CNET Editors' review
Darik's not kidding about the "nuke" in the name of his program: use DBAN only if you want to completely eradicate any trace of data on a hard drive. This is the ultimate in data shredding--there's no recovery once you've used it.
There are two work flows for using DBAN. When it loads, you can type "autonuke" and press Enter. From there, DBAN will show you the progress being made on wiping your hard drive's data. Larger HDs will take longer, of course. There's a more configurable option, as well. Hit Enter at the start-up screen, and the Interactive mode will let you select specific hard drives or partitions to be shredded. Use the space bar and up-arrow and down-arrow keys to navigate and select from shredding algorithm options, and press F10 to start the process.
Because DBAN loads before your operating system, there's not going to be much of an interface. If you're not familiar with the look and feel of DOS or changing your BIOS configuration, proceed with DBAN with extreme caution. DBAN must be loaded onto a CD, DVD, floppy disk, or USB thumbdrive to be used.
Publisher's Description
From Darik Horn:
Darik's Boot and Nuke ("DBAN") is a self-contained boot disk that securely wipes the hard disks of most computers. DBAN will automatically and completely delete the contents of any hard disk that it can detect, which makes it an appropriate utility for bulk or emergency data destruction.
DBAN is a means of ensuring due diligence in computer recycling, a way of preventing identity theft if you want to sell a computer, and a good way to totally clean a Microsoft Windows installation of viruses and spyware. DBAN prevents or thoroughly hinders all known techniques of hard disk forensic analysis.
This version of Darik's Boot And Nuke is for use on CD and DVD media.
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All versions:
4.2 starsout of 34 votes
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Current version:
3.0 starsout of 5 votes
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My rating:
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Results 1-5 of 5
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"Buggy, not user friendly."
Version: Darik's Boot and Nuke for CD and DVD 2.2.6 beta
Pros
Once you get it to function, it does the job.
Cons
You need at least intermediate knowledge of computers.
Summary
Got it to work on girlfriend's old computer, but it took some fussing to do so. I saved the disk (DVD) containing Dban to use on my old computer, but it keeps coming up with error messages.
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"DBAN nuke options explained"
Version: Darik's Boot and Nuke for CD and DVD 2.2.6 beta
Pros
If you want to understand the differences between the various types of wipe methods offered by DBAN, have a look at:
http://dougvitale.wordpress.com/2012/01/26/dariks-boot-and-nuke/Cons
Take a look at the user ratings on DBAN's SourceForge page. Currently DBAN stands with only a 74% positive rating.
Summary
If you don't like DBAN, other possibilities are listed in the link above.
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"Seems to work well if your OS is intact"
Version: Darik's Boot and Nuke for CD and DVD 2.2.6 beta
Pros
Used on an Asus with two HDs. Cleaned the first HD beautifully.
Cons
Followed instructions but couldn't get dban to skip from the first HD to the second. Also used on an eMachine with a corrupt OS. Failed twice. Upon third try (and third DVD copy), drive was inaccessible. Had to be destroyed physically.
Summary
I would use this product again if I wanted to completely clean an HD on a working PC prior to installing a new OS; however, if I had to fix the OS prior to using this product, it wouldn't be worth the time.
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"Wow...Everything gone means EVERYTHING GONE!"
Version: Darik's Boot and Nuke for CD and DVD 2.2.6 beta
Pros
As long as they follow instructions, a kindergartener could probably do it!
Cons
Having tech.smart kindergartener at home and seeing the ease of damage this program can do, afterwards I was scared to save the CD for some future use! (so my kids don't try to play IT guy with it!)
Summary
Does what is says it should do!...and since it erases literally everything, there is no possible hidden surprises! Everything is GONE!!!
Very easy to use, as long as you follow instructions and know what you want to do! -
"Serious problems, no developer response"
Version: Darik's Boot and Nuke for CD and DVD 2.2.6 beta
Pros
Software didn't work, no pros.
Cons
Using dban-2.2.6_i586.iso, latest version, received "ISOLINUX 4.00 4.00-pre46 ETCD Copyright (C) 1994-2010 H. Peter Anvin .. reading sectors error (EDD) ERROR: No configuration file found". Reported on boards since 2010, no response from developers.
Summary
Use at your own risk. The developers seem to have moved on to other things and left this software out there. Their site appears to be no longer maintained and user documentation is very dated.
Results 1-5 of 5
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