This is the step where the drive is actually wiped.
Wiping a Windows XP computer depends on whether you want to (reformatting) or just remove your personal data while keeping the operating system. Because Windows XP lacks the "Reset this PC" button found in newer versions, you must use an installation disc, a manufacturer recovery partition, or third-party software. Option 1: Factory Reset Using a Recovery Partition how to wipe a windows xp computer
| Method | Speed | Data Recovery Risk | Best For | |--------|-------|--------------------|-----------| | Quick wipe via XP CD | Fast | High (recoverable) | Personal reuse of same drive | | DBAN (DoD 3-pass) | Slow | Very low | Donation or sale | | DBAN (Gutmann) | Extremely slow | Negligible | Highly sensitive data | | Physical destruction | Instant | Zero | Final disposal | This is the step where the drive is actually wiped