Free disk scrubbing software

Trending from CNET. Download Now. Full Specifications. What's new in version 3. Version 3. Date Added February 8, Operating Systems. Additional Requirements None. Total Downloads 45, Downloads Last Week 6. Report Software. Related Software. PureVPN Free to try. This hard drive erasure software offers you several data wipe solutions: DoD You can freely choose to wipe data from free space or all files in the hard drive with this top file eraser.

Windows 10 is supported. Some of you may think of using Windows own free disk manager Diskpart Utility, Disk Manager to try to erase the entire hard drive. You can open Windows Disk Manager by pressing Windows and R keys on the keyboard at the same time, and then input diskmgmt. You can also use Windows Diskpart tool to clean all data on selected hard drive. You can check below the differences between formatting and wiping a hard drive. Disk formatting :. The formatting process often include: low-level formatting basic medium preparation , partitioning make the storage device visible to OS , and high-level formatting generate a new file system.

Formatting a drive generally leaves all data on the disk, and you can use some data recovery tools to get the data back if the drive is not overwritten. If you want to avoid the recovery of your private sensitive data, you can use one of top 10 free hard drive data wipe software to permanently erase the data. Disk wipe :. Also known as data erasure or data sanitization technique. Data wiping aims to completely destroy all data from the hard drive or other storage devices.

It uses zeros and ones to overwrite data to fill into all hard disk sectors. Through this overwriting, the old data on the hard drive is unrecoverable any more. Most of the hard drive wiping software listed above allows you to select a specific wiping standard based on your own needs, and lets you remove all data from the device.

Click to tweet. If you think the completely hard drive data wiping is not enough, and you still worry about your privacy, then you may turn to the last draw: destroy the old hard drive permanently with professional hard drive destruction tools before disposing it.

You may try these hard drive destroy solutions: destroy the magnetic platter inside, use screwdriver to remove and destroy most parts of the hard disk, or use a hammer to totally destroy the hard drive. If your hard drive is running out of space, and you only want to free up some space, then wiping the hard drive is not your choice. Full Specifications. What's new in version 2. Release March 6, Date Added February 1, Version 2. Operating Systems. Additional Requirements Microsoft.

NET Framework 2. Total Downloads 27, Downloads Last Week 1. Report Software. Related Software. Auto Clicker by Shocker Free. Configure your mouse to autoclick desired buttons, set pauses and intervals.

GS Auto Clicker Free. Automate some of your mouse clicking tasks. PhraseExpress Free. Manage frequently used text snippets in customizable categories. XT File Shredder Lizard is another free file shredder.

You can add multiple files at once to the queue to be shredded as well as entire folders. You can also easily shred the files that are in the Recycle Bin. The only thing we don't like about XT File Shredder Lizard is that the interface is a bit outdated, which makes it a little strange to work with.

You shouldn't have any troubles using this program in newer versions of Windows like Windows 11 and 10, but also older ones like Windows XP. Ashampoo WinOptimizer Free is a program with many individual tools you can use to optimize your PC, with one of the tools being a file shredder called File Wiper.

If you're erasing files, you can drag and drop multiples into the program at once and then shred them all. You can import the contents of multiple folders, too, and even securely erase the Recycle Bin's contents.

This program's free file shredder tool can be opened from the File tools menu on the left of the main screen. Choose File Wiper from there to get started. We tested the most recent version of Windows 10, but it also works in Windows 11, 8, and 7. Advanced SystemCare a system optimizer program includes a file shredder program appropriately named File Shredder. It's found in ASC's toolbox, which is accessible from the icon at the upper right-hand side of the program.

Free Disk Space is another option for double-checking that everything you've previously deleted is gone for good. Remo File Eraser is easy to use file shredder that not only lets you securely remove multiple files and folders at once but also schedule the removal of anything you wish on a one-time, daily, or weekly basis.

Remo File Eraser also lets you empty the Recycle Bin using any of the above sanitization methods. One thing we don't like about Remo File Eraser is that while several wipe methods are shown in the settings, you can only choose the three from above in this free version.

Also, you can't create more than one schedule. Glary Utilities is a software suite with lots of tools, such as a file shredder, a registry cleaner , a defrag program, and many others.

Just drag and drop files and folders into the program window or use the buttons to browse for them. Though probably not necessary, you can repeat the data wipe method up to 10 times for a more thorough clean. Glary Utilities can also write over the free space of an entire hard drive, which is useful for ensuring files you're already deleted are truly irrecoverable.

All versions of Windows should be able to run Glary Utilities. AbsoluteShield File Shredder is another very simple file shredder tool. You can delete multiple files at once, as well as any number of folders. Instead of using the program to add files to the queue, you can also quickly send files and folders to AbsoluteShield File Shredder using the right-click context menu in Windows Explorer.

The shredding method can be changed from the Action menu. We tested the most recent version in both Windows 10 and Windows XP without any problems.

There are many easy-to-use file shredders in this list but DeleteOnClick may be the easiest of all. There are no buttons, no menus, and no settings at all because there is no interface to the program.

Use DeleteOnClick by right-clicking one or more files or folders and then choosing Securely Delete from the context menu. DeleteOnClick only supports one data wipe method, so it's not nearly as advanced as most of these other file shredders. Also, there is no confirmation when you choose to remove files, which means it's possible you could accidentally erase files you meant to keep. This program should work fine in Windows 11, Windows 10, and older versions of Windows, back to Windows Though no longer being updated by its developers, ProtectStar Data Shredder is a free file shredder that supports erasing both files and folders, even from the right-click context menu in Windows Explorer.

Data Sanitization Methods: Random Data. Wise Care is a system optimizer program that includes over 10 tools for optimizing a computer, one of which is a file shredder for protecting privacy. The file shredder is located in the Privacy Protector section of the program.

Just load one or more files and folders using the Add button and click Shred to immediately start the process. A portable version is also available from within the installable version. Wise Care can also completely remove deleted files by overwriting them with more secure sanitization methods than the file shredder. This tool is called Disk Eraser.

System Mechanic Free is a suite of several programs, such as a registry cleaner, defrag program , and a file shredder. Just drag and drop any file or folder you wish to remove, walk through the wizard to select how many times to overwrite the data times , and then click the Incinerate Now button to start.

You must enter your email address during setup to get a free activation key required to make System Mechanic Free work. Data Sanitization Methods: Write Zero. The data wipe method can run up to 16 times for greater privacy. During setup, choose Run without installing if you want to use ToolWiz Care as a portable program. Baidu PC Faster is a system optimizer that includes a file shredder. To use it, go to ToolBox top right corner and then File Shredder , drag and drop one or more files into the window, and click Shred Now.

The data wipe method can be ran three times by selecting the Triple Shred option. Something unique about the Baidu PC Faster file shredder is that it keeps a history of the files you've shredded. You, of course, can't restore these files, so it serves more as an informative list that you can clear at any time.