An operating system is system software that manages computer hardware, software resources, and provides common services for computer programs. 

An operating system is the most important software that runs on a computer. It manages the computer’s memory and processes, as well as all of its software and hardware. It also allows you to communicate with the computer without knowing how to speak the computer’s language

What are the three importance of operating system?

An operating system has three main functions: (1) manage the computer’s resources, such as the central processing unit, memory, disk drives, and printers, (2) establish a user interface, and (3) execute and provide services for applications software.

If your Windows 10 system is slow and sluggish or if it’s severely infected with some troublesome virus, spyware, and malware that can’t be removed with the help of an anti-virus or anti-malware program, the only option you are left with is – format the Windows 10 OS. Full formatting – not quick formatting – removes all data from the Windows 10 hard drive including the viruses, malware, and spyware that are hidden deep inside the operating system.

However, this is not the only scenario where you need to format Windows. Before selling your Windows 10 powered laptop, PC, or the hard drives, it’s important that all your personal files and folders including programs and software files you used are permanently erased from the system or the drive to ensure privacy and protect yourself from data theft and data leakage.

You can either choose to delete data by formatting the partitions on your Windows 10 PC via Disk Management tool and system repair disc or use a data erasure tool that destroys data permanently beyond the scope of data recovery.

But first, let’s learn why you should always erase data – not just format or delete – for better data protection and privacy.

Format Vs Erase

Quick format, which is most commonly used format option, deletes access to the files that are stored in the drive. As a result, the deleted files after format still remains on the same drive or volume unless overwritten. Normal format removes the old file system and creates a new one but the data can still be easily recovered from such hard drives.

Erase makes data recovery impossible as it writes a pattern of 1’s and 0’s on the entire hard drive or where data was stored. Wiping and Scrubbing are two techniques that are used for erasing data. Wiping wipes the entire drive or volume including empty space containing previously deleted files and folders.

If you want to remove virus and malware or going to use the same system (or hard drive) after reinstalling Windows or any other OS, you can use Disk management tool or a system repair disc to format Windows 10. Follow these steps to format non-system hard drive volumes or disk using Disk Management:

1. Press ‘Windows+R’, type diskmgmt.msc and hit ‘Enter’.
2. Right-click on the volume other than C: and select ‘Format’. Confirm when prompted.
3. Type the volume label and uncheck the ‘Perform a quick format’ checkbox.
4. Click ‘OK’ twice and wait for few minutes or hours (depending on the disk or volume size) until the format is completed.

However, recovery of data from a formatted (& re-formatted) volume or hard drive is an easy task with the help of a clever data recovery tool.

To format Windows 10 drive (C:), you need a system repair disc and boot the system via the repair disc.

In case you are going to sell your PC or hard drives, erasing the data is the best way to safeguard privacy and protect data from theft and leakage. Erased data using a free wipe or shredder tool can still be recovered with the help of forensic tools or sophisticated data recovery software as they follow a basic pattern to fill drive with 0’s and 1’s. To make data recovery impossible, you need to use a powerful tool such as BitRaser for File that uses 17 international data erasure standards (algorithms) like NATO, U.S. Department of Defense (DoD 5220.22-M) 3 pass/7pass, etc. to erase files and folders or data from the entire volume beyond the scope of data recovery.

Follow these steps to securely erase Windows 10 without CD using BitRaser for File:

1. Remove the hard drive from the system.
2. Use SATA/IDE to USB converter and connect the hard drive to a different Windows PC.
3. Download and install BitRaser for file on the PC.
4. Run the software after installation.
5. Click ‘Erase Now’ and choose volume(s) of the connected hard drive.
6. Click the ‘Erase Now’ button to begin the erase process.
7. Wait for few minutes or hours (depending on the size of volumes). When finished, you don’t need to restart the system. Unplug the hard drive and remove the SATA/IDE to USB converter.
8. Insert the drive into your system, format it, and install your favorite OS or use it as a backup drive.

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