到了出售计算机的时候，您会想要彻底擦除硬盘驱动器。毕竟，您不想留下任何其他方可以利用的个人或工作相关数据或文件。在这篇文章中，我们将向您展示如何永久删除存储在 PC 上的所有数据。
删除与擦除数据
任何人都可以删除数据。将物品移到垃圾箱(Trash Bin)并不难。但这与擦除数据不同。可以通过文件恢复程序(recovery program)或专用硬件来恢复已删除的文件。在出售前格式化硬盘是一种很好的做法，但即使这样也不足以完全擦除数据。
也就是说，您需要确保在继续之前要擦除硬盘驱动器。该过程完成后，您将无法再恢复擦除的数据。
擦除您的数据
按照以下说明擦除 Windows 或Mac 计算机上(Mac computer)的数据。我们建议使用操作系统(operating system)中的内置工具以及第三方数据销毁软件(destruction software)，以确保完整和永久地删除数据。
第一步：做一些准备工作
在开始之前，您需要为硬盘清理(drive cleanup)做准备。这里有一些你需要的东西。
数据销毁软件(Data Destruction Software)
您需要下载适用于Mac 或 Windows的(Mac or Windows)数据擦除程序(data wiping program)。一些清理软件(sanitization software)只能擦除硬盘驱动器，而不能擦除SSD(SSDs)（固态驱动器）。如果您要擦除整个计算机，您还应该寻找可以在闪存驱动器等可引导驱动器上运行的软件。
以下是我们对 Windows 的建议：
MiniTool 分区向导(MiniTool Partition Wizard) (MiniTool Partition Wizard )- 该程序的免费版本允许您擦除磁盘并为您提供多个选项，包括超级安全的DOD 选项(DOD option)。
Disk Wipe – 一个免费的便携式应用程序，具有多种不同的算法来安全地擦除数据。
DBAN – 这是一款几乎每个网站都会推荐的软件，因此也值得一试。他们确实试图向您推销他们的付费计划，但除非您是间谍或政府特工(government agent)，否则您并不真正需要它。
如果您是Mac 用户(Mac user)，我们有以下建议：
Active@ KillDisk for Mac – 免费版本允许您使用 One Pass Zeros数据擦除标准擦除驱动器。如果您需要更安全的方法，包括DoD 选项(DoD option)，您必须购买该应用程序。
对于OS X用户，您应该尝试使用内置的磁盘工具(Disk Utility)来安全地擦除您的Mac硬盘驱动器。我们将在下面的步骤 2a(Step 2a)中讨论这一点。
数据备份(Data Backup)
不用说，在继续之前备份所有重要文件。您可以将所有数据复制粘贴到您正在擦除的驱动器之外的临时位置。
探索您的备份选项。在Windows 10中，转到Windows 设置(Windows
Settings)>更新和安全(Update & Security)
>备份(Backup)。在这里，您会找到几个备份文件的选项。
产品信息(Product Information)
请务必准备好所有产品信息(product information on-hand)。例如，确保您保护Windows的产品密钥。如果您要在另一台机器上重新安装软件，您将需要这些。
可启动磁盘(Bootable Disk)
您将需要一个专用的USB 驱动器(USB drive)来存放您的数据销毁软件(destruction software)。如果您将其擦除干净，您将无法从计算机上运行应用程序。这就是您需要将程序保存在外部驱动器上的原因。将其保存在 CD 上也可以。
大多数清理程序都保存为ISO 映像(ISO image)文件。简单地(Simply)复制粘贴ISO 文件(ISO file)是行不通的。如果不确定如何继续，请阅读我们的指南，了解如何将ISO 文件刻录到 CD 或闪存驱动器。(ISO file)
第 2 步：首先进行 Windows 重置
转到Windows 设置(Windows Settings)>更新和恢复(Update & Recovery)>恢复(Recovery)。在“重置这台电脑(Reset This PC)”下，单击“开始使用”(Get
Started)。
然后您将被要求选择一个选项。您可以保留所有文件或删除所有文件。单击(Click) 删除所有内容(Remove Everything)。
Windows 将继续删除您的所有文件。此外，如果您遇到上述步骤的问题，请查看我们重置 Windows 10(guide to resetting Windows 10)的分步指南。
注意：(Note:)如果询问您是否不仅要删除文件还要清理驱动器，请选择Remove Files and Clean the Drive。
步骤 2a：在 Mac 上使用磁盘工具
擦除Mac硬盘的步骤非常简单。
首先，关闭您的Mac。然后按键盘上的CMD和R键。按住按键的同时，重新打开Mac。
一直按住它，直到看到Apple 标志(Apple logo)和加载屏幕(loading screen)。放手，等你看到MacOS Utilities屏幕。
继续并选择磁盘工具(Disk Utility)，然后单击继续(Continue)。您将在左侧窗格中看到所有驱动器的列表。选择要擦除的顶级磁盘以将其选中，然后单击擦除(Erase)。
如果您要擦除内部SSD，您只需选择格式（通常是APFS或Mac OS Extended Journaled）和方案（几乎总是GUID Partition Map）。
如果您要擦除其他任何内容，您还会看到一个名为Security Options的按钮。
在这里，您将看到一个从最快(Fastest )到最安全(Most Secure)的滑块。最安全的方法(Secure method)将花费更长的时间，但会安全地擦除数据。
第 3 步：运行数据擦除程序
每个程序的运行方式都不同，但大多数程序都带有易于遵循的说明。您可能需要重新启动计算机才能运行该程序。插入(Insert)CD 或闪存驱动器，然后重新启动 PC。当它重新启动时，您的 PC 应该允许您访问数据销毁软件(destruction software)。
如果您在加载程序时遇到问题，您可能需要对
BIOS设置进行一些更改。
要访问 BIOS，请转至Windows 设置(Windows Settings)>更新和安全(Update and Security)>恢复(Recovery)。在高级启动(Advanced Startup)下，单击立即重新启动(Restart
Now)。
在下一个屏幕上，转到疑难解答(Troubleshoot)>高级选项(Advanced Options)>选择 UEFI 设置(Select UEFI Settings)>重新启动(Restart)。这将在系统重新启动后打开BIOS 。
BIOS 界面(BIOS interface)会因您使用的主板而异。但是，所有BIOS都允许您更改引导顺序。编辑顺序以优先考虑CD/DVD或可移动设备。这将让您的计算机分别运行您的 CD 或闪存驱动器的内容。
第 4 步(Step 4)：物理擦除硬盘驱动器(Hard Drive)（可选）
如果没有再次使用硬盘的计划，您应该考虑对其进行物理擦除。您可以使用稀土金属来(earth metal)做到这一点。其他人则通过在处置整个设备之前将其拧开来拆卸驱动器。
Wiping a Hard Drive in 4 Easy Steps
When it’s time to sell your computer, you’ll want to wipe the hard drіve completеly. After all, you don’t want to leave any рersonal or work-relatеd data or files that other parties could exploit. In this post, we’ll show you how you can delete all the data stored on your PC permanently.
Deleting vs Wiping Data
Anyone can delete data. Moving items to the Trash Bin is not hard to do. But that’s not the same as wiping data. A deleted file can be recovered through a file recovery program or specalized hardware. Formatting a hard drive before selling is good practice but even that won’t be enough to wipe the data completely.
That said, you need to be sure that you want to wipe your hard drive before you proceed. You will no longer be able to recover the wiped data after the process is complete.
Wiping Your Data
Follow the instructions below to wipe data off your Windows or Mac computer. We recommend using the built-in tools in the operating system in addition to third-party data destruction software in order to ensure complete and permanent data deletion.
Step
1: Do some prep work
Before you begin,
you need to prepare for the hard drive cleanup. Here are some of the things you
will need.
Data Destruction Software
You will need to download a data wiping program for Mac or Windows. Some sanitization software can only wipe hard drives but not SSDs (solid state drives). You should also look for software that can work on bootable drives like flash drives if you’re wiping the entire computer.
Here are our recommendations for Windows:
MiniTool Partition Wizard – The free version of the program allows you to wipe a disk and gives you several options, including a super secure DOD option.
Disk Wipe – A free, portable application with several different algorithms to securely wipe data.
DBAN – This is one piece of software pretty much every website is going to be suggesting, so it’s also worth trying. They really try to up-sell you to their paid program, but you don’t really need it unless you’re a spy or a government agent.
If you’re a Mac user, we have the following recommendations:
Active@ KillDisk for Mac – The free version allows you to wipe a drive using the One Pass Zeros data wiping standard. If you need more secure methods, including the DoD option, you’ll have to purchase the app.
For OS X users, you should try to use the built-in Disk Utility to securely wipe your Mac hard drive. We talk about that down below in Step 2a.
Data Backup
Needless to say,
back up all important files before you proceed. You can copy-paste all your
data to a temporary location outside of the drive you’re wiping.
Explore your
backup options. In Windows 10, go to Windows
Settings > Update & Security
> Backup. Here you’ll find
several options for backing up your files.
Product Information
Be sure to have all your product information on-hand. Make sure you secure product keys for Windows, for example. You will need those if you’ll be reinstalling software on another machine down the line.
Bootable Disk
You will need a dedicated USB drive for your data destruction software. You won’t be able to run an application from your computer if you’re wiping it clean. That’s why you need to save the program on an external drive. Saving it on a CD would also work.
Most sanitization programs are saved as an ISO image file. Simply copy-pasting the ISO file wouldn’t work. Read our guide on how to burn an ISO file to a CD or flash drive if unsure how to continue.
Step 2: Do a Windows Reset First
Go to Windows Settings > Update & Recovery > Recovery. Under Reset This PC, click Get
Started.
You will then be
asked to choose an option. You can either keep all your files or remove
everything. Click Remove Everything.
Windows will proceed to delete all your files. Also, check out our step by step guide to resetting Windows 10 in case you run into issues with the steps above.
Note: If asked whether you’d like to not only remove files but also clean the drives, select Remove Files and Clean the Drive.
Step 2a: Use Disk Utility on a Mac
The steps for wiping your Mac hard drive are pretty straight forward.
First, shutdown your Mac. Then press the CMD and R keys on your keyboard. While holding down the keys, turn your Mac back on.
Keeping holding it down until you see the Apple logo and a loading screen. Let go and wait till you see the MacOS Utilities screen.
Go ahead and select Disk Utility and then click Continue. You’ll see a list of all the drives in the left-hand pane. Select the top-level disk you want to wipe to select it and then click Erase.
If you’re erasing the internal SSD, you’ll need to just select the format (normally APFS or Mac OS Extended Journaled) and scheme (almost always GUID Partition Map).
If you’re erasing anything else, you’ll also see a button called Security Options.
Here you will be presented with a slider that goes from Fastest to Most Secure. The Most Secure method will take much longer, but will securely wipe the data.
Step 3: Run the Data Wiping Program
Each program runs
differently but most come with easy-to-follow instructions. You will likely
need to reboot your computer to run the program. Insert the CD or flash drive
and then restart your PC. As it restarts, your PC should give you access to the
data destruction software.
If you’re having
trouble loading the program, you’ll likely need to make some changes in your
BIOS settings.
To access BIOS,
go to Windows Settings > Update and Security > Recovery. Under Advanced Startup, click Restart
Now.
On the next
screen, go to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Select UEFI Settings > Restart. This will open BIOS after the
system reboots.
The BIOS interface will vary depending on what motherboard you use. However, all BIOS will allow you to change the boot order. Edit the order to prioritize CD/DVD or removable devices. This will let your computer run the content of your CD or flash drive respectively.
Step 4: Physically Wipe the Hard Drive (optional)
If there are no
plans to use the hard drive again, you should consider physically wiping it.
You can use a rare earth metal to do so. Others resort to dismantling the drive
by screwing it apart before disposing of the entire thing.
