Click on your hard drive and select the “Erase” tab. Select “Mac OS Extended (Journaled)” from the Format pop-up menu. Type a name for your hard disk. Click “Erase.” To ensure that your data can’t be recovered, click the “Security Options” button and select a method of deletion.
How do I wipe my Mac hard drive without erasing operating system?
You can’t erase everything without erasing OS X, but you can remove any existing user folder and its content: Open Users & Groups preferences. Click on the lock icon to authenticate. Click on the Add [-] button to create a new user account with admin status.
How do I delete everything off my Mac except OS?
Go to the Utilities window and choose Disk Utility. Choose the startup disk. Click Erase. Of the options given, choose Mac OS Extended and then click Erase.
How do I wipe my computer but keep operating system?
With the help of the recovery tool in Windows 10, you can reset your PC and wipe the drive at the same time. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery, and click Get Started under Reset this PC. You are then asked if you want to keep your files or delete everything.
What happens if you erase your Mac hard drive?
Erasing your Mac permanently deletes its files. If you want to restore your Mac to factory settings, such as to prepare it for a new owner, first learn what to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your Mac.
How do I restore my Mac to factory settings?
How to Factory Reset: MacBook
- Restart your computer: hold the power button > select Restart when it appears.
- While the computer restarts, hold down the ‘Command’ and ‘R’ keys.
- Once you see the Apple logo appear, release the ‘Command and R keys’
- When you see a Recovery Mode menu, select Disk Utility.
Does factory reset delete operating system?
A factory reset effectively destroys all data stored in the unit. Factory resets can fix many chronic performance issues (i.e. freezing), but it does not remove the device’s operating system.
Can I wipe my hard drive without removing Windows?
Windows 8- choose “Settings” from the Charm Bar> Change PC Settings> General> choose the “Get Started” option under “Remove Everything and Reinstall Windows”> Next> select which drives you want to wipe> choose whether you want to remove your files or fully clean the drive> Reset.
Does formatting a drive wipe it?
Formatting a disk does not erase the data on the disk, only the address tables. It makes it much more difficult to recover the files. … For those who accidentally reformat a hard disk, being able to recover most or all the data that was on the disk is a good thing.
How do I completely wipe my computer Windows 10?
Windows 10 has a built-in method for wiping your PC and restoring it to an ‘as new’ state. You can choose to preserve just your personal files or to erase everything, depending on what you need. Go to Start > Settings > Update & security > Recovery, click Get started and select the appropriate option.