How can you format your Windows 7 and Windows 10 computer?

I have two laptops, one with Windows 7 and one with Windows 10. I want to format both. Do not reset to factory settings, but delete all data. How does it work?

Use Windows Media Creation tool, create and format USB boot stick:

There are videos on YouTube for that. Definitely for Win7.

It's best to do this with a boot stick and then delete the respective hard drive.

Enter "cmd" in the search window, enter "format c" in DOS, then "enter"

That is the best answer from everyone here, so far! 😊

Only if the questioner wants to delete the data 100% securely, i.e. In such a way that the data can't be restored even in the professional laboratory, then he should let him know. There are also extra programs.

Usually, the normal reinstallation of Windows is already very safe because many hard disk areas are overwritten by the reinstallation.

It's not that simple… 😉 It must at least boot from a boot CD or stick.

You can't format C: during operation:

"You can't format this volume. It contains the version of Windows that is currently in use. Formatting this volume will make the computer inoperable."

If you want to format the hard drives, I would also do it safely. I'm now assuming that the devices should be passed on, right? Otherwise you could install something directly over it and clean up the hard drives during setup.

I recommend Darik's Boot and Nuke (DBAN), which is an application to safely clean a hard drive. However, the application is only intended for an HDD.

You can download the application here: https://www.heise.de/...dban-54943

It is an ISO file. You burn the ISO file onto a DVD or alternatively create a bootable USB stick. As of Windows 7, there's an option directly under Windows to burn an ISO file to a data carrier. To do this, right-click on the ISO file and select Burn disk image.

If you choose the variant with the USB stick, then download the free Rufus program: https://rufus.akeo.ie/?locale=de_DE

Open the program and click on the selection button on the right. Now select the ISO file. You should not have to change anything in the settings. So you can start the process directly.

Then boot from the created data carrier and enter the following after starting: dban libata.ignore_hpa = 1

This also overwrites hidden hard disk areas. While DBAN is running, you have an English keyboard layout. The underscore is the? Key and the equal sign is the 'key, i.e. Next to the Eszett.

Then just confirm the whole thing with Enter. After that, all existing data carriers will be displayed. Press the M key at the beginning to access the selection using the various deletion methods. I recommend PRNG Stream here. Simply select with the arrow keys and confirm with the space bar.

Then you will be returned to the overview with the available data carriers. You mark the data carriers to be cleaned with the space bar. You can also navigate between the data carriers with the arrow key. Finally, just press F10 to start the process.

After that, it is extremely unlikely that anything can be restored by a private individual. However, the whole thing takes a while.

Take a look at this article for an SSD: https://www.pcwelt.de/...81465.html

No that's not true. It is overwritten as much as it is installed and that is a few GB for a new Windows installation. If you have a 500GB disk and 10GB will be overwritten, it doesn't do much.

Yes, theoretically you are bettercallu, but my experience shows that recovery tools almost always fail if you have installed 1x Windows over them.

But the tools almost always work if you have "only formatted".

For me, they don't fail after a Windows installation

Which tool do you use?