Trying to use DBan

[David M]

I am building a new computer and want to use my old drive. I don't want Windows 7 to recognize that I already have Vista installed and offer to bring in all the previous garbage...I want to start with a clean slate and install Windows 7 from scratch. So I figure the thing to do is to wipe my drive clean so this cannot happen. I remember Sarge having the same problem so I am trying to avoid it.


I found the website for Dban and successfully downloaded the software. Its a Zip compressed file so clicked on extract all files. It offered to send the file to C: Users/User/Downloads/Dban.... So I said okay. So looking in the Dban folder I do not see a .exe file but I do see the Read Me file. In reading the Read Me file, its unclear to me what I am supposed to do. Do I download the and install the file to my computer and then copy it to my floppy? Do I download the file directly to a floppy compressed? Or do I download the file to the floppy uncompressed. Where is the .exe file?

If anyone knows please let me know what I need to do in more detail than what the Read Me file provides. I'm not real familiar with manipulating files so any details that a folder neophyte like myself might not know is most appreciated.

I do realize that the computer must boot from the floppy for this to work and that I need to change the boot priority accordingly. I just cant figure out how to get the software properly installed on the floppy.

Thanks

This is what the Dban Read Me file says:
2.0 Installing DBAN
--------------------


2.1 Creating the DBAN boot media on Microsoft Windows
-------------------------------------------------------

Double-click the 'dban-1.0.7_i386.exe' program to install DBAN to a
floppy disk or USB flash device.

You must use an account with full hardware access to create the DBAN boot
media. This means that you must be a member of the administrators group or
have similar privileges on your Microsoft Windows computer. Virus scanners
and domain policies can prevent you from creating the DBAN boot media.

The USB booting capabilities of many computers are incomplete or broken. Most
computers capable of booting from a USB device require that it report a
removable media type, and that it be unpartitioned and smaller than two
gigabytes (so that the BIOS can boot it like a floppy disk).

If the drive letter of your USB device does not appear in WinImage drive list,
then it is an unsupported media type. In particular, most USB+IDE bridge
implementations are unrecognized, which means that a 2.5 inch hard disk in an
external USB enclosure is incompatible.

Edit:
In looking here..https://www.washington.edu/uware/dban/faq.html It says I cannot load the compressed file to a CD or floppy. I have to uncompress the file in my computer and then copy and paste dban-1.0.6_i386.exe to the floppy. But where in heck is the .exe file? I have looked through all the folders. I also tried Vista Search which is usually pretty worthless for finding things.

Edit: I found the WinImage Self Extractor. It was at the very top of the Search when I used the search word "Boot". It says Install DBAN on this floppy or USB flash device. When I choose a drive it only gives me the option for A drive. Its not recognizing that I have a USB flash drive in the computer. So I put in a blank but formatted floppy and I get this error... Disk Error on Track 1, head 0 Address mark not found. The drive cannot find the sector requested. So I reformatted the floppy ad get the error message: Windows Error N.5 Access is denied.

Does anyone know of any free or pay for drive erase software that is less of a hassle?

Thanks

[dbc]

I believe you have to burn the ISO file to a CD. Unless you are actually trying to put it on a Floppy.

[David M]

Isn't an ISO file an image file, like a PDF and not a data file? I looked inside the ISO file anyway and did not see any xxx.exe file....it wouldn't even open

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_image

I did load dban onto a floppy a long time ago and it worked then.

At this point I would pay someone to mail me one that works. Any takers?

[Force Flow]

There's a few utilities (including DBAN and Boot & Nuke) on the Ultimate Boot CD.

If you need SATA support, it's better to use the 5.0 release candidate: http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/forums...pic.php?t=2131

[David M]

Thanks Force.

I tried the link to start the download and it just brings me back to the same page.

I'm going down to the local computer shop and have him make me a CD that has a good drive wipe utility.

Sometimes ya just gotta raise the white flag and admit defeat.


Your help is much appreciated.

[Force Flow]

This mirror has the download: http://www.myubcd.com/