How to remove contents of external hard drive

Gloria E · Post by **Gloria E** » 26 Feb 2010, 18:17

I have an old backup of Windows XP Home on this drive and I would like to remove it as it's no longer relevant.

I need step-by-step instructions on how to do this.

All suggestions will be appreciated.

Gloria E

stuck · Post by **stuck** » 26 Feb 2010, 19:26

Surely all you need to do is reformat it? Search Windows help for 'format disk'

Ken

viking33 · Post by **viking33** » 26 Feb 2010, 20:45

Gloria E wrote:I have an old backup of Windows XP Home on this drive and I would like to remove it as it's no longer relevant.

I need step-by-step instructions on how to do this.

All suggestions will be appreciated.

Gloria E

Go to Windows Explorer> right click on the drive in question and scroll down to FORMAT and click it. It will ask are you sure? Click yes.
IF you need a more secure cleanup, after the reformat, open CCleaner ( you do have it? ) All the way down on the bottom is a check box for "Wipe Free Space", check it and run CCleaner. ( it will take a while )

Gloria E · Post by **Gloria E** » 27 Feb 2010, 00:05

stuck wrote:Surely all you need to do is reformat it? Search Windows help for 'format disk'

Ken

Of course, how could I forget such a simple process. The beginning of Alzheimer's perhaps?

Gloria E

DaveA · Post by **DaveA** » 27 Feb 2010, 17:09

All I do is delete the files that I don't need any longer, but then again I do use TrueImage which may be different from your back up program.

Gloria E · Post by **Gloria E** » 28 Feb 2010, 00:34

The entire D drive contains everything I had on my main drive (C. Are you suggesting that I remove all the files therein one by one?

Hey Jude · Post by **Hey Jude** » 28 Feb 2010, 00:38

Gloria E wrote:The entire D drive contains everything I had on my main drive (C. Are you suggesting that I remove all the files therein one by one?

the animals went into the Ark "two by two" so I would hope you would do no less

Seriously, I have cleaned my EHD by using the same format/CCleaner process in times past.

John Gray · Post by **John Gray** » 28 Feb 2010, 09:58

If you went into a Command Prompt window you could run, typing rather carefully:
RD /S /Q D:\

Gloria E · Post by **Gloria E** » 28 Feb 2010, 18:04

I would like to thank both you and Hey Jude for your suggestions. I'd rather use yours (John) than CCleaner, and I'll be oh so careful.

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