Learn how to use Darik’s Boot and Nuke (DBAN) to wipe a hard drive clean

Learn how to delete all your important data from a hard drive using Darik's Boot and Nuke software, great step by step guide with video.

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By (@Pureinfotech) , Windows How-To Expert and IT Specialist with 21 years of experience.
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Darik's Boot and Nuke - DBAN

I already showed you how to safely get rid of your old computer while protecting your data; now, in this video, you are going to learn how to use Darik’s Boot and Nuke (DBAN) to wipe or erase all your data stored in a hard drive.

Warning! You are about to delete all the data that resides in your hard drive. I would recommend you to make e a data backup in case things go wrong.

The first thing that we need to do is to grab a copy of Darik’s Boot and Nuke (DBAN) the software will be in .ISO format (ISO or disc image is a replica of an optical disc in a file). After you get the Darik’s Boot and Nuke ISO, you need to burn it to a writable disc; if you are using Windows 7 it is pretty easy:

  1. Right-click the dban-x.x.x_i586.iso file, go to Open with and select Windows disc image burner.
  2. Insert a new writable disc in your Disc Drive.
  3. Next, click Burn.

If you are not using Windows 7, you may need to get software in order to burn correctly the dban-x.x.x_i586.iso file; it could be ImgBurn or any other you like, and check their documentation to learn how to burn an ISO file.

When you finish burning the disc, you need to reboot your computer. Insert the burned disc into the Disc Drive and the computer will start Darik’s Boot and Nuke. If your computer does not boot to the software, make sure that you are able to boot from the computer’s Disc Drive. To do this, go to the computer’s BIOS and change the boot order to boot from Disc Drive first (This configuration may be different from manufacture to manufacture, so check the computer’s manual).

Next, I’ll invite you to watch the video and learn how to use DBAN:

About the author
Avatar for Mauro Huculak

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert and founder of (est. 2010). With over 21 years as a technology writer and IT Specialist, Mauro specializes in Windows, software, and cross-platform systems such as Linux, Android, and macOS.

Certifications: Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA), Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP), VMware Certified Professional (VCP), and CompTIA A+ and Network+.

Mauro is a recognized Microsoft MVP and has also been a long-time contributor to Windows Central.

You can follow him on YouTube, Threads, BlueSky, X (Twitter), LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].