AOMEI Partition Assistant
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Reset External Hard Drives?
Resetting an external hard drive is an essential task especially when erasing data, resolving errors, or preparing it for reuse. This process can be achieved through formatting or secure wiping, depending on the level of reset required. This guide will show you how to reset external hard drive on Windows.
By Gia / Updated on March 26, 2025
My external hard drive is cluttered with old files and keeps showing ‘access denied’ errors. I want to wipe everything and start fresh, but I’m unsure how to reset it safely. Could you provide a clear, step-by-step guide?
- Question from User
An external hard drive is a convenient way to store and transfer data, but over time, it can become cluttered with unnecessary files, corrupted data, or system errors. You may also run into issues like access restrictions, slow performance, or compatibility problems when switching between devices. Resetting the drive helps you resolve these issues. By doing so, you can restore the drive to a clean state and ensure it works properly. This guide will show you how to reset the external hard drive on Windows. Keep reading to reset your drive effectively!
How to Reset an External Hard Drive?
So, how do you reset an external hard drive? The process typically involves either a basic reset through formatting or a factory reset by securely wiping the drive. This section outlines four practical solutions. Let’s explore each one in detail.
Fix 1. Reset via File Explorer
Resetting an external drive via File Explorer is ideal for users who need a quick format without diving into advanced settings. By reformatting the drive, you erase all stored data and reset its file system (e.g., NTFS, exFAT). Follow these steps to reset your external drive via File Explorer:
Step 1. Connect your external hard drive to your Windows PC via USB.
Step 2. Double-click “This PC” to open File Explorer.
Step 3. Right-click the drive you need to format and select “Format…”.
Step 4. In the pop-up window, choose a file system as needed.
Step 5. Tick “Quick Format” and click “Start” to reset your drive.
Fix 2. Reset Using Disk Management
If File Explorer fails to recognize the drive or encounters errors during formatting, Disk Management offers a robust alternative. This built-in Windows tool provides greater control over partitions and is particularly useful for drives with corrupted file systems. It also allows you to initialize the drive or delete partitions entirely.
Step 1. Connect your external hard drive to your Windows PC via USB.
Step 2. Right-click “This PC” on the desktop and select “Manage”>“Storage”> “Disk Management”.
Step 3. Right-click on the external hard drive to format and click on “Format…” in the drop-down menu.
Step 4. Choose a file system and tick “Perform a quick format”.
Step 5. Click “OK” to format the drive and wait until finished.
Fix 3. Perform a Basic Drive Reset
If you want to reset your external hard drive easily, using a reliable tool can make the process faster and more efficient. That’s where professional software like AOMEI Partition Assistant comes in. With this tool, you can effortlessly format partitions to NTFS, FAT32, Ext2, Ext3, Ext4, or exFAT on Windows 11, 10, 8/8.1, and 7.
100% SecureHere’s how to reset an external hard drive using AOMEI Partition Assistant:
Step 1. Connect your external hard drive to your Windows PC via USB.
Step 2. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant; right-click the partition you need to format and choose “Format Partition”.
In the pop-up window, choose a file system and click “OK”. You can also set partition labels to quickly distinguish it from others in the future and change cluster size.
Step 3. Click “Apply” and then “Proceed” to start the formatting process. Alternatively, you can delete partitions to restore the drive to a usable state.
Fix 4. Perform an External Hard Drive Factory Reset
The methods mentioned above perform a basic wipe, meaning deleted files may still be recoverable with specialized software. If you want to permanently erase all data and ensure it cannot be recovered by any means, consider performing a factory reset by securely wiping the hard drive. Here’s how to do it:
100% SecureStep 1. Click the "Wipe" main tab and select "Wipe Hard Disk" option.
Step 2. Select the disk you want to wipe and click "OK" to continue.
In this stage, you can also select a wiping method to wipe the selected hard drive according to your requirements and click "OK".
- 4 Wiping Methods:
- Fill in 0 (by default): Overwrite all sectors with zeros.
- Fill in random information: Overwrites the hard drive with random data. It is more secure than the first one.
- DoD 5220.22-M: Overwrites addressable locations on the hard disk with binary 0's, binary 1's, and a random bit pattern from once to seven times. The more times you choose to overwrite, the longer the process will take. Three times to five times are recommended.
- Gutmann: Overwrites a hard drive with 35 passes. It is the safest way here, but it also takes the longest time.
Step 3. Click “Apply” and then “Proceed” to wipe all the data on the drive.
Final Words
In this guide, we have explored how to reset an external hard drive efficiently and safely. It is recommended to choose a suitable method based on your needs. If you require a factory reset, consider using AOMEI Partition Assistant to wipe the drive completely. No matter which method you choose, always back up important data to prevent irreversible loss.
