With that in mind, here’s how to completely wipe any old hard drive ... especially for a larger hard drive. It will take even longer if you opt for the most secure option. When the process ...

A drive erasure method that provides a fast way to delete all the data quickly when required. Instant secure erase (ISE) encrypts the drive, and when it is time to permanently delete all the data ...

Whether recycling through local channels or selling a drive or PC, you'll need to ensure it's wiped to protect yourself from someone else accessing personal data. A quick format won't cut it here.

Before we go about actually wiping any data from the laptop itself ... One more thing: Secure erasing a drive will completely remove everything on it, including the operating system.