How to Wipe Data from Encrypted Hard Drive?

Summary: When do you actually need to wipe an encrypted drive? And then, how do you wipe it? Get to know the primary fixes and check out 3 solutions including BitRaser Drive Eraser.
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The complete guide will discuss:

• How to sanitize encrypted drives using BitRaser Drive Eraser
• How to sanitize encrypted drives using the reset option in your Windows PC
• How to sanitize encrypted drives using the reset option in your Mac
• Which is the best data wiping method?

Before we explore the ‘how’, we’ve got to understand the ‘why’. 

Why would you want to wipe data from encrypted hard drives?  

Here are two reasons why:

1. You encrypted a hard drive. However, you now don’t need the hard drive anymore and want to dispose it off.  You realize that just like you could decrypt it, someone else could too. So you want to wipe the data now. 
2. You assume that you first need to encrypt the hard drive first and then delete the data, as it’s the standard procedure. This anxiety is warranted if you’re unsure that your data wiping has worked. But still, why leave this to chance? Why not use a data wiping method that can guarantee that the data is gone forever, beyond recovery? 

So essentially, what you want to know is, how to wipe your hard drive, whether it’s encrypted or not. 

Now, let’s talk about the how. 

• So which are the best ways to wipe encrypted hard drives? 
• Which one of them should you choose? 

Don’t worry, this article will offer all the answers. In the next five minutes, learn the 3 ways to wipe encrypted hard drives. Without further ado, let’s begin.

3 Ways to Wipe Encrypted Hard Drives – A Comprehensive Guide

Use BitRaser Drive Eraser

BitRaser Drive Eraser is the best software out in the market to wipe encrypted SSD or any other type of hard drive.

Check out the process you need to follow to wipe hard drives using BitRaser Drive Eraser:

1. Boot the system to enter the BitRaser System Eraser menu.

2. Select the drives you want to wipe data from.
3. Choose the wiping algorithm, acquire the license, and click ‘Erase.’

Read the Complete guide on how to wipe data from a hard drive using BitRaser Drive Eraser

Note: Wiping data using BitRaser ensures the permanent data deletion beyond the scope of recovery

Here’s why you should use BitRaser Drive Eraser to wipe encrypted hard drive data from your system:

• Allows you to delete data from up to 32 hard drives through an automated process that doesn’t even need installation. Furthermore, the software automatically uploads the erasure certificates and reports to the cloud.
• Supports data erasure from all popular drive types such as SATA, SCSI, USB, PATA, and SAS.
• Comes with a cloud console for license manageability and distribution.
• Supports 24 globally recognized and 5 custom data erasure standards such as NIST 800-88, DoD 5220.22-M, NATO Standard, HMG, and Peter Gutmann.   
• Generates tamper-proof certificates and reports of erasure for compliance with several national and international data protection laws.
• Protects client-server communication with AES encryption. 
• Spots and wipes specific hidden disk areas such as DCO, remapped sectors, and HPA.
• Compatible with various block-size drives.
• Compatible with RAID dismantling.
• Comes with world-class algorithms to make sure wiped data is beyond recovery. 

Reset your Windows PC

For Windows 8.1 

Follow the below-mentioned steps to wipe data from a Windows 8.1 PC: 

1. Click on Settings. 
2. Click on Change PC settings.
3. Click on Get Started under the heading Remove everything reinstall Windows.
4. Select the option Fully clean the drive when prompted.

For Windows 10

Check out the steps mentioned below to wipe data from a Windows 10 PC: 

1. Click on the Windows button. 
2. Click on Settings.
3. Click on Update and Security. 
4. Click on Recovery in the sidebar. 
5. Click on Remove everything.
6. Click on Change Settings under the Additional Settings option. 
7. Toggle Clean data on and click on Confirm.
8. Select Next and then Reset.

For Windows 11

Here are the steps to follow: 

3. Click on the Windows button. 
4. Click on Settings.
5. Select System from the left menu and click on Recovery.
6. Afterward, click on Reset PC.
7. Choose Remove everything.
8. Select how to reinstall Windows. Click on Change Settings.
9. Toggle the Clean data On and then click on Confirm.
10. Click on Next and then on Reset.

Reset your Mac

With an Intel processor

Check out the process below:

1. Turn the Mac off.
2. Press the Power button and immediately press Command + R until you see the Apple logo.
3. From the options that appear, choose Disk Utility.
4. Click on Erase and choose a file system.
5. If the Security Options is available, click on it. Afterward, move the slider to the extreme right for the most secure option. If the Security Options feature isn’t available, that means the Disk Utility can’t wipe the drive securely.
6. Click on Erase and then on Done.

With an M1 chip

Here’s how to wipe data from a Mac with an M1 chip:

1. Turn the Mac off.
2. Press and hold the Power button until you see the Startup Options window. 
3. Select Options.
4. Afterward, click on Disk Utility.
5. Choose the Macintosh HD from the side menu.
6. Select Erase and select a file system for your drive.
7. Click on Erase Volume Group.

Ways to Wipe Encrypted Hard Drives — Which One of the Ways Should You Choose?

We have gathered all information about 3 ways to wipe encrypted hard drives in this article. However, even after reading the article, you might still be overwhelmed. You might still have questions. You might still wonder which one of these solutions should you choose.

Our choice is; BitRaser Drive Eraser. However, don’t take our word for it. Check out the 3 reasons you should choose BitRaser Drive Eraser to erase encrypted drives:

• Supports 24 global erasure standards including DoD, NIST, and HMG, among others.
• Allows you to wipe encrypted SSD, hard drives, Mac, server, desktop, and laptop.
• Supports high-speed erasure of up to 32 drives simultaneously.
• Erases complete data beyond the scope of recovery.

Now that you know all about the 3 ways to wipe encrypted hard drives, we hope the knowledge will help you make the most informed decision.