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From <a href="http://www.diskwipe.org/disk_wipe_faq.php" rel="ugc">http://www.diskwipe.org/disk_wipe_faq.php</a><br />
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&gt;&gt;&nbsp; I can't wipe the C partition, why?<br />
<br />
You cannot wipe a C partition because it is a partition where Windows operating system is installed on. So, you can not wipe a partition which you currently use to to log in into Windows and run Disk Wipe from. You should access this partition from an operating system which is installed on another partition, disk drive or computer.<br />
<br />
So you'll need to attach this drive to another computer, boot from that computer's drive and wipe your attached disk. &nbsp;There are various methods of attaching your disk to that computer from finding another connection point in that computer (eg spare SATA connection) to using an external USB drive.
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Principal Software Engineer

Dr. Klahn

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We usually do this with a bootable USB stick with a Linux or Windows PE OS on it.<br />
DBAN was originally made for this and it still works. &nbsp;But it is very old and there are many other suitable replacements.<br />
There is no need to put in another computer, but make darn sure that you want all the data erased permanently...
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skullnobrains

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Create Windows Boot USB flash drive using Windows media Creation Tool<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/software-download/windows10" rel="ugc">https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/software-download/windows10</a><br />
<br />
Start computer from drive.<br />
Go to Troubleshoot, then run Command CMD<br />
In command run:<br />
<br />
diskpart<br />
list disk<br />
select disk 0 - I asume your HDD is Drive 0<br />
clean<br />
<br />
<br />
This will clean whole disk and all partitions<br />
<br />
or you can use Reset PC option from Windows 10<br />
<br />
Here you can see tutorial<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LgHNRjiekQ" rel="ugc">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LgHNRjiekQ</a>
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may i ask why you want to wipe it?<br />
normally you &nbsp;do not need to do that - just install win 10 again, and delete the existing partitions during install<br />
here a very good guide for you : &nbsp;<a href="https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1950-clean-install-windows-10-a.html" rel="ugc">https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1950-clean-install-windows-10-a.html</a>
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Is it a SSD drive or HDD you want to wipe? Because for SSD the wipe is not used.
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@nobus: &nbsp; &nbsp;Unless you are immediately using the system for your own other purposes a wipe is recommended.<br />
<br />
@Author:<br />
If you store the PC for indeterminate other use you have no idea if it gets tossed in the bin after a few months.. still possibly providing data.<br />
NOTE: diskpart CLEAN does NOT wipe the disk, it just erases the partitioninfo: &nbsp; <br />

<blockquote>
The clean command removes any and all partition or volume formatting from the disk with focus. On master boot record (MBR) disks, only the MBR partitioning information and hidden sector information are overwritten. On GUID partition table (GPT) disks, the GPT partitioning information, including the Protective MBR, is overwritten; there is no hidden sector information. The clean command will only mark the data on the disk as deleted, and will not zero (secure erase) the disk like the clean all command below.
</blockquote>
<br />
For SSD: use encrypted disks and overwrite the key-store on the disk. &nbsp;==&gt; sufficient to loose all data. &nbsp; &nbsp;Writein the whole disk full of Zero's isn't that ease or sufficient because of the masked (unreachable) blocks needed on SDD's. &nbsp; Trying to wipe the SSD will severly shorten the life of a drive.<br />
<br />
For HDD's writing once with zero's is NOT sufficient because of remaning magnetism. A few wipes will be needed &nbsp;with all 0, all 1 alternating paterns and random pattern to &nbsp;loose the &quot;off-center-track&quot; &nbsp;magnetic data.<br />
<br />
Best:<br />
To be completely sure use a heavy hammer to break the casing &amp;&nbsp;chips (SDD) orcasing &amp;&nbsp;platters (HDD)
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@noci - why ? &nbsp;he did not say why he wants to clean it - &nbsp;so it may be not needed<br />
so i'm waiting for some feedback of the askker to provide him with the &nbsp;best advice
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General Factotum

BillDL

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Thanks for all your suggestions. &nbsp;What I’m doing is unusual but here it is:<br />
Outlook Express is, in my opinion, the best email program ever devised.<br />
I plan to use an older laptop, with an HDD, and Install Win XP and use <br />
it exclusively for sending email. &nbsp;First, I need to remove the Win 7 in order<br />
&nbsp;to install the XP.
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Deleting the partition table should be sufficient in this case. You will not need to wipe the whole disk.<br />
If you can setup the disk as encrypted device it would be helpful in a future need to erase of protect the disk.<br />
<br />
Be aware that all kinds of attacks might hijack your system it would bebest to separate admin tasks from the common user.<br />
(no admin rights for the regular user). Als besure to make backups on off-line media &nbsp;and keep several older backups for the setup.
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So if you will start installing XP from scratch from USB or CD drive you'll get option to delete all partitions and create new one
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Tom -<br />
That's what I thought in the beginning &nbsp;Unfortunately, when I try to install the<br />
XP I'm told I can't do it because there is a more recent version of Windows <br />
already installed. (the Win 7)
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<div>
OK, so please run Windows 7 or Windows 10 installation, then go to command prompt, use diskpart and fallow instruction / steps<br />
<br />
diskpart<br />
list disk<br />
select disk 0 - I assume your HDD is Drive 0<br />
clean<br />
<br />
then restart computer,, and start Windows XP installation on clean disk
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<div>
The XP disk loaded files, then said there was no hard drive. I have<br />
another Win 7 hard drive. &nbsp;I'll see how I do with that one.
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<div>
is that a sata disk? &nbsp;it can be it needs the controller driver
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<div>
Yes, nobus has right,,, If you want to load Windows XP on new hardware then you must download OEM controller drivers for SATA controller.<br />
This can be a challenge.
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best post motherboard model, then we can help better
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How about runnning a modern OS as Host and a VM guest with XP or Windows 7?<br />
(VirtualBox is a good and for singleuser free VM environmnt).<br />
<br />
At least it avoids a hunt for hardware drivers that may not exist/be vailable anymore.
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it may be much easier to look for an old - XP style era - motherboard, and use that<br />
you can oftten find these on pc markets, and older equipment
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If you do have CD with drivers from your motherboard,, open it and check if you can find drivers for older Windows version.<br />
If you can then you can try to install Windows but in process of system start you must push F6 button and navigate to drivers location.
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what mobo are you using Glen ?
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The xp installer has advanced options to customise the location whereyou will install xp. Simply use them. destroy and recreate the c partition. This will wipe the partition table or rather make the kernel ignore it and allow you to complete the install process. Note the drive will notactuallybe wiped, but that will allow the install to complete.
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Nobus - &quot;it may be much easier to look for an old - XP style era - motherboard&quot;<br />
I have a better idea. &nbsp;I'll find another clean HDD and use it in one of my old<br />
computers that shipped with XP. &nbsp;(I was using win 7 in an XP computer)<br />
Actually, I think I will do that and close this question. &nbsp;I will get back to you all.
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GlenAJ

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&gt;&gt; &nbsp; I'll find another clean HDD and use it in one of my old computers that shipped with XP. &nbsp; &lt;&lt;&nbsp; that will probably be the easiest<br />
don't forget to install the drivers; if you need more help, post the mobo model
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XP works with sata drives but does not support AHCI out-of-the-box<br />
<br />
you can disable AHCI in the bios, complete the installation, update the drivers, then reenable AHCI
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probably they have IDE drives...
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Tom - &nbsp;you were right after all. &nbsp;I put a clean disk in and got the same &quot;no hard drive <br />
detected&quot; message after it loaded files. Obviously, the computer has an issue. &nbsp;I put the <br />
HDD, the one you helped me format, in another older laptop &nbsp;- and had no trouble<br />
with the installation.
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<div>
the computer is fine. given the rest of the thread it worked before. your issue is the XP installer cannot use that hardware.<br />
<br />
if the drive is SATA, this is likely because of AHCI which is not supported by XP and can be disabled in the BIOS.<br />
<br />
if you are unlucky, XP cannot use that hardware at all.
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<div class="content wysiwyg-content">
I want to wipe a disk on my windows PC, I have a program called Disk wipe v1.7,<br />
I installed it on a flash drive. When I click on 'wipe C drive' (the only choice it gives)<br />
it says &quot;drive in use&quot;.
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I want to wipe a disk on my windows PC, I have a program called Disk wipe v1.7,
I installed it on a flash drive. When I click on 'wipe C drive' (the only choice it gives)
it says "drive in use".

How to format entire hard drive.

Microsoft Windows XP is the sixth release of the NT series of operating systems, and was the first to be marketed in a variety of editions: XP Home and XP Professional, designed for business and power users. The advanced features in XP Professional are generally disabled in Home Edition, but are there and can be activated. There were two 64-bit editions, an embedded edition and a tablet edition.

Windows XP

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