Wiping a HDD

[willin]

Gent’s, I’m thinking of reinstalling windows on my desktop PC seeing as I have lots of time at the moment, My problem is the time it will take to Wipe my HDD, it’s a 2TB (1.81 TB really) segate barracuda bought around 5 years ago, I have loaded DBAN using rufus onto a usb 3, my pc only has usb 2.
I think it will take days for just 1 wipe, is there another faster way to wipe the HDD? Or should I use an old smaller HDD I have spare?
TIA

 

[rawsy]

Gent’s, I’m thinking of reinstalling windows on my desktop PC seeing as I have lots of time at the moment, My problem is the time it will take to Wipe my HDD, it’s a 2TB (1.81 TB really) segate barracuda bought around 5 years ago, I have loaded DBAN using rufus onto a usb 3, my pc only has usb 2.
I think it will take days for just 1 wipe, is there another faster way to wipe the HDD? Or should I use an old smaller HDD I have spare?
TIA

why wipe it beforehand?

install the drive in the pc
Get the windows 10 usb download tool and make a install usb stick.
Load the usb stick and you can format within the installer program.
I don’t think it would take that long really. Definitely time for a cuppa but would be quicker than formatting then installing.

 

[rawsy]

If you are starting with a fresh is install. Consider getting an ssd and using the 2tb for storage.

When I first used an ssd I haven’t looked back and have installed them in all my laptops and pc since.

 

[willin]

why wipe it beforehand?

install the drive in the pc
Get the windows 10 usb download tool and make a install usb stick.
Load the usb stick and you can format within the installer program.
I don’t think it would take that long really. Definitely time for a cuppa but would be quicker than formatting then installing.

Hmmm, as usual I was about as clear as mud (sorry @rawsy) The drive is in the machine and is my drive with windows on it ATM, I could look for a SSD that may be a better option - recommendations for SSD size etc please, cheers.

 

[Ferret]

Hmmm, as usual I was about as clear as mud (sorry @rawsy) The drive is in the machine and is my drive with windows on it ATM, I could look for a SSD that may be a better option - recommendations for SSD size etc please, cheers.

Youll have no problems with a 240gb drive i dont see the point of going higher if its only used for windows and programs.

 

[avid]

I have a 240gb ssd and it is amply for Windows and programs.

 

[rawsy]

Hmmm, as usual I was about as clear as mud (sorry @rawsy) The drive is in the machine and is my drive with windows on it ATM, I could look for a SSD that may be a better option - recommendations for SSD size etc please, cheers.

no problem, we got crossed wires with the mention of usb.
With or without ssd I would just load the tool to a usb stick and format either ssd or hdd or both from the utility on the installer.


Then just install to the drive you want.