Technology

Backing Up Your Data Before Wiping Your Hard Drive

Backing Up Your Data Before Wiping Your Hard Drive

A lot of people decide to wipe the hard drive on their system for a variety of reasons, with many going online to find out how to wipe a Mac and other systems. If you are planning to wipe your hard drive, it is important that you first know what is on there and whether you need any of the data that is stored before you wipe it all, you may need to backing up your data. The last thing you want to do is the wipe the system and then discover that you have wiped important documents and files.

So, before you start the process of wiping your system, it is always important to ensure you know what is on there and whether there is data that you need to keep. If you are unsure as to whether you need the data, you should keep it anyway, as once it has been wiped it is gone. You also need to ensure you backup your important information that you want to keep, and one of the simplest ways to do this is with a cloud backup solution. This is a very popular choice and an idea solution for those that want to back up their data before wiping their system. In this article, we will look at why this is a great choice.

Why Choose This Solution?

So, why should you consider cloud backup solutions when you are looking to wipe your system? Well, there are many reasons why this is an ideal choice, and this includes:

It Is Very Simple and Straightforward

One of the reasons why a lot of people turn to cloud backup services when they are wiping their systems is because it provides a very simple and straightforward solution. Cloud backup solutions are very easy to use, and you can get your important files and data backed up in next to no time when you turn to these solutions.

The Price Is Affordable

Another of the reasons why a lot of people turn to these services before they wipe their hard drives is because they come at an affordable price. A lot of people these days are on a tight budget, and they cannot afford to splash out more than they need to. At the same time, they cannot afford to risk losing the data they need while they are wiping the system. Cloud backup solutions provide the perfect answer as they are both affordable and efficient.

It Is Reliable and Secure

Naturally, when you have important files and data that you have stored on your hard drive, you want to back them up securely and use a reliable solution. With cloud backup services, you can look forward to reliability and security, and this is another of the things that have made this a very popular solution. You can then benefit from total peace of mind when it comes to the files and data you need to hang on to.

These are some of the benefits of turning to cloud backup if you want to wipe your system. 

5 steps to wipe a computer hard drive

Follow these steps to ensure that your hard drive is completely erased. They will assist you in preventing the transmission or loss of your documents, photos, passwords, financial information, and personal data when you say goodbye to your old device.

1.Backing up your data in hard-drive

Before wiping your computer’s hard drive or performing a factory reset, make a backup of all of your data to your new computer, an external hard drive, or a web service.

Backing up your data on a regular basis is a smart way to keep it safe. Hard drives can fail, become lost or stolen, or become encrypted by ransomware software. The best defence is to ensure that all data is safely and frequently backed up.

Backing up your data on thumb drives or USB flash drives is an option. However, keep in mind that these are small storage devices and may not hold all of your PC’s data. External hard drives can provide additional storage space. You can also move your data to a different laptop or PC.

2.Don’t just delete files from your computer

You may believe that moving your documents to the trash or recycle bin and emptying it will suffice. Perhaps not. This action appears to delete the files, but it frequently leaves them in place, hidden from view. Most data recovery software can recover these hidden files.

This is why. When you empty the trash or recycle bin, the file name or reference to the deleted file is removed. The file is no longer visible to the computer.

This means that the space occupied by the file on the laptop or PC is no longer reserved for that file. However, the file remains on the hard drive. It will remain on the hard drive until its location is given up to allow for the storage of a new file in that exact location.

The file header can be rebuilt using data recovery software. This allows the computer to access the file again.

Here’s the risk. When your files are not completely deleted from the hard drive, cybercriminals can access them using data recovery software.

Data recovery software is used by law enforcement agencies to access deleted files from confiscated computers. Identity thieves can use the same tools and techniques as cybercriminals.

3.Use a program to wipe your drive

Special software programs can permanently erase your hard drive. There’s a slim chance you’ll get any data back. Similarly, no one else will be able to use data recovery software to recover your files.

Most programmes use a low-level format that overwrites all deleted files with zeros and other incomprehensible data. This makes it impossible for data recovery software to recover the files.

DBAN is a free data destruction program that completely erases files on a hard drive. This includes all personal files, operating systems, and installed programs.

It’s a good idea to use a program to wipe your device. The majority of products provide proof of erasure. Some even provide details on what was done to the drive and its data. This comes in handy when wiping a company laptop or PC.

4.Physically wipe your hard drive

You can take extra precautions to ensure that your hard drive is completely wiped. You can, for example, physically wipe the drive. Simply take out your hard drive and apply a rare earth magnet to it. Is there another option? Dismantle it using a screwdriver.

A rare earth magnet, such as a neodymium magnet, can be used to deform the hard disk’s metal plates. This makes it useless. One word of caution: the magnets are extremely powerful and can cause physical harm if used incorrectly.

A screwdriver could be used to dismantle the pieces of the hard drive, making it useless.

5.Do a fresh installation of the operating system

There is another way to completely rewrite the entire hard drive. That is done by performing a clean installation of the original operating system that came with the computer. This is especially important if you’re giving the device to a friend or family member.

Read also: Securing Your Data with Cloud Backup Solutions