text: ---
  external help file: Disk.cdxml-help.xml
  Module Name: Storage
  online version: 
  schema: 2.0.0
  title: Clear-Disk
  description: 
  keywords: powershell, cmdlet
  author: andreabarr
  manager: jasgro
  ms.date: 2017-10-29
  ms.topic: reference
  ms.prod: powershell
  ms.technology: powershell
  ms.assetid: 4084251C-5301-45DD-B710-20A7ED67799B
  ms.author: v-anbarr
  ms.reviewer: brianlic
  ---
  
  # Clear-Disk
  
  ## SYNOPSIS
  Cleans a disk by removing all partition information and un-initializing it, erasing all data on the disk.
  
  ## SYNTAX
  
  ### ByNumber (Default)
  ```
  Clear-Disk [-Number] <UInt32[]> [-RemoveData] [-RemoveOEM] [-CimSession <CimSession[]>]
   [-ThrottleLimit <Int32>] [-AsJob] [-PassThru] [-WhatIf] [-Confirm] [<CommonParameters>]
  ```
  
  ### ByUniqueId
  ```
  Clear-Disk -UniqueId <String[]> [-RemoveData] [-RemoveOEM] [-CimSession <CimSession[]>]
   [-ThrottleLimit <Int32>] [-AsJob] [-PassThru] [-WhatIf] [-Confirm] [<CommonParameters>]
  ```
  
  ### ByName
  ```
  Clear-Disk [-FriendlyName <String[]>] [-RemoveData] [-RemoveOEM] [-CimSession <CimSession[]>]
   [-ThrottleLimit <Int32>] [-AsJob] [-PassThru] [-WhatIf] [-Confirm] [<CommonParameters>]
  ```
  
  ### ByPath
  ```
  Clear-Disk -Path <String[]> [-RemoveData] [-RemoveOEM] [-CimSession <CimSession[]>] [-ThrottleLimit <Int32>]
   [-AsJob] [-PassThru] [-WhatIf] [-Confirm] [<CommonParameters>]
  ```
  
  ### InputObject (cdxml)
  ```
  Clear-Disk -InputObject <CimInstance[]> [-RemoveData] [-RemoveOEM] [-CimSession <CimSession[]>]
   [-ThrottleLimit <Int32>] [-AsJob] [-PassThru] [-WhatIf] [-Confirm] [<CommonParameters>]
  ```
  
  ## DESCRIPTION
  The **Clear-Disk** cmdlet clears the disk by removing the partition and volume information.
  
  If the disk contains active data volumes, then the **RemoveData** parameter is required as this will delete all data from the specified disk.
  This cmdlet will not clear OEM recovery partitions unless **ForceOEM** parameter is also specified.
  
  ## EXAMPLES
  
  ### Example 1: Clear a blank disk
  ```
  PS C:\> Clear-Disk -Number 1
  ```
  
  This example clears disk number one only if it does not contain both data or OEM partitions.
  
  ### Example 2: Clear a disk with data partitions
  ```
  PS C:\> Clear-Disk -Number 1 -RemoveData
  ```
  
  This example clears the disk if it has data partitions, but not if it also has OEM partitions.
  
  ### 1: Clear a disk with data and OEM partitions
  ```
  PS C:\> Clear-Disk -Number 1 -RemoveData -RemoveOEM
  ```
  
  This example clears the disk regardless of whether it contains data or OEM partitions.
  
  ## PARAMETERS
  
  ### -AsJob
  ps_cimcommon_asjob
  
  ```yaml
  Type: SwitchParameter
  Parameter Sets: (All)
  Aliases: 
  
  Required: False
  Position: Named
  Default value: None
  Accept pipeline input: False
  Accept wildcard characters: False
  ```
  
  ### -CimSession
  Runs the cmdlet in a remote session or on a remote computer.
  Enter a computer name or a session object, such as the output of a New-CimSessionhttp://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkId=227967 or Get-CimSessionhttp://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkId=227966 cmdlet.
  The default is the current session on the local computer.
  
  ```yaml
  Type: CimSession[]
  Parameter Sets: (All)
  Aliases: Session
  
  Required: False
  Position: Named
  Default value: None
  Accept pipeline input: False
  Accept wildcard characters: False
  ```
  
  ### -Confirm
  Prompts you for confirmation before running the cmdlet.
  
  ```yaml
  Type: SwitchParameter
  Parameter Sets: (All)
  Aliases: cf
  
  Required: False
  Position: Named
  Default value: False
  Accept pipeline input: False
  Accept wildcard characters: False
  ```
  
  ### -FriendlyName
  Specifies a friendly name of the disk to clear.
  
  ```yaml
  Type: String[]
  Parameter Sets: ByName
  Aliases: 
  
  Required: False
  Position: Named
  Default value: None
  Accept pipeline input: True (ByPropertyName)
  Accept wildcard characters: False
  ```
  
  ### -InputObject
  Specifies the disk object to clear.
  Enter a Disk CIM object, which you can get by using the Get-Disk cmdlet.
  
  ```yaml
  Type: CimInstance[]
  Parameter Sets: InputObject (cdxml)
  Aliases: 
  
  Required: True
  Position: Named
  Default value: None
  Accept pipeline input: True (ByValue)
  Accept wildcard characters: False
  ```
  
  ### -Number
  Specifies the disk number of the disk on which to perform the clear operation.
  For a list of available disks, see the Get-Disk cmdlet.
  
  ```yaml
  Type: UInt32[]
  Parameter Sets: ByNumber
  Aliases: 
  
  Required: True
  Position: 0
  Default value: None
  Accept pipeline input: True (ByPropertyName)
  Accept wildcard characters: False
  ```
  
  ### -PassThru
  Specifies that the cmdlet should output an object representing a disk.
  By default, this cmdlet does not generate any output.
  
  ```yaml
  Type: SwitchParameter
  Parameter Sets: (All)
  Aliases: 
  
  Required: False
  Position: Named
  Default value: None
  Accept pipeline input: False
  Accept wildcard characters: False
  ```
  
  ### -Path
  Specifies the path of the disk to clear.
  
  ```yaml
  Type: String[]
  Parameter Sets: ByPath
  Aliases: 
  
  Required: True
  Position: Named
  Default value: None
  Accept pipeline input: True (ByPropertyName)
  Accept wildcard characters: False
  ```
  
  ### -RemoveData
  Enables the removal of all of the data on the disk.
  
  ```yaml
  Type: SwitchParameter
  Parameter Sets: (All)
  Aliases: 
  
  Required: False
  Position: Named
  Default value: None
  Accept pipeline input: False
  Accept wildcard characters: False
  ```
  
  ### -RemoveOEM
  Enables the removal of any OEM recovery partitions from the disk.
  
  ```yaml
  Type: SwitchParameter
  Parameter Sets: (All)
  Aliases: 
  
  Required: False
  Position: Named
  Default value: None
  Accept pipeline input: False
  Accept wildcard characters: False
  ```
  
  ### -ThrottleLimit
  Specifies the maximum number of concurrent operations that can be established to run the cmdlet.
  If this parameter is omitted or a value of `0` is entered, then Windows PowerShell calculates an optimum throttle limit for the cmdlet based on the number of CIM cmdlets that are running on the computer.
  The throttle limit applies only to the current cmdlet, not to the session or to the computer.
  
  ```yaml
  Type: Int32
  Parameter Sets: (All)
  Aliases: 
  
  Required: False
  Position: Named
  Default value: None
  Accept pipeline input: False
  Accept wildcard characters: False
  ```
  
  ### -UniqueId
  Specifies the UniqueID of the disk to clear.
  
  ```yaml
  Type: String[]
  Parameter Sets: ByUniqueId
  Aliases: Id
  
  Required: True
  Position: Named
  Default value: None
  Accept pipeline input: True (ByPropertyName)
  Accept wildcard characters: False
  ```
  
  ### -WhatIf
  Shows what would happen if the cmdlet runs.
  The cmdlet is not run.
  
  ```yaml
  Type: SwitchParameter
  Parameter Sets: (All)
  Aliases: wi
  
  Required: False
  Position: Named
  Default value: False
  Accept pipeline input: False
  Accept wildcard characters: False
  ```
  
  ### CommonParameters
  This cmdlet supports the common parameters: -Debug, -ErrorAction, -ErrorVariable, -InformationAction, -InformationVariable, -OutVariable, -OutBuffer, -PipelineVariable, -Verbose, -WarningAction, and -WarningVariable. For more information, see about_CommonParameters (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=113216).
  
  ## INPUTS
  
  ### Microsoft.Management.Infrastructure.CimInstance#ROOT/Microsoft/Windows/Storage/MSFT_Disk
  You can pipe a Disk object to the **InputObject** parameter.
  
  ## OUTPUTS
  
  ### Microsoft.Management.Infrastructure.CimInstance#ROOT/Microsoft/Windows/Storage/MSFT_Disk
  When you specify the **Passthru** parameter, this cmdlet outputs an object representing the disk that you cleared.
  
  ## NOTES
  
  ## RELATED LINKS
  
  [Format-Volume](./Format-Volume.md)
  
  [Get-Disk](./Get-Disk.md)
  
  [Initialize-Disk](./Initialize-Disk.md)
  
  [New-Partition](./New-Partition.md)
  
  [Set-Disk](./Set-Disk.md)
  
  [Update-Disk](./Update-Disk.md)
  
  