Will Formatting A Drive Erase The Data

Note: Using the Format command's parameter to securely wipe a disk does not meet any of the United States Department of Defense standards for hard disk data removal. ▸ Formatting a hard drive is a process of wiping its partition table and unlinks all the data in the file system. It also sets up a new file system to use with certain applications or operating systems. Although all the data seems to be deleted already, it just becomes invisible and can be recovered easily with a certain data recovery program. When you wipe a hard drive, the main intent is to ensure no one can recover the erased files in any format. Sometimes you want to preserve Windows, especially if you're giving away the computer. But using the typical hard drive data wiping methods and keeping Windows intact is a difficult feat for most average computer users. Otherwise, formatting a hard drive using the quick format option (or an earlier version of Windows) will not actually erase all of its stored data. When you choose to format a hard drive, you are essentially only removing the pointers to the data as the partition table is either cleared or rebuilt.

1. Will Formatting A Thumb Drive Erase Data
2. Will Formatting A Drive Erase The Data Using
3. Will Formatting A Drive Erase The Data For A

These steps apply only to Mac computers with an Intel processor. The steps to erase a Mac with Apple silicon are different.

Before erasing your Mac

• Make a backup of any files that you want to keep. Erasing your Mac permanently deletes its files.
• If you want to restore your Mac to factory settings, such as to prepare it for a new owner, first learn what to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your Mac. Then erase your Mac as the final step.

Use Disk Utility to erase your Mac

1. Start up from macOS Recovery: Turn on your Mac, then immediately press and hold these two keys until you see an Apple logo or other image: Command (⌘) and R.
2. If asked, select a user you know the password for, then enter their administrator password.
3. From the utilities window, select Disk Utility and click Continue.
   
4. Select Macintosh HD in the sidebar of Disk Utility. Don't see Macintosh HD?
   
5. Click the Erase button in the toolbar, then enter the requested details:
   • Name: Macintosh HD
   • Format: APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journaled), as recommended by Disk Utility
6. Click Erase Volume Group. If you don't see this button, click Erase instead.
   
7. If asked, enter your Apple ID. Forgot your Apple ID?
8. After the erase is done, select any other internal volumes in the sidebar, then click the delete volume (–) button in the toolbar to delete that volume.
   Disregard any internal volume named Macintosh HD or Macintosh HD - Data, as well as any volumes in the External and Disk Images sections of the sidebar.
9. Quit Disk Utility to return to the utilities window.
10. If you want to start up again from the disk you erased, select Reinstall macOS in the utilities window, then click Continue and follow the onscreen instructions to reinstall macOS.
    

If you don't see Macintosh HD in Disk Utility

Your built-in startup disk should be the first item listed in the Disk Utility sidebar. It's named Macintosh HD, unless you changed its name. If you don't see it there, choose Apple menu  > Shut Down, then unplug all nonessential devices from your Mac and try again.

If your disk still doesn't appear in Disk Utility, or Disk Utility reports that the erase process failed, your Mac might need service. Where to find microsoft word. If you need help, please contact Apple Support.

Learn more

For more information about using Disk Utility, see the Disk Utility User Guide.

Initializing disk is a must-be process after you install a new hard drive on the computer. However, sometimes, the old hard drive may suddenly show not initialized, requesting for initialization. What concerns people the most is whether initializing disk will erase a disk data.

On this page, you'll learn everything about disk initialization. And you will find answers to all your questions in the following parts.

Case - If I Initialize a Disk, Will It Be Erased

Will Formatting A Thumb Drive Erase Data

'What does initialization affect a hard disk? While using the Windows disk management utility, I received the instruction showing as 'You must initialize a disk before Logical Disk Manager can access it'. The disk is NTFS with no operating system on it.

However, I have saved lots of files on it. I'd like to know if I initialize the disk, will it be erased? I am not expecting any data loss on it.'

You may have the same confusion as to the user above when you are requested to initialize a disk. Generally, Windows operating system would pop up the initializing disk request to two types of hard disk:

Windows 10 home high end devices download. 1. A Brand New Disk

2. Old Hard Drive Shows 'Unknown, Not Initialized' Suddenly

If your disk is new and unformatted, you can initialize it directly without worrying about data loss.

However, if the disk has files existing on it, you should understand what does disk initialization mean and will initializing a disk erase the data.

Follow the next part, your doubts will get released.

Does Initializing a Disk Erase Data

In this part, you'll get answers to the following three questions that most of the hard disk users may also interest in:

1. What does it mean to initialize a disk
2. What happens when you initialize a disk

Initializing disk is a process of building or rebuilding MBR, Master Boot Record, the first sector of a hard drive. MBR stores information to load logical partitions and even system files on that storage medium. To do so, you'll need to use Windows disk management to initialize the disk. A third-party disk initialization tool can also work.

So what happens while initializing a disk? During the disk initialization process, Windows disk management or third-party tool will re-write the 0 sectors in the MBR partition table so as to allow you to create logical partitions on the drive.

Will Initializing a Disk Erase Data

As the disk initializing process only affects 0 sectors in MBR, thus, the answer to 'Will initializing a disk erase data' is NO. Initializing disk won't erase data on the hard drive.

If someone says 'Initializing a disk erases everything on it', it's not real. If some of you see no files appear after initializing a used disk, it's not the operation but your hard drive is still unallocated. You have to create partitions on the drive so to make it visible again.

So how to fix the file not visible issue after disk initialization? Check the next part, you'll get everything back on your disk.

Fix Disk Initialization: Make Initialized Hard Drive Work Again, No Data Loss

Whether your disk is brand new or used, as long as the computer request initialization, follow the process presented here. You'll fix the disk initialization issue, making your disk work normally again without losing any data.

Note: If your disk is brand new, finish Procedure 1 and jump to Procedure 3.

Will Formatting A Drive Erase The Data Using

Procedure 1. Initialize Disk using Disk Management

So how to initialize a disk? You can either use Windows Disk Management or third-party free partition manager for help.

Here we will show you how to execute disk initialization in Disk Management:

Step 1. Press Windows + X keys, click 'Disk Management'.

Step 2. Locate the target disk, if it shows 'Offline', right-click and choose 'Online' first.

Step 3. Then right-click the not initialized disk and choose 'Initialize Disk'.

Step 4. Set GPT or MBR as the partition style, click 'OK' to start initializing the disk.

After this, your disk is initialized and the Unknown, Not Initialized symbol will disappear. The disk will display as 'Basic'.

But if your disk still shows as Not Initialized or Unknow, you can try to update the disk driver or change its connection cable to try to fix this issue. The last option is to send your disk to its manufacturer center or a disk repair center for help.

Procedure 2. Recover Data from the Disk

This is a key point for people whose old disk displaying not initialized with important data saved on it. Although the disk is initialized, it is still inaccessible.

You still cannot access or see any files on the drive. Reliable hard drive recovery software - EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard can help. It enables you to fully scan the whole empty drive and find all your data with its Quick and Deep scan modes.

Follow the steps below to recover data from the initialized disk:

Step 1. Run EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, choose your HDD partition (according to its drive letter or partition label) where you lost data and click 'Scan'.

Step 2. When the scanning finishes, find lost HDD files in 'Deleted Files' or 'Lost Files' and double-click to preview them.

You can also use Filter or Search for quick access to your lost files via file types or file names.

Step 3. Select all the desired items, files and click 'Recover' to save the found HDD partition data to another safe location.

Procedure 3. Partition Disk - Make Hard Drive Visible

Now, it's time to make your initialized disk visible. Windows Disk Management can partition and set your disk format so as to it show up and work normally again on your computer.

Let's start partition the disk:

Step 1. Press Windows + X keys, click 'Disk Management' to open it.

Step 2. Right-click the unallocated space on your disk, choose 'New Simple Volume..'

Safari emulator on windows. Step 3. In New Simple Volume Wizard, click 'Next' to continue.

Step 4. Set the size and the drive letter to the new volume, click 'Next'.

Step 5. Then set NTFS as the file system, click 'Next' and 'Finish' to complete.

You can repeat the process to create more partitions on the initialized disk. After this, you can use the drive as a system or data disk on your computer.

The Bottom Line

This page answers the questions related to disk initialization. As for the most concerned question - 'does initializing a disk erase data', the answer is no.

Initializing disk only affects the MBR 0 sectors, the data saved on the drive are still there. As for the reason why saved data on the initialized disk is invisible, it is because the drive is unallocated.

Will Formatting A Drive Erase The Data For A

To fix this issue, you need to first use EaseUS data recovery software to restore the data from the disk first. Then create new partitions on the drive, making it accessible again.

Last, although initializing disk will not erase data nor format the disk, in order to protect your precious data, please remember to back up the disk regularly. You can either choose to copy files as a backup or use automatic file backup software for help.