Ultimate guide to wipe your hard drive clean & remove all VIRUSES! Full walk thru

Introduction

This tutorial guides you through the process of completely wiping your hard drive clean and removing all viruses from your Windows system. Sometimes, a fresh start is the best solution when your operating system is severely damaged. Follow these steps to ensure your data is securely erased and your computer is ready for a fresh installation.

Step 1: Back Up Your Important Data

Before wiping your hard drive, it's crucial to back up any important data you want to keep. Here’s how to do it:

• Identify files and folders that are essential.
• Use an external hard drive or cloud storage service to store your backups.
• Verify that your backups are complete and accessible.

Step 2: Create a Bootable USB Drive

To wipe your hard drive, you will need a bootable USB drive with a Windows installation or recovery disk. Follow these steps:

1. Download the Windows Media Creation Tool from the official Microsoft website.
2. Insert a USB drive (8GB or larger) into your computer.
3. Run the Media Creation Tool and select “Create installation media for another PC.”
4. Follow the prompts to create the bootable USB drive.

Step 3: Boot from the USB Drive

To start the wipe process:

1. Restart your computer with the USB drive inserted.
2. Enter the BIOS/UEFI settings by pressing the appropriate key (often F2, F12, DEL, or ESC) during startup.
3. Set the USB drive as the primary boot device.
4. Save changes and exit the BIOS/UEFI.

Step 4: Wipe the Hard Drive

Once you've booted from the USB drive, you can proceed to wipe the hard drive:

1. Select your language and preferences, then click “Next.”
2. Click on “Repair your computer.”
3. Choose “Troubleshoot,” then “Advanced options,” and select “Command Prompt.”
4. In the Command Prompt, type the following command to list all disks:

   diskpart
   

5. Next, type:

   list disk
   

6. Identify your primary disk (usually Disk 0) and type:

   select disk 0
   

7. To wipe the disk, type:

   clean
   

   This command erases all data on the disk.

Step 5: Reinstall Windows

After wiping the hard drive, you can reinstall Windows:

1. Go back to the installation menu and select “Install Now.”
2. Follow the prompts to install Windows on the newly cleaned hard drive.
3. Choose the disk you wiped earlier when prompted.

Step 6: Install Antivirus Software

Once Windows is reinstalled, it's essential to protect your system:

• Download and install reputable antivirus software such as MalwareBytes.
• Run a full system scan to ensure no viruses are present.

Practical Tips

• Always keep your software updated to prevent future infections.
• Regularly back up your data to avoid loss in case of another system failure.
• Consider using a data recovery tool if you accidentally wipe something important.

Conclusion

You have successfully wiped your hard drive and reinstalled Windows. Your system is now clean and free of viruses. Remember to keep your antivirus software updated and perform regular backups to safeguard your data. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out or explore additional resources.