Disk Cleaner Free Your Hard Drive Space 1 2

Summary :

This post lists top 10 free hard drive data wipe software for Windows 10/8/7/Vista/XP. If you want to completely erase all data on hard disk, SSD, external hard drive, USB, etc. on Windows 10/8/7/Vista/XP PC, so as to prevent private data from leaking, you can check the tutorial below.

BleachBit is a free and well-known utility for cleaning junk files from your computer. There are two ways to wipe free space using BleachBit. The first is to click the top left Options menu, select 'Wipe Free Space' and choose a folder on the drive. The second method is to check 'Free disk space' from the System category and click the.

1. Stop wasting disk space on unneeded files leftover from uninstalled apps, temporary internet files, old mail attachments, and others you didn't know about. Let Disk Cleaner free up your hard drive space! ≈ 1-Click to Clean ≈ Application Caches Application Logs Browser Data Mail Downloads Downloads Trash iTunes Downloads Large Files 100.
2. Usually, there is, so go ahead and delete your old files and free up some space. Alternatively, you can simply transfer files to external drives, DVDs, or cloud storage solutions like Dropbox and iCloud. Take a look at our How to Clean Your Startup Disk (10 Ways). Inside we have lots of practical advice for macOS users who want a clean drive.

Brief Introduction of Data Wiping and Deleting

Deleting all the data on your hard drive doesn't mean the data is no longer existed. They are still located on the hard drive. It just deletes the reference of the data in the allocation table and you can't find it.

By using some data recovery software, you can recover the deleted data and files. Even if you overwrite some new data to the hard drive, some data may still be able to be recovered if the new data doesn't occupy the entire cluster space of the old data. Some data may be retrievable from slack space.

Bundle for iwork 5 1. If you want to completely wipe hard drive and make the data gone forever and unrecoverable, you can use the hard drive wipe software to remove the data on hard disk permanently.

There are some circumstances you may seek for a piece of free hard drive wipe software. For instance, if you'd like to change a new computer and sell the old one, you may think of completely wiping the whole hard drive of the old computer in case your personal data are wrongly used by other people. Still, before you dispose your old external hard drives or USB flash drives, you may also recur to free hard drive eraser software to erase data on them.

This post lists top 10 hard drive data wiping software for Windows 10/8/7/Vista/XP to let you wipe PC hard disk drive, SSD, external hard drive, USB, etc. Therefore, you can keep your privacy safe.

Top 10 Hard Drive/Disk Data Wipe/Erase Software for Windows 10/8/7/Vista/XP

#1 MiniTool Partition Wizard

MiniTool Partition Wizard is an all-in-one disk partition manager. It combines many powerful functions into one tool, e.g. wipe disk/partition/volume, create/resize/extend/format drive partition, recover data/partition, clone disk, migrate OS to SSD/HD, convert disk, and more.

It allows you to manage your computer hard disk (basic or dynamic), SSD, external hard drive, USB flash drive, thumb drive, SD card, hardware RAID, etc. from every aspect.

You can utilize this free hard drive wipe software for Windows 10/8/7 to completely erase all data on PC hard drive, external hard drive, USB, etc. just in a few clicks. Check the 4 simple steps below.

How to completely wipe hard drive/disk data in Windows 10/8/7/Vista/XP PC

Firstly, download and install this 100% clean and free disk wipe software – MiniTool Partition Wizard – on Windows 10/8/7, etc.

Step 1. Launch the free disk wipe software

You can double click MiniTool Partition Wizard icon on computer screen to run this program. And this software will auto load all drives in your computer.

Step 2. Choose Wipe Disk option

Click the target disk which needs data wiping, and click Clean Disk – Wipe Disk from the left action panel. Or you can right-click the target disk and choose Wipe Disk.

Step 3. Select hard drive wiping method

In the popup window, this free hard drive wipe software offers 5 kinds of disk erasing methods. You can choose one based on your own need. The longer time it takes, the hard drive data will be cleaned more thoroughly.

Step 4. Start wiping all data from PC drive

You can now preview this disk, it becomes all unallocated now. At last, you should hit Apply button on the top-left of this program to carry out the pending operations.

This hard drive data eraser software will start to wipe all data from Windows 10/8/7/Vista/XP hard drive now. And the wiped data cannot be recovered by any data recovery programs any more. Your private data is safe.

How to wipe external hard drive, USB drive permanently in Windows (10)

Step 1. Connect the external hard drive, USB flash drive or SD card to your Windows (10) computer. And launch MiniTool Partition Wizard.

If you don't find the target external drive you want to erase data from, you can click General > Reload Disk to check again. (Related: External Hard Drive Not Showing Up Fixed)

Step 2. Select the connected external drive and click Wipe Disk option.

Then follow the same 3, 4 step above to completely erase external hard drives in Windows 10/8/7.

Key features of MiniTool Partition Wizard Pro Ultimate:

• Wipe computer/external drive: Support advanced data wiping algorithms. You can use it to wipe whole disk, or wipe separate partitions. It supports all popular file systems.
• Data recovery: Recover selected data or files from local drive, externa hard drive, USB, SD card, lost partition, unallocated space, etc.
• Manage basic disk: Migrate OS to new HD or SSD, recover lost partition, delete all partitions, copy/clone disk drives, rebuild MBR, disk surface test, etc.
• Manage dynamic disk: Wipe/format/create/delete/resize/move/copy volume, change volume cluster size, letter, label, etc.
• Convert hard disk: Convert GPT disk to MBR disk, convert FAT to NTFS or in reverse, convert dynamic disk to basic disk, initialize to MBR/GPT disk, etc.
• Manage hard drive partition: Wipe/format/resize/extend/create/delete/merge/split/move partition, change drive letter, partition label, cluster size, serial number, type ID, etc.
• Bootable media builder: You can create bootable media with it and use the bootable version to wipe hard drive data without losing operating system. And fix computer unbootable issue.
• Space analyzer: Scan and analyze hard disk space and freely delete space-consuming files or folders.
• Disk benchmark:Test hard drive read and write speed and its performance.

#2 DBAN

Another popular free and open source hard drive data wipe software is DBAN. Darik's Boot and Nuke (DBAN) is designed for completely wiping the entire drive permanently. You can choose different wiping ways to erase data from various kinds of drives in Window 10/8/7. It also supports several advanced algorithms like DoD 5220.22-M, random data.

However, you need to burn the ISO image of this software to a USB or DVD/CD with a DVD burning software, and then run it from external hard drive when restarting Windows.

#3 Disk Wipe

Disk Wipe is also a top data removal tool. Unlike MiniTool Partition Wizard Pro Ultimate or DBAN which allows you to create a bootable CD/DVD, so that you can use them to wipe personal hard drive data without operating system.

Disk Wipe is a windows app, so you can only run this tool in the existing Windows operating system. You cannot use it to wipe hard drive which runs the current operating system. But you can use it to erase internal drive or SSD, external hard drives.

#4 KillDisk

It is also a top free hard drive wipe tool for Window 10/8/7. It has free version and advanced version. Its free version only has one type of hard drive erasing solution, namely, erase hard drive with one pass zeros. If you want to try other ways to wipe hard drive, you need to pay for the professional version.

#5 CCleaner

This cool Windows (10) PC wipe tool also allows you to wipe computer or external drives. You can use it to wipe data from free space on hard drive or wipe the entire drive. Advanced version also needs to pay.

#6 PCDiskEraser

This free disk wiping software enables you to permanently erase all data in the hard drive. It also uses some professional data erasing standards like U.S. Department of Defense 5220.22. The downside of this tool is that it is also downloaded as an ISO file, and you need to burn it to a disk or USB before you can use it.

#7 CBL Data Shredder

You can either use this hard drive wipe freeware in Windows 10/8/7 to wipe external hard drive clean, or boot from it via USB or CD/DVD to erase computer hard drive with OS.

Aside from the provided data sanitization methods, you are also allowed to create custom erasure method.

#8 Eraser

This free hard drive data destruction software provides 10 popular data erasure solutions for your choice.

This handy tool also only runs within Windows, so you can't use it to wipe computer hard drive which runs the OS. It is compatible with Windows XP-10.

#9 Super File Shredder

This free disk wipe software enables you to drag and drop the hard drive into the program, and then choose one data wiping way to completely destruct the data. This file shredding tool supports traditional hard drives, solid state drives, and can work on Windows 10/8/7.

#10 WipeDisk

This hard drive erasure software offers you several data wipe solutions: DoD 5220.22-M, Gutmann, Random Data, Write Zero, etc. You can freely choose to wipe data from free space or all files in the hard drive with this top file eraser. Windows 10 is supported.

Other Free Ways to Wipe Windows 10/8/7 PC Hard Drive

Some of you may think of using Windows own free disk manager Diskpart Utility, Disk Manager to try to erase the entire hard drive.

You can open Windows Disk Manager by pressing Windows and R keys on the keyboard at the same time, and then input diskmgmt.msc. In the Disk Manager window, right-click the disk you'd like to wipe clean and click Format. You can also use Windows Diskpart tool to clean all data on selected hard drive.

However, formatting or cleaning up disk doesn't mean wiping data for good. You can check below the differences between formatting and wiping a hard drive.

What's the Difference between Formatting and Wiping a Hard Drive?

The first and most importance difference of formatting and wiping a hard drive is: the data in the formatted hard drive can be recovered with some file recovery software, while data in the erased hard drive can't be restored.

Disk formatting:

Formatting a hard drive is the process of initializing the hard drive, SSD, USB drive. The formatting process often include: low-level formatting (basic medium preparation), partitioning (make the storage device visible to OS), and high-level formatting (generate a new file system). Formatting a drive generally leaves all data on the disk, and you can use some data recovery tools to get the data back if the drive is not overwritten. If you want to avoid the recovery of your private sensitive data, you can use one of top 10 free hard drive data wipe software to permanently erase the data.

Disk wipe:

Also known as data erasure or data sanitization technique. It is the real permanent data removal process and it's impossible to retrieve data from a wiped disk. Data wiping aims to completely destroy all data from the hard drive or other storage devices. It uses zeros and ones to overwrite data to fill into all hard disk sectors. Through this overwriting, the old data on the hard drive is unrecoverable any more. Most of the hard drive wiping software listed above allows you to select a specific wiping standard based on your own needs, and lets you remove all data from the device.

How to Destroy a Hard Drive

If you think the completely hard drive data wiping is not enough, and you still worry about your privacy, then you may turn to the last draw: destroy the old hard drive permanently with professional hard drive destruction tools before disposing it.

You may try these hard drive destroy solutions: destroy the magnetic platter inside, use screwdriver to remove and destroy most parts of the hard disk, or use a hammer to totally destroy the hard drive.

How to Clean Hard Drive with Best Free Hard Drive Cleaner

If your hard drive is running out of space, and you only want to free up some space, then wiping the hard drive is not your choice.

A professional hard drive space analyzer and cleaner would help. MiniTool Partition Wizard new function – Space Analyzer – helps you easily scan the disk or specific partition to figure out which files occupy most space and allows you to directly delete unneeded large files. You can also use it to easily extend the C drive.

Check the related guides:

How to Recover Data from Hard Disk, External Hard Drive, USB, etc.

Once you wipe the hard drive with professional hard drive data eraser, the hard drive will leave no traces of the old data.

However, if you mistakenly delete some files and empty the Recycle Bin or format the drive, you can easily recover the deleted or lost data with MiniTool Partition Wizard Pro Ultimate.

This program equips two hard drive data recovery functions: data recovery, partition recovery. Here we'll introduce how to recover deleted or lost data from computer hard drive, SSD, external hard drive, USB stick, etc.

Get MiniTool Partition Wizard Pro Ultimate below and install it on your Windows 10/8/7 computer. If you'd like to recover files from external drives, you need to connect it with your computer first.

Step 1. Launch this best data recovery software, and click Data Recovery function in the toolbar.

Step 2. Choose which device you'd like to recover files from. And click Scan. Optionally you can click Settings to choose to scan specific types of files.

Step 3. This software will begin scanning the chosen hard drive or partition, and display the recovered files in the plate.

Step 4. Find the files you need and click Save icon to store them to a new drive.

Conclusion

By browsing the top 10 free hard drive data wipe software, hope you find your desired way to completely erase the entire Windows (10) computer hard drive, SSD, external hard drive, USB/thumb drive, SD card, etc.

Need to mention that the all-in-one disk wipe software for Windows 10/8/7 – MiniTool Partition Wizard Pro Ultimate – is also an easy-to-use data recovery program. You can also use it recover deleted/lost data or partitions with ease.

If you still have questions about how to completely destroy data in hard drive for protecting privacy, or have other suggestions about MiniTool software, please visit Help or FAQ page or contact [email protected].

Summary :

If your Windows 10 is running on low disk space, you are likely to find the most suitable solution here for Disk cleanup Windows 10. Here 9 solutions are listed. Read and try them out!

Before trying the nine ways to clean up disk space, you can try Disk Cleanup first. What Disk Cleanup is? What does Disk Cleanup do? It is a maintenance tool that scans your computer's hard drive for files that you don't need. When your Windows 10 is running on low disk space, you can utilize the tool. But if it does little help, you are likely to find the most suitable solution here for Disk cleanup Windows 10.

Fix #1: Upgrade Hard Drive

Sounds wired? We will explain. Although there are several solutions (Fix #2-9) that help computer cleanup, the allocated free space is limited to a great extent. In fact, the best way is to upgrade hard drive to a larger one. To transfer Windows 10 as well as all data on the hard drive, MiniTool Partition Wizard Free is recommended here for its two useful features:

• 'Migrate OS to SSD/HD' helps migrate Windows 10 to another hard drive like an SSD.
• 'Copy Disk' helps clone the whole system disk to another hard drive that offers larger capacity.

Take 'Copy Disk' feature for example. First of all press the button below to get this free partition manager.

Step 1: Connect the larger SSD/HD that you want to use as the new system disk to your PC. Ensure it is successfully detected by Windows and can be formatted.

Step 2: In the main interface of MiniTool Partition Wizard Free, you can see that the system disk is selected by default. Please select 'Copy Disk' from the action panel.

Step 3: In the next pop-up window, select the new connected SSD/HD as the target disk.

Step 4: Accept the default copy options or make some changes. Be aware that the last option 'Use GUID Partition Table for the target disk' is a paid feature that helps clone MBR system disk to GPT.

Step 5: You will be reminded to configure computer BIOS settings so as to boot from the new disk. Click 'Finish' then. Press 'Apply' button on the menu bar to start the copy. MiniTool Partition Wizard needs a restart to finish the job.

When MiniTool Partition Wizard completes, you can set your PC to boot from the larger hard drive. In addition, you can further configure your hard drives using this free partition manager.

But if you do not have a larger hard drive or you do not have the plan to buy a new drive, we still have the best options for you. How to clean your computer Windows 10? We just keep reading.

Fix #2: Empty Recycle Bin

Files we delete usually go to the Recycle Bin if not permanently deleted. If you do not clean the Recycle Bin for a long time, there can be a large number of unwanted files. So the first trying we think is to empty the Recycle Bin. Right-click the Recycle Bin on Windows 10 desktop and choose 'Empty Recycle Bin' from the context menu, thus helping disk cleanup Windows 10.

Fix #3: Disk Cleanup

Windows Disk Cleanup is a hard drive cleaner commonly used by advanced users to remove unnecessary files, including system files, system restore and shadow copies, which can help users to regain free space. To use Disk Cleanup utility in Windows 10, follow these steps:

Step 1: At Cortana search box, type 'disk cleanup' and choose 'Disk Clean-up' from the best match. Chief architect premier x10 20 2 2 3.

Step 2: In the pop-up window, the system drive is selected by default. Usually, only the C drive contains the unnecessary files. Click 'OK' to continue.

Step 3: After several minutes' calculating, you will see how much disk space you can get in total by deleting all files listed in the box, including:

• Windows Upgrade Log Files.
• Setup Log File.
• Downloaded Program Files.
• Temporary Internet Files.
• System archived/queued Windows Error Reporting.
• Delivery Optimization Files.
• Recycle Bin.
• Temporary Windows Installation Files.
• Previous Windows installation(s).

Select the file types you want to remove and click 'OK'.

Step 4: Confirm that you want to permanently delete theses files.

Fix #4: Enable Storage Sense

Storage Sense is an optional feature that can delete temporary files, files in the Recycle Bin for more than 30 days, files in the download folder that haven't changed in 30 days, as well as the previous version of Windows 10 after an upgrade. If your Windows 10 is running on low space, enabling Storage Sense helps free up disk space Windows 10.

Follow the steps below to enable and set up Storage Sense:

Step 1: Click Windows 10 Start menu and open Settings. Then click on 'System' and 'Storage'.

Step 2: Under 'Storage sense,' click on 'Change how we free up space'.

Fractured empire 1 0 – 3d turn based strategy wargame. Step 3: Under 'Temporary files,' check the files you want to delete, including:

• Delete temporary files that my apps aren't using.
• Delete files that have been in the recycle bin for over 30 days.
• Delete files in the Downloads folder that haven't changed in 30 days.

Then under 'Free up space now,' you can also select 'Delete the previous versions of Windows'. However, note that this option is only available during the first 10 days after installing a new update. Finally, click 'Clean now' button for Windows 10 cleanup.

Fix #5: Uninstall Apps You Never Use

To make disk cleanup Windows 10, scan your applications and remove the ones that you don't use is helpful. For example, you can uninstall those that came preinstalled with your computer or the ones that you installed for one-time problem-solving usage.

Step 1: Open Windows 10 control panel and click 'Uninstall a program'.

Step 2: Select the unwanted app or game, and click the 'Uninstall' button.

Step 5: Repeat the same instructions to remove more games and apps that you don't need anymore.

Fix #6: Use OneDrive Files on Demand Feature

OneDrive Files on Demand is a new feature introduced to Windows 10 with the Fall Creators Update, which allows you to access your files saved in OneDrive by scanning Windows 10 File Explorer instead of having to save them in local storage and synchronize them in the cloud.

If PC is running out of space, use Files on Demand to upload and keep your files in OneDrive and download them only when you need them.

First Move: Enable OneDrive Files on Demand Feature

Step 1: Right-click the OneDrive cloud icon in the notification area, and select 'Settings'.

Step 2: In the pop-up window, navigate to the 'Settings' tab. Then check the 'Save space and download files as you use them' under 'Files on Demand' to enable this feature. Finally, click 'OK'.

Second Move: Free up Disk Space

Now you can move your files to the OneDrive folder and make them available only online to free up disk space Windows 10.

Step 1: Open your OneDrive folder.

Step 2: Select the files and folders to keep only in the cloud. Then right-click the selection and choose 'Clear space'.

When finished, the icon under each file changed to a white cloud. You will be able to access them in File Explorer when there is network connection. To free up more disk space, you can move some files saved in the default folders to the OneDrive folder, and then repeat the above steps to free up disk space Windows 10.

It's worth mentioning that you can only save up to 5GB files if you are using the free version of OneDrive.

Fix #7. Use Compact OS

Compact OS is Microsoft's newest take on Windows 10. It decreases the operating system's size and enables you to run the operating system from compressed files. It also reduces the footprint of Windows apps. For Windows 10 cleanup, you can reclaim 2GB around disk space enabling Compact OS.

Step 1. Run Command Prompt as administrator and allow its changes to your PC.

Step 2. Type the following command to compress the Windows 10 and applications and press the Enter key:
Compact.exe /CompactOS:always

The whole process can take about 10 to 20 minutes, please be patient.

Fix #8. Disable Hibernation on Windows 10

Hibernation is a feature that saves the content in memory to the hard drive, thus you can shut down your device completely without losing the current session. Although Hibernation is useful, it requires several gigabytes of disk space to save the content in RAM to the hiberfil.sys file on the hard drive.

If you want to optimize the available storage on your computer, you can disable the feature for Windows 10 cleanup.

Step 1: Search for Command Prompt, right-click the result, and select Run as administrator.

Step 2: Type the following command to turn off Hibernation and press Enter:
powercfg /hibernate off

Fix #9. Move Files to External Hard Drive

How Much Hard Drive Space

Usually, for convenience, we would save files to local storage instead of an external hard drive or removable devices. However, to overcome the storage limitation, you should consider saving files to external hard drive if you're still low in capacity after trying all methods.

Vista Missing Hard Drive Space

With an external hard drive, you can move existing files on your Windows 10 to the new storage. Also, you can change the default file storage location for the new content, making more room on the main system drive.

First Move: Move Existing Files to External Hard Drive

Step 1: Connect the removable drive.

Hard Drive Space Analyzer

Step 2: Open File Explorer and then go to the location where you have files to move.

Hard Drive Space Needed

Step 3: Select the items you want to relocate and click the 'Move to' button under 'Home' (You may need to press Ctrl + F1 so as to expand the ribbon.) Then select 'Choose location…'

Step 4: In the pop-up window, select the external hard drive and click the 'Move' button.

You'll need to repeat the steps to move files on other locations to the new external drive. If you want to move all files on a specific partition, you can use 'Copy Partition' feature of MiniTool Partition Wizard Free.

Second Move: Save New Content to the New Drive

Besides, for computer cleanup, you can appoint the locations for new contents. To automatically save files to a new location, you can use these steps:

Disk Cleaner Free Your Hard Drive Space 1 2 Mod Menu

Step 1: Connect the removable drive to your PC.

Step 2: Open Settings -> System -> Storage.

Step 3: Under 'More storage settings', click 'Change where new content is saved'.

Step 4: Use the drop-down menu to select the new location that Windows 10 should use to save new files automatically for each file type.

When completes, Windows 10 and related apps will save files to the new specified location, making more room for your system drive.

Bottom Line

Reading here, we believe you have got some skills in coping with Windows 10 disk cleanup. Do you know more ways for disk cleanup Windows 10? Share your tip in the comment section. For any questions towards using MiniTool software, contact us via [email protected].