securely wiping your computer clean is essential for anybody that wants to protect their sensitive information. Whether you want to replace or repurpose your hard drive, this step-by-step guide is made to make life easy for all Windows 10 users. Here are step-by-step instructions for Windows 11.

There are 2 methods of wiping all of the data from your computer.

Wipe everything, including the operating system.
This is the most common way of permanently removing all of the data from your PC. It’s also the logical choice if you want to dispose of or donate your computer.
Pros: This approach is faster and more straightforward. It is also the most thorough way of wiping your computer, as it leaves nothing behind.
Cons: You need to reinstall the operating system if you want to use the computer again.
Review step-by-step instructions.
Wipe everything, excluding the operating system.
If you’re repurposing your computer, but would like to keep the same operating system and continue using installed programs and applications, then this is the way to go.
Pros: There is no need to reinstall the operating system after wiping.
Cons: The process of wiping everything apart from the OS is longer than removing everything completely.
Review step-by-step instructions.

Back Up Your Data

No matter what kind of data you decide to wipe, you should begin by saving the data you want to keep elsewhere. Data can be copied to an external storage drive or a cloud service. You can also transfer data directly to another computer.

Whichever you decide to back up your data, you should also take some measures to keep your confidential information safe by using encryption. Here are 3 tips on how to choose the right kind of encryption method for you.

How to Wipe Your Windows 10 Computer Clean (Including OS)

Step 1: Getting Started

Before you begin, make sure you have installed BCWipe Total WipeOut. More information on using the software can be found here. If you don’t want to commit to buying yet, the software is also available as a free trial. Check step-by-step instructions for MacBook, SSD and NVMe.

Go to Start menu
Select ‘BCWipe Total WipeOut’
Open ‘BCWipe Total WipeOut Configuration Wizard’

BCWipe Total WipeOut start menu screenshot

Click ‘OK’ when asked for elevation

Step 2: Transfer the Software to a USB Drive

Since you will wipe the operating system from your computer, you need to put the software on to a USB drive in order to carry out the operation. See the explanation in the image below.

Select ‘Bootable USB drive’

Select bootable USB drive BCWipe TWO screenshot

Connect USB drive to your computer
Click ‘Next’

Step 3: Select Automatic Mode

In this example, we will simply use the default settings to wipe your computer.
Advanced users can see our instructional video for Manual mode.

Select ‘Automatic mode’
Click ‘Next’

Step 4: Create Log File

At this point, you can choose to create log files. Logging is important if you need a record of what has been deleted.

Select ‘Write log file to removable USB’
Click ‘Next’

Check summary
Click ‘Create’

Create bootable USB drive BCWipe TWO screenshot

Click ‘Finish’ once the process is completed

Created successfully BCWipe TWO screenshot

Step 5: Wipe Your Windows 10 Computer

The USB drive is now ready for wiping. You can now boot the system you want to erase with this USB.

Reinstall Your OS After Wiping

By following the above instructions, BCWipe Total WipeOut will wipe all of the information from your drive - including operating system, file system, information about partitions, and hidden disk areas.

If you want to use your computer again, your first priority should be to reinstall your operating system. Find here step-by-step instructions.

How to Wipe Your Windows 10 Computer Clean (Excluding OS)

The process of wiping everything apart from the OS is a little longer than removing everything completely. We have broken down the process into 5 steps, which are outlined below in detail.

Uninstall unnecessary applications and programs
Wipe files and folders
Wipe browser history
Wipe user activity
Wipe free space

Step 1: Uninstall Unnecessary Applications

Before running wiping to clean your system, best practice is to uninstall all unnecessary applications and programs from Windows Control Panel. Only be sure to keep BCWipe and any other important software programs you need.

Step 2: Delete with Wiping

For help with installing BCWipe, you can watch our how-to video. If you aren't ready to commit, the software is available as a free trial.

Once BCWipe is successfully installed, run BCWipe Task Manager as follows:

Go to Start menu
Select ‘BCWipe’
Click ‘BCWipe Task Manager’

How to Delete Files on SSD - Run BCWipe Task Manager

Now you can begin to remove all of the data from your computer.

Select 'Add task' from the lower toolbar

Screenshot of BCWipe interface highlighting how to add a task

Enable 'Delete with wiping'

Screenshot of BCWipe interface highlighting how to delete with wiping

Click 'Add file'

Screenshot of BCWipe interface highlighting how to add a file to wipe

This command gives you the option to select individual files or

If you have a list of locations to import then click on 'Import file list' and add a text file with the list of paths.
Click 'Add Folder'

Screenshot of BCWipe interface highlighting how to add folder to wipe it

This command gives you the option to select a folder for wiping by either clicking 'Browse' or typing the path in manually.

Screenshot of BCWipe interface highlighting how to add a folder or a path

You can fine-tune what is being targeted using the Include and Exclude lists. In the example above, all items will be wiped from Desktop except any executable files.

Click 'Save' to add the folder to the list once finished
Review the list of files and folders you want to permanently remove

Screenshot of BCWipe interface highlighting how to review list of folders to be removed

Step 3: Wipe Browser History

For any web browsers that will remain on your system, do not forget to wipe your Browser history. If you have uninstalled all web browsers, then you may skip to the next step.

Enable 'Wipe browser history'
Click 'Select all' to erase all browser data

Screenshot of BCWipe interface highlighting how to select all browsers

Step 4: Wipe User Activity

Even if you have uninstalled all applications from your system, the OS still stores data about your activity on that PC, for example, in the temporary files folder and the recycle bin. That's why you must now wipe user activity.

Enable 'Wipe user activity'

Click 'Select all'

Screenshot of BCWipe interface highlighting how to select all to wipe user activity

Step 5: Wipe Free Space

Do not skip this step!

Enable 'Wipe Free Space'

Select all drives on your system

Screenshot of BCWipe interface highlighting how to wipe free space

Go to 'Wiping options' tab and select 'U.S. DoD 5220.22-M(E)' from the dropdown menu – recommended for SSD drives and will ensure secure deletion of your files
Enable all other options at the 'Wiping options' tab. Optionally, enable logging.

Screenshot of BCWipe interface highlighting how to select wiping options and wiping scheme

To delay the start of the wiping process, go to the 'Schedule' and select the preferred date and time.

Click 'Save and Start' (or 'Save' if you have selected to start the wiping later). This will initiate all wiping commands configured during steps 1 to 5.

Follow the progress of the wiping task in BCWipe Task Manager. When the task is complete, you should expect to see 'Finished' in the 'Status' column.