wipe a hard drive

Meaning

To wipe a hard drive means to completely delete all the data, files, and operating system from a computer's storage disk so that it cannot be recovered. This is usually done before selling, recycling, or throwing away an old computer to protect personal information. It is a standard technical term used by both professionals and everyday users.

Examples

• Before you sell your old laptop on eBay, make sure to wipe the hard drive.

  Before you sell your old laptop on eBay, make sure to wipe the hard drive.

• I had to wipe my hard drive because a nasty virus infected the entire system.

  I had to wipe my hard drive because a nasty virus infected the entire system.

• The IT department will wipe your hard drive and reinstall Windows for you.

  The IT department will wipe your hard drive and reinstall Windows for you.

• Is there a free software tool that can securely wipe a hard drive?

  Is there a free software tool that can securely wipe a hard drive?

• She forgot to back up her photos before she wiped the hard drive.

  She forgot to back up her photos before she wiped the hard drive.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I need to clean my hard drive to delete the files.

  ✓ I need to wipe my hard drive to delete the files.

  Clean usually implies deleting temporary files or physically removing dust. Wipe means completely erasing everything so nothing can be recovered.

• ✗ He wiped out his hard drive yesterday.

  ✓ He wiped his hard drive yesterday.

  Wipe out is a phrasal verb meaning to destroy completely or to fall over. For computers, we just use wipe.

Related Expressions

Practice

• You should always ___ before recycling your old computer.

  💡 Erase all data permanently.

  Show answer

  wipe the hard drive

• The technician had to ___ because of a severe malware infection.

  💡 Completely clear the computer's storage.

  Show answer

  wipe the hard drive