How to Fix DBAN Not Booting from USB on Windows

Updated by

Sherly 

Written by

Linda 

Last updated on April 19, 2024

DBAN (Darik's Boot and Nuke) is a reliable tool for erasing sensitive information from storage devices. However, users commonly encounter an issue where DBAN fails to boot from USB on a Windows system. This predicament can hinder the crucial data wiping process and frustrate users seeking secure erasure of their storage media.

By accessing the tool, you can gain insight and find practical solutions to address this issue. This article will delve into possible reasons and methods to make your USB drive recognizable and allow DBAN to function properly, ultimately facilitating a successful data wipe. Follow along to learn how to overcome this challenge and restore your peace of mind.

How do I fix the problem of DBAN not booting from USB?

There can be several solutions to the problem of DBAN not booting from USB, each stemming from different causes. In this section, you'll learn why DBAN might not boot from a USB drive and how to actually resolve the issue.

Why won't DBAN boot from USB?

First, let's understand why DBAN won't boot from USB:

• Incorrect BIOS Boot Order: If the BIOS prioritizes other devices, like a hard drive, DBAN won't have the chance to boot.
• Defective or Incompatible USB Port: A damaged or incompatible USB port can disrupt communication, preventing DBAN from functioning correctly.
• Too Many Boot Devices Connected: An overcrowded USB port situation can create confusion, causing the system to overlook the DBAN drive.
• Outdated BIOS Version: An older BIOS version might not recognize certain features of a bootable USB drive.

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How to Fix the Problem of DBAN Not Booting from USB

Before beginning the troubleshooting process, make sure you have the following:

• A computer with DBAN downloaded on it.
• A FAT32 USB drive with enough space to hold the bootable media.

?Read Also: How to Format USB to FAT32.

Method 1: Remove Other Bootable USB Devices

Unplug all other bootable USB devices, leaving only the DBAN bootable USB plugged in. If your computer has multiple bootable USB drives connected, it may not be able to determine which one to boot from. If the wrong boot drive is selected, it may prevent DBAN from booting from the USB. To resolve this issue, unplug all USB drives and leave only the DBAN boot drive connected to ensure proper booting.

Method 2: Recreate the DBAN bootable device

When encountering issues with a DBAN bootable USB not working, it suggests a problem with the current boot device. This can be resolved by creating a new DBAN bootable USB. To ensure success, you can try using alternative boot media creation tools.

Follow the steps:

Step one: Visit the DBAN website and click the “Download DBAN” button to download the software.

Step 2: Click the Download button on the next page to start downloading the DBAN ISO image file.

Step 3: Once downloaded, save the DBAN file to an easily accessible location, like your desktop.

Step 4. Connect the designated USB flash drive to your computer. Go to the Rufus official website and download the latest version that is compatible with your system.

Step 5: Once the download is complete, run the Rufus program by double-clicking on the Rufus.exe file in File Explorer.

Step 6. In the Startup Options dropdown, select either “Hard Disk” or “ISO Image.” Use the Choose button to find and select the DBAN ISO file you downloaded earlier.

Select Disk or ISO Image

Step 7: Click “Start” to create the DBAN bootable USB drive. If prompted, click “OK” to proceed.

Method 3: Change the Boot Order in BIOS

To successfully boot from the DBAN USB drive in Windows 10, ensure it's at the top of your BIOS boot order. If not set, DBAN won't boot from USB to wipe the disk. To rectify this, enter your BIOS, navigate to the "Boot" tab, and set the DBAN USB as the preferred boot order.

Here are the steps to change the BIOS boot order:

Step 1: Restart your computer and press one of the following keys (F1, F2, F10, Delete, or Esc, etc.) to enter the BIOS settings. The key you need to press will depend on your computer/laptop model. You might find that different keys are used to access the BIOS, so press the appropriate key as soon as the startup screen appears.

Step 2: Use the arrow keys to navigate to the “Boot” tab.

Step 3: Use these options to move the DBAN USB flash drive to the top of the boot order list.

Step 4: Save all changes and exit the BIOS utility.

Figure 2: BIOS Setup Utility screen

Step 5: Your computer should reboot, and DBAN should launch successfully.

Method 4: Update the BIOS

An outdated BIOS can be the reason Windows 10 fails to boot DBAN from a USB drive. In this case, it's recommended to update your BIOS and make sure you're using the latest version.

Update the BIOS safely by following these steps:

Step one: go to the computer manufacturer's Web site and find the support page for your exact model.

Step 2: Download the latest BIOS update file.

Step 3: Carefully follow the instructions to update the BIOS.

Step 4: Restart your computer and try booting DBAN again.

Alternatively, you can refer to the following article for a more comprehensive and detailed BIOS update guide:

Best DBAN Alternative – Partition Master

Though DBAN is a powerful data erasure tool, its complexity and occasional boot issues might be troublesome for some users. In this case, we recommend AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional, a comprehensive partition management software with a user-friendly interface and a wider range of features. AOMEI Partition Assistant stands out as an ideal alternative to DBAN due to its unparalleled ease of use and versatility.

Follow the steps:

Step 1: Connect your USB flash drive, external hard drive or CD/DVD to the computer properly. Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant, click "Create Bootable Media", and then click "Next".

Step 2. Once your device is detected, select it as either USB or CD/DVD, then click "Continue".

If no burnable media is available, you can save the ISO image to your local disk and burn it to media at a later time.

Step 3: Connect the WinPE bootable disk to your computer, and then restart your PC. While it's rebooting, press F2 or Del to enter BIOS. Set the Boot Priority to “Removable Devices” (USB drive) or “CD-ROM Drive” (CD/DVD). This will allow your computer to boot from the removable device rather than the hard drive. Press F10 to save the settings and exit.

Step 4. Install and launch Partition Master. Select the HDD or SSD you want to wipe, right-click it, and choose “Wipe Hard Drive.”

Step 5: Select the number of times you want to overwrite the data. A maximum of 10 times is allowed. Then, click “OK”.

Step 6: Click “Erase 1 Task,” and then click “Apply” to begin erasing the data.

Additional features:

• Convert disks from MBR to GPT and vice versa.
• Scan disk surfaces for errors and fix them.
• Manage virtual disks created by other virtualization software.
• Support command-line operations for advanced users.

With its user-friendly interface, comprehensive features, and excellent data security, Partition Master surpasses DBAN and provides a better solution for all your disk management needs. Give it a try and feel the difference!

Now you can share this article on social media and continue learning how to use DBAN from a bootable USB to wipe disks.

Bonus Tip: How to Boot DBAN and Wipe the Disk

To boot from DBAN and wipe the drives, you need to create a bootable DBAN device and set the boot order in the BIOS to boot from the USB with the ISO file.

Create the DBAN bootable program using Method 2 or 3, and change the boot order in your BIOS.

After creating the DBAN bootable device and changing the boot order, follow these steps:

Step 1: Restart your computer and press “Enter” when you see the blue screen to start DBAN in interactive mode.

Step 2: The empty drive will appear on-screen; type “M” to browse the available sanitizing methods.

Step 3: Select the erasure method you require.

Step 4: Select the drive you want to erase, and press the spacebar.

Select the target drive and press Space.

Step 5: Press “F10” to begin the erasure process and wait for the drive to successfully wipe.

In addition to wiping the disk, you can read How to Wipe Your Computer for instructions on erasing everything from your computer.

How to Wipe a Computer [Mac & Windows]

This article includes effective methods to help you easily wipe your computer.

Conclusions

Successfully booting and erasing your hard drive with DBAN can be a satisfying experience, ensuring the thorough removal of data and protecting your privacy. This guide has equipped you with the knowledge and practical steps to overcome the issue of "DBAN not booting from USB," enabling you to accomplish your goal of data erasure.

While DBAN provides robust data erasure capabilities, Partition Master emerges as an attractive alternative. With its user-friendly interface, comprehensive features, and exceptional data security, it proves to be suitable for any disk management task. For users seeking greater usability and a more comprehensive suite of functions, Partition Master is the preferred choice.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on DBAN Not Booting from USB

If you have any questions or need further assistance, you can find answers in our Frequently Asked Questions.

Is DBAN safe to use?

Yes, DBAN is typically used for secure data erasure. It overwrites existing data on storage devices multiple times with random patterns, making it virtually impossible to recover the original information. However, it's crucial to remember that DBAN performs a permanent deletion of data. Once erased, the data cannot be retrieved. Therefore, it's essential to ensure that all important information has been backed up before using DBAN.

How do I force BIOS to boot from a DBAN bootable USB?

While the exact steps will vary depending on your system, the basic process involves entering your BIOS settings and changing the boot order. Here's a general guide:

• Restart your computer and enter the BIOS settings by pressing Del, F2, F10, or a similar key during the initial startup screen.
• Navigate to the "Boot" tab or menu within the BIOS.
• Browse through the boot options and set the DBAN bootable USB drive as the first boot device.
• Save the changes and exit the BIOS settings.
• Your computer should now attempt to boot from the DBAN USB drive automatically.

Note: Refer to your computer manufacturer's documentation for instructions on how to enter and navigate the BIOS setup utility.

How do I create a bootable USB from DBAN?

Here's a step-by-step guide on creating a bootable USB with DBAN for the US audience: 1. **Download DBAN (Darik's Boot and Nuke)** - Visit the official DBAN website at ``_ to download the suitable version for your system. - Get the USB-compatible "iso" file, usually named "dban-2.x.x.iso". 2. **Grab a USB Flash Drive** - Choose a USB drive with at least 1 GB of free space since DBAN ISO is fairly small. - Back up any important data on the USB, as it'll be erased during the process. 3. **Prepare a Bootable USB** - **Windows:** - Use software like Rufus, Etcher, or the built-in Windows tool (PowerShell or Command Prompt) to make a bootable USB from the ISO. - Plug in the USB drive and open the software. - Select the USB as the target device and choose "ISO" as the source. - Start the process and wait for it to finish. - **macOS:** - Format the USB drive as "MS-DOS (FAT)" or "ExFAT" using Disk Utility. - Open Terminal and type `diskutil list` to find your USB drive's disk identifier (e.g., /dev/disk2). - Unmount the USB with `diskutil unmountDisk /dev/diskX`, replacing "X" with the identifier. - Write the ISO to the USB with `sudo dd if=path/to/dban.iso of=/dev/rdiskX bs=1m`, replacing "path/to/dban.iso" with the ISO's path and "X" with the correct identifier. - **Linux:** - Format the USB as "FAT32" using GParted or a similar utility. - Run the `dd` command in the terminal: `sudo dd if=path/to/dban.iso of=/dev/sdx bs=4M`, where "path/to/dban.iso" is the ISO's location and "x" is the USB drive letter (e.g., sdc). 4. **Set Your Computer to Boot from USB** - Restart your PC and enter BIOS or UEFI settings (often by pressing F2, F10, F12, or Del during startup). - Go to "Boot" or "Startup" settings and adjust the boot order to prioritize USB devices. - Save changes and exit BIOS. 5. **Launch and Run DBAN** - Your computer should now boot from the USB and initiate the DBAN process. - Follow on-screen instructions to select the hard drives you want to wipe. - Be careful, as DBAN will permanently erase all data without asking for confirmation. 6. **Complete Data Erasure** - After selecting drives, DBAN will start wiping, which could take hours depending on drive size. - Don't interrupt the process until completion. Remember that DBAN is a powerful tool for secure data deletion. Use it responsibly and cautiously.

1. Visit the DBAN official website and download the tool. 2. Save the downloaded DBAN ISO file to a location you can easily access. 3. Use a tool like Rufus to select the DBAN ISO file and create a bootable USB drive. 4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.