Best Bootable Hard Drive Eraser for Windows 11/10/8/7

Need of bootable drive wiper

As time goes by, your computer may work slower and slower or become out of date. If you want to recycle your old PC or give it away, there is an important thing to do beforehand - data erasure. Otherwise, your private data will be exposed to others. How to erase your personal data securely?

The most direct way is to delete personal files and then empty Recycle Bin. However, your deleted files can often be recovered with data recovery software. You can also reset Windows with the “Reset this PC” feature in Windows 10. This feature indeed makes it harder for someone to recover your removed files, but it is still not enough.

If you want a stronger and more secure method of data erasure, you need a bootable drive wiper. A bootable drive wiper will overwrite your data on the hard drive and prevent all software-based file recovery methods from recovering deleted files.

Prime bootable hard drive eraser - AOMEI Backupper

Talking about bootable hard drive eraser, I’d like to recommend AOMEI Backupper Professional. It runs well on all editions of Windows 11, 10, 8/8.1, 7, Vista and XP. Let’s have a look at its main features:

How to perform bootable disk wipe in Windows 11/10/8/7 easily

AOMEI Backupper allows you to wipe a hard drive either within Windows or without Windows. In this part, I’ll show you how to use a bootable USB to wipe a hard drive securely and completely. There are two main stages involved:

Note: Your data can’t be recovered after wiping, so backup files that you still want to keep in advance.

Stage 1: Create a bootable USB

Step 1. Connect a USB drive to your computer. Launch AOMEI Backupper, click Tools and select Create Bootable Media.

Step 2. In the pop-up window, choose bootable disc type and click Next. It is recommended to choose Windows PE bootable disc so that you can access full functions of AOMEI Backupper.

Step 3. Select USB Boot Device and click Next. You will receive a prompt to format your USB drive. Click Yes to begin bootable media creation if you have already backed up important files.

Stage 2: Run disk eraser from bootable USB

Step 1. Enter BIOS and set the bootable USB as first boot device.

Step 2. You’ll see loaded AOMEI Backupper once your computer boots up. Click Tools and choose Disk Wipe.

Step 3. On the Wiping Type page, choose Wipe Disk and click Next.

Step 4. Select the disk that you want to wipe and click Next. You are able to choose more than one disk to be wiped.

Step 5. Choose the first wiping method - Fill sectors with Zero. Then click Start to begin bootable disk wipe.

✎ Note: For higher security level, you may use the other three wiping methods - Fill sectors with random data, DoD 5220.22-M, or Gutmann. The more complicated the method is, the longer time the wiping process would take.

Conclusion

If you are looking for reliable bootable hard drive eraser, AOMEI Backupper can be your best choice. It offers both the “Create Bootable Media” feature and “Disk Wipe” feature so that you can erase a hard drive without loading Windows. What’s more, it’s professional backup and sync software for Windows 10/8/7. Don’t hesitate to try it out by yourself!

 

FAQs about bootable disk wipe utility

What is bootable hard drive eraser freeware? Answer: Bootable hard drive eraser freeware refers to software that can be run from a bootable medium (such as a USB drive or CD/DVD) to securely erase data from a hard drive, making it unrecoverable.

Is bootable hard drive eraser freeware safe to use? Answer: Yes, bootable hard drive eraser freeware is generally safe to use when obtained from reputable sources. However, it's essential to follow instructions carefully and double-check the drive you're erasing to avoid accidental data loss.

How long does it take to erase a hard drive from a bootable USB drive? Answer: The time it takes to erase a hard drive depends on factors such as the size of the drive, its speed, and the erasure method used. Typically, it can take several hours to erase a large hard drive thoroughly.