How to Wipe Old Hard Drive After Cloning
Hey, guys, I bought a new SSD, and I want my old HDD to be used as a storage disk after cloning it to the new SSD. I want to wipe it clean, and I am not sure how to do it. Do you have any idea?
Best Answered by
Larissa· Answered on Jan 21, 2026
You can format or factory reset your hard drive after cloning it to the new SSD. This process will erase all data stored on your hard drive and free up the maximum storage space.
The disk formatting method is easy with Disk Management. Ensure the formatted hard drive isn't being used during the procedure.
- Click the Windows button - Control Panel - System and Security - Administrative Tools.
- Right-click Computer Management and open it.
- Under the Storage option on the left panel, click Disk Management.
- When Disk Management is open, select the partition you want to format, right-click it, choose the "Format" option.
- Wait for the process to finish.
When it is over, you get an empty hard drive and can use it as a storage disk.
Formating or factory resetting means erasing all data on your hard drive; you won't find them back after that. So, it is important to back up these important data and files for later use. EaseUS Todo Backup will help you save a backup of your files, folders, disks, or even system images with a few clicks.
It also supports the disk cloning function, allowing you to create an exact copy of your hard drive without any data loss. With this backup and clone tool, hard drive cloning and formatting can be an easy task.
Related Article: How Do I Securely Erase Hard Drive/SSD, Wipe Confidential Data?
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