4 Ways to Reset the Hard Drive on a PC or Mac Computer

2025 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2025-01-23 12:04

This wikiHow teaches you how to restore a Windows or MacOS computer hard drive to its original factory settings.

Step

Method 1 of 4: Resetting Windows 10 Drive to Factory Defaults

Step 1. Click menu

This menu is usually in the lower-left corner of the screen.

• This method will erase all data stored on the hard drive and replace it with the factory default settings.
• Make sure you have backed up all data before starting the reset process.

Step 2. Click

"Settings".

This option is at the bottom of the menu.

Step 3. Click Update & security

Step 4. Click Recovery

This option is in the left column.

Step 5. Click Get started in the “Reset this PC” section

Step 6. Select Remove everything

With this option, all applications and personal data will be deleted from the hard drive.

Step 7. Select the blank drive option

• Step 8. Click Next

  A new confirmation message will be displayed.

  

  Step 9. Click Reset

  Windows will start the reset process. Once the process is complete, follow the on-screen prompts to set up and prepare Windows, just like when you bought a new computer.

  Method 2 of 4: Formatting a Second Hard Drive on a Windows Computer

  

  Step 1. Press Win+S

  The Windows search bar will appear.

  This method helps you delete data from a computer hard drive that is not designated as the primary hard drive

  

  Step 2. Type in management

  

  Step 3. Click Computer Management

  

  Step 4. Select Disk Management in the “Storage” section

  This option is in the left column. You may need to click the arrow next to the “Storage” text to see the “Disk Management” options. A list of hard drives connected to the computer will be displayed.

  

  Step 5. Right-click the disk that needs to be reset

  You can select a different drive than the one on which the Windows operating system is installed.

  

  Step 6. Click Format

  

  Step 7. Click Yes

  The data on the selected hard drive will be deleted afterwards.

  Method 3 of 4: Resetting Hard Drive on MacOS to Factory Defaults

  

  Step 1. Make sure the computer is connected to the internet network

  You'll need to access the Mac's default settings once the hard drive has been emptied. Therefore, the computer must be connected to the internet network.

  • This method will erase all data from the hard drive and replace it with the factory default settings.
  • Make sure you have backed up your data before starting the reset process.

  

  Step 2. Click menu

  It's in the top-left corner of the screen.

  

  Step 3. Click Restart…

  The Mac computer will shut down and restart. You need to perform the next step before the login page is displayed. Therefore, you must act quickly.

  

  Step 4. Press Command+R on a blank gray page

  This page is displayed after the computer is shut down and restarted. The “Utilities” panel will open.

  

  Step 5. Click Disk Utility

  

  Step 6. Select a hard drive

  The drive name will be different for each computer, but is usually displayed in the left pane. Look for a drive with a name like “startup disk”.

  

  Step 7. Click the Erase tab

  This tab is on the main panel.

  

  Step 8. Click Format

  

  Step 9. Select Mac OS Extended (Journaled)

  

  Step 10. Click Erase

  The data on the hard drive will be erased and the drive will be reformatted. This process takes a few minutes to several hours. After that, follow the steps shown on the screen to complete the process and set up your computer like a new computer.

  Method 4 of 4: Formatting a Second Drive on MacOS

  

  Step 1. Click the magnifying glass icon

  It's in the upper-right corner of the screen.

  

  Step 2. Type disk utility

  A list of search results will be displayed.

  

  Step 3. Click Disk Utility – Utilities

  

  Step 4. Click the drive you want to format

  You cannot select the drive on which the operating system is installed.

  

  Step 5. Click Erase

  It's at the top of the window.

  

  Step 6. Type a new name for the selected hard drive

  

  Step 7. Select the drive format and scheme

  The options you need to choose will depend on your needs.

  

  Step 8. Click Erase

  The selected hard drive will be emptied and reformatted afterwards.