DiskPart Clean vs Clean All: Which One to Choose

Finley updated on Jul 12, 2024 to Computer Instruction | How-to Articles

Want to clear data and partitions? Use the DiskPart Clean and Clean All commands for this purpose. Read this guide to know which one to choose: DiskPart Clean vs Clean All!

Multiple methods and third-party applications come in handy whenever you want to erase data on partition disks. However, DiskPart— a command-line utility in Windows— is considered the easiest method. The DiskPart command interpreter helps Windows users manage drives or partitions. Want to get rid of old data? Use DiskPart Clean or Clean All commands to clear data and partitions quickly.

Although both Clean and Clean All commands seem the same, they differ in their functionalities. In this guide, we'll discuss the differences between DiskPart Clean and Clean All alongside detailed methods to utilize both commands to clear out partitions/volumes. Let's explore DiskPart Clean VS Clean All!

Diskpart Clean vs Clean All: What's the Difference

Many users get confused about whether to utilize the Diskpart Clean or Clean All command to wipe out partition data. Worry no more! Let's unfold the similarities and differences:

🔴Working Principle— DiskPart Clean command deletes all partitions and data but does not really zero out the disk. On the other hand, DiskPart Clean All not only wipes the disk data completely but also ensures that each drive sector is zeroed.

🟠Data Recovery— One significant difference between both is that the DiskPart Clean All command makes the data unrecoverable as it writes over each sector of the disk.

🟡Time of Operation— The DiskPart Clean Command completes in a very short time, while the Clean All takes 320 GB per hour to wipe data.

Specific Steps to Use Diskpart Clean Command

Have you decided to clear out partition data using the DiskPart Clean Command? Let's move on to the step-by-step guide to do so:

Step 1. Open "Command Prompt" on your Windows PC by clicking "Run as Administrator."

Step 2. Type in DiskPart and then press the enter button. Type "list disk" and press enter again. This command will showcase all the drives on your PC.

Step 3. Select the disk with the specified number. For example, type select disk 2.

Step 4. Once the disk has been selected, type Clean and press enter. This command will clean or wipe out all the data in the selected disk.

You can always recover lost data after accidentally cleaned sidk using DiskPart command.

Share this helpful information on social media with your colleagues and friends to help them utilize the Clean and Clean All commands and wipe out the partition data.

 

Correct Method to Run Clean All Command

If you've decided to clean the disk or partition completely to its factor reset state or want to clear out the bad sectors, using the Clean All command is the only solution. Follow the below step-by-step guide to utilize the "Clean All" command:

Step 1. Type CMD in the search panel on your Windows PC and launch "Command Prompt" as administrator.

Step 2. Type Diskart and press the enter button. Next, type in list disk to view all the partitions and volumes on your PC.

Step 3. Then, enter the Select disk X to choose a particular disk. Once a disk is selected, it's time to wipe out the partition or disk completely.

Step 4. Type clean all and press the enter button. This will completely wipe out the partitions and data and ensure that each sector has been zeroed on the disk.

Pro Tips: What if Diskpart or Clean All Stuck and Your Data Is Lost

Sometimes, running a DiskPart command might cause the command prompt to be stuck, which can cause data loss. In some other scenarios, DiskPart Clean or Clean All can be disturbed due to a power outage or system crash. Worry not, as we have got a solution to this problem!

We recommend using EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard to recover lost data during the stuck Clean or Clean all commands. Not only can it recover data from the hard drive of your PC, but external hard drives, USB drives, and fusion drives can also be recovered. It can recover deleted files such as documents, images, videos, emails, and multiple other file formats— thus, no need to worry about having more than one tool!

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard can recover lost data from multiple situations, such as system crashes, virus or malware attacks, hard drive failures, and more. Even if the files have been deleted from the Recycle Bin, you can quickly recover them with the help of this data recovery software.

FAQs

1. What is the difference between clean and clean all SSD?

The Clean command can clear or wipe data alongside existing partitions from the SSD. On the other hand, the Clean All command cannot only securely erase data from the drive but also make it unrecoverable in the future by replacing sectors on SSD.

2. Is DiskPart clean all the same as format?

DiskPart Clean All commands can wipe out the partitions and data, making it unrecoverable. Format means erasing all the partitions and data and changing the volume format, such as FAT32, NTFS, exFAT32, and more.

3. How long does diskpart clean all take?

The time taken by the Clean All command will depend on the size of the data. The Clean All command usually takes 320 GB per hour to clear or wipe out a partition or volume.

Closure

DiskPart can help users erase disk data securely without installing any third-party tools. However, many users get confused with the Clean vs. Clean All commands. If you want to clear the data on the hard drive alongside partitions but keep it recoverable for the future, use the Clean command. Additionally, the Clean All command is for those who want to wipe out partition data and make it unrecoverable.

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard can save your day by preventing data loss via its advanced scanning algorithm and quick scan feature if the DiskPart commands fail to execute.

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