This article explains how to recover the primary hard drive of a Windows or Mac computer and how to format a secondary drive.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Repair a Windows 10 Computer
Step 1. Access the "Start" menu by clicking on the icon
It features the Windows logo and is located in the lower left corner of the desktop.
- This procedure deletes all data on your computer's hard drive and restores its original content.
- Before continuing, be sure to back up any information you want to keep.
Step 2. Click on the "Settings" option
It is located at the bottom left of the "Start" menu.
Step 3. Click the Update & Security icon
Step 4. Click on the Restore tab
It is displayed on the left side of the page.
Step 5. Click on the Get Started button located within the "Reset your PC" section
Step 6. Select the Remove All item
This way the apps you have installed and any personal data on the disk will be deleted.
Step 7. Select the options to format the disk
- If you are restoring your computer so that it can be used by someone else, click on the entry Remove the files and clean the drive in order to be sure that no one will have access to your data.
- If you have planned to continue using your computer after the reset, click on the option Only remove my personal files.
Step 8. Click the Next button
A new confirmation message will appear.
Step 9. Click the Reset button
Windows will perform the recovery procedure based on the options selected. At the end of the process, follow the instructions that will appear on the screen to perform the initial Windows configuration.
Method 2 of 4: Format a Secondary Hard Drive in Windows
Step 1. Press the key combination ⊞ Win + S
The Windows search bar will appear.
This procedure allows you to delete the data on a secondary disk installed on the computer (the primary hard disk is the one on which the operating system is installed)
Step 2. Type in the computer management keywords
Step 3. Click the Computer Management icon
Step 4. Select the Disk Management item located within the "Storage" tab
It is listed in the left pane of the window. In order to select the "Disk Management" option you may need to first click on the arrow icon on the left of the "Storage" tab. A list of all memory units connected to the PC will be displayed.
Step 5. Select the hard drive you want to format with the right mouse button
You can select any disk in the list other than the one on which the Windows operating system is installed.
Step 6. Click on the Format item
Step 7. Click the Yes button
The data on the selected disk will be deleted.
Method 3 of 4: Reset a Mac
Step 1. Make sure your computer is connected to the internet
When the Mac hard drive is formatted you will need to access a recovery drive, so the computer must be connected to the web.
- This procedure erases all data on the Mac disk by restoring the original factory configuration of the computer.
- Before continuing, be sure to back up any information you want to keep.
Step 2. Access the "Apple" menu by clicking on the icon
It features the Apple logo and is located in the upper left corner of the screen.
Step 3. Click on the Restart… option
The Mac will be shut down and then restarted. Act very quickly as you will need to perform the next step before the login screen appears on the screen.
Step 4. Press the key combination ⌘ Command + R when the screen turns gray
The latter scenario occurs in the very early stages of the Mac restart procedure. The "macOS Utility" screen will appear.
Step 5. Click on the Disk Utility option
Step 6. Select your Mac's primary hard drive
The name varies by device model and is displayed in the left pane of the window. Look for a memory drive with a name similar to "startup disk".
Step 7. Click on the Initialize tab
It is displayed at the top of the main panel.
Step 8. Click on the Format drop-down menu
Step 9. Select the Mac OS Extended (Journaled) file system
Step 10. Click the Initialize button
The data on the disk will be erased and the memory drive will be formatted. The time required to complete this step can range from several minutes to several hours. When the process is finished follow the instructions that will appear on the screen to restore the Mac operating system.
Method 4 of 4: Format a Secondary Hard Drive on Mac
Step 1. Click on the magnifying glass icon
It is located in the upper right corner of the screen.
Step 2. Type in the disk utility keywords
A list of results will be displayed.
Step 3. Click on the Disk Utility entry
Step 4. Click on the hard drive you want to format
Remember that in this case you cannot select the hard drive on which the Mac operating system is installed.
Step 5. Click on the Initialize tab
It is displayed at the top of the main panel.
Step 6. Type a name for the hard drive
Step 7. Select the file system format and formatting options
The settings you choose vary according to your needs.
Step 8. Click the Initialize button
The chosen hard drive will be formatted according to the options indicated.
