Bootable Disk Wipe - Erase Hard Drive or SSD with Bootable USB

In this article, you’ll learn what a bootable disk wipe is, the best disk wipe software, and how to easily wipe data from HDD/SSD in Windows 7, 8/8.1, 10, and 11. Scroll down to learn more!

By @Ivy
Last Updated November 20, 2025

What Is a Bootable Disk Wipe?

A bootable disk wipe is a secure erase method that wipes a hard drive or SSD using a bootable USB drive or CD/DVD, rather than running the wiping tool inside Windows. It is ideal for use before recycling, selling, or repurposing a drive. It’s safer than deleting files or formatting as it:

  • overwrites the entire drive, making old data nearly impossible to recover.
  • bypasses the OS, avoiding file locks, permissions issues, and malware interference.
  • allows use of stronger secure-erase algorithms such as DoD 5220.22-M, Gutman, etc.

This makes it the go-to method for wiping system disks, corrupted drives, or any storage device that cannot be erased while in use.

Best Disk Wipe Software Bootable USB (Free & Paid)

Before choosing a tool for securely erasing a hard drive or SSD, it helps to compare the most reliable bootable disk wipe utilities available today. Here’s a quick comparison:

Tool

Best For

Key Features

Ease of Use

DBAN (Darik’s Boot and Nuke)

Older PCs, HDD wiping

Multi-pass overwrite (DoD), simple interface

★★★☆☆ (Basic)

GParted Live

User needing GUI control & partition tools

Partition editing, delete/resize, disk wipe options

★★★★☆ (Intermediate)

AOMEI Backupper

Modern PCs, HDDs/SSDs secure erase

One-click wipes, SSD-friendly secure erase, full backup toolkit

★★★★★ (Very Easy)

DiskPart

Advanced users needing full control

Command-line “clean” & “clean all”, full disk control

★★☆☆☆ (Advanced)

It’s not difficult to see that AOMEI Backupper is the best bootable hard drive eraser for modern PCs & HDDs/SSDs, suitable for all user levels.

How to Perform Bootable USB Disk Wipe Step by Step

💡What Do You Need:
◾ Prepare a USB drive (at least 16GBor higher; all data will be erased).
◾ Download and install AOMEI Backupper on a working computer.
◾ Backup files to external hard drive before wiping a disk. Otherwise, you’ll lose all data.

Creating a disk wipe bootable USB in Windows 11 or the operating system you are currently using is the first step to wiping a disk outside the operating system. AOMEI Backupper Professional integrates all necessary features into a single software, making the process more straightforward.

AOMEI Backupper
Best Bootable Hard Drive Eraser for Windows
  • With a simple and intuitive interface, all users can use it easily and quickly.
  • 3 boot methods: Create a bootable USB, CD/DVD, or ISO file to start your computer.
  • 3 disk wiping options: Wipe partition(s), unallocated space, or entire disk.
  • 4 disk wiping methods: Fill sectors with Zero, random data, DoD 5220.22-M, and Gutman.
  • More advanced features: It integrates a full backup utility, such as file backup, system backup, schedule backup, etc., for continuous backup.
Free Download
Windows 11/10/8/7
100% Secure

Step 1. Launch AOMEI Backupper. Then, go to Tools and click Create Bootable Media.

Step 2. Select USB Boot Device and click Create. It will automatically create a Windows PE bootable USB drive.

Step 3. Once complete, insert the USB into the target PC and prepare to boot from it.

  • Press the BIOS key (e.g., F2, F10, F12, ESC, etc) to access the Windows recovery environment.
  • Under the Boot tab, locate the USB drive and set it as the first boot option.
  • Press F10 to save changes and reboot.

Step 4. The system should now boot from the USB. Click Disk Wipe under the Tools.

Step 5. Select a disk wiping option - Wipe partition(s) or unallocated space on the disk, or Wipe Disk. Then, select the desired partition or disk to wipe.

Step 6. Select a disk wiping method - Fill sectors with zero, random data, DoD 5220.22-M, and Gutman. At last, click Start to erase a hard disk in Windows.

  • Fill sectors with Zero - Fast, basic wipe, suitable for HDDs.
  • Fill with random data - Better security than Zero.
  • DoD 5220.22-M - Based on U.S. Department of Defense standards; multiple passes.
  • Gutmann - 35 passes; extremely secure but very slow.

Final Thoughts

A bootable disk wipe is the safest method to ensure your data is completely erased, especially when preparing a drive for disposal, resale, or repurposing. Unlike simple file deletion or formatting, it overwrites all sectors outside the operating system, preventing recovery of sensitive information.

Choosing the right tool is critical, particularly for modern SSDs. AOMEI Backupper offers users the Disk Wipe feature that can be used to erase HDDs and SSDs in Windows 7, 8/8.1, 10, and 11 without extra software.

Free Download Windows7/8/8.1/10/11
Secure Download

FAQs

Q1: Can wiped data still be recovered?

No, you can’t recover data using conventional recovery tools if you perform a bootable disk wipe properly. For extremely sensitive data, multi-pass or certified erase methods provide extra assurance.

Q2: Do I need to remove the drive from the PC?

Not necessarily. Most bootable wipes can erase drives while installed in the system. However, for external drives, cloning, or if the PC cannot boot from the USB, removing the drive and connecting it to another machine may be more practical.

Q3: How long does a bootable disk wipe take?

The duration depends on the drive size, type, and wipe method. A single-pass wipe on an HDD may take a few hours, while multi-pass DoD or Gutmann methods can take many hours or even overnight. SSD secure erase is usually completed in minutes.

Q4: Is a bootable disk wipe free?

Many tools, like DBAN and GParted Live, are completely free. Others, such as AOMEI Backupper, which offer more advanced features, require a fee.

Q5: Can a bootable disk wipe remove malware completely?

Yes, a bootable disk that completely wipes the drive can remove most malware, but it is not a 100% guarantee for all scenarios, especially when threats are hidden within the firmware.