Kuldeep Singh
1 post
Sep 25, 2026
5:27 AM
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If a hard drive will not boot, you may still need to erase the data stored on it before replacing, selling, or disposing of the drive. The main problem is that you cannot start the operating system normally, so the usual Windows formatting options may not be available.
You can still try to wipe the drive by starting the computer from a Windows installation USB and using DiskPart. If the drive is detected but the manual method is difficult or does not meet your wiping needs, dedicated data wiping software can be another option.
Why Does a Hard Drive Stop Booting?
A hard drive may stop booting for several reasons. The issue can be related to the operating system, damaged boot information, partition problems, or a hardware failure.
Common situations include:
Windows does not start from the hard drive.
The computer repeatedly returns to the boot screen.
The drive is detected in BIOS or Windows Setup but cannot start Windows.
The drive contains old data that needs to be removed.
The drive is being replaced and the existing data must be erased.
Before wiping the drive, make sure that you do not need any files stored on it. A wipe is a destructive process and should only be performed when the data is no longer required.
How to Wipe a Broken Hard Drive That Will Not Boot Manually
When Windows cannot boot from the hard drive, you can use a bootable Windows installation USB to access Command Prompt and DiskPart. Microsoft documents DiskPart as a tool for managing disks, partitions, and volumes.
For a complete overwrite of the disk, DiskPart provides the clean all option. Microsoft states that clean all sets every sector on the selected disk to zero.
Steps to Wipe the Drive Using DiskPart
Connect a Windows installation USB
Create or use a bootable Windows installation USB and connect it to the computer containing the drive you want to erase.
Boot the computer from the USB
Start the computer and select the USB drive from the boot or UEFI menu. You need to reach the Windows Setup environment rather than booting from the damaged hard drive.
Open Command Prompt
At the Windows Setup screen, open Command Prompt. This gives you access to DiskPart without needing to start Windows from the damaged drive.
Start DiskPart
Enter:
diskpart
Then press Enter.
List the connected disks
Enter:
list disk
DiskPart will show the available physical disks. Check the disk numbers and sizes carefully. DiskPart commands act on the disk that has been selected.
Select the correct hard drive
Enter:
select disk X
Replace X with the number of the hard drive you want to erase.
Before continuing, use the disk size and other displayed information to confirm that you selected the correct drive. Selecting the wrong disk can permanently erase another drive.
Wipe the entire disk
Enter:
clean all
Press Enter and allow the operation to finish. Microsoft states that the all parameter writes zeros to every sector of the selected disk.
Exit DiskPart
After the operation completes, enter:
exit
You can then close Command Prompt and shut down the computer.
Limitations of the Manual Method
DiskPart can be useful when Windows will not boot, but it has some practical limitations.
First, you need a working computer environment from which to start the process, such as Windows installation media. You also need to correctly identify the target disk before running a destructive command.
There is another important limitation: DiskPart cannot solve a physical hard drive failure. If the drive is not detected by the computer, repeatedly disconnects, makes unusual mechanical sounds, or produces hardware-related errors, a software-based wipe may not be able to access it.
Also, clean and clean all are different. Microsoft states that the normal clean command removes partition or volume formatting, while clean all writes zeros to every sector.
How to Wipe a Broken Hard Drive Using Software
If the hard drive is still detected and accessible but Windows itself will not boot, you can connect the drive to another working Windows computer as a secondary drive. A dedicated data wiping tool can then be used to erase the drive.
SysTools Data Wipe Software supports wiping HDDs and other storage devices. It provides a Disk Wipe option for entire drives and offers different overwrite methods. It also supports Windows 10 and Windows 11 64-bit systems.
This approach is useful when the drive can still be detected by another computer but the original operating system cannot start.
Steps to Use SysTools Data Wipe Software
Connect the non-booting hard drive to another working computer.
Install and open SysTools Data Wipe Software.
Select the storage device that you want to erase.
Choose the required wiping method. The software provides options including Zero, Random, Random & Zero, US DoD/US Air Force, British HMG IS5, NATO Standard, and other methods.
Start the wiping process and allow the software to complete the selected operation.
After the process finishes, review the generated wipe report or logs. The software provides data erasure reports containing information such as device identification, erasure method, timestamp, and verification status.
Remember that the software cannot make a physically failed drive usable. The drive must be detected and accessible to the system for a software-based wiping process.
Relevant Software Features
For this particular problem, the useful SysTools Data Wipe features include:
Disk Wipe: Designed to erase data from an entire HDD, SSD, or external drive.
Multiple Wiping Methods: Provides different overwrite methods with different numbers of passes.
Total Space Wipe: Erases data across the selected storage device.
Data Erasure Reports: Generates a report after the wiping process.
HDD Support: Supports wiping data from hard drives and other storage devices.
Conclusion
When a hard drive will not boot, you do not necessarily need to start Windows from that drive to erase it. A bootable Windows USB can provide access to DiskPart, where clean all can write zeros across the selected disk.
If you prefer a dedicated tool, or the drive can be connected to another working computer, SysTools Data Wipe Software provides disk wiping methods and data erasure reports. However, if the hard drive has a physical failure and is not detected, neither DiskPart nor normal wiping software should be expected to repair or access it.
The right approach depends on whether the drive is still detected and accessible. Always confirm that you have the correct disk and that no required data remains before starting the wipe.
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