The process takes 20 minutes to over an hour. Your PC will restart several times and finally boot to the initial Windows setup screen (like new). If you want to erase a D: drive, external USB drive, or any storage not running Windows 11, use this method.
Right-click the drive’s volume (the blue bar) and choose Format . how to wipe hard drive windows 11
Choose Remove everything .
Open Settings (press Windows + I ).
Whether you’re selling your old PC, recycling a drive, or troubleshooting persistent software issues, securely wiping your hard drive is essential. On Windows 11, "wiping" means more than just deleting files—it means permanently erasing data and the operating system. The process takes 20 minutes to over an hour
Right-click the Start button and select Disk Management . external USB drive