

Once downloaded, you’ll need to copy the contents of your ISO file to a DVD or USB drive.This can be either the latest release or the Long Term Support release. On another PC, or before you wipe your drive, head to the Ubuntu website and download the ISO file containing the latest desktop version.For this guide, we’ll be using the Linux live environment of one of the most popular Linux distributions – Ubuntu. You can use the pre-built Linux live environments that common distros like Ubuntu or Debian offer, or create your own using the Linux Live USB creator. Almost every Linux distribution (and supplied Live CD/USB environments) includes the software you need to zero fill a hard drive.Īlternatively, you could connect your hard drive to another PC running Linux, although using a Linux live environment prevents you from accidentally wiping the wrong drive. These are portable Linux environments that allow you to test distributions out before installing them, but we’ll be using them for a slightly different purpose. With that in mind, you’ll need to use a Linux live DVD or USB to allow you to zero fill a hard drive. Wiping a hard drive, by design, means that you won’t have an operating system left to run. While it may take a few hours to complete, it can save you significant problems in the future. If you zero fill a hard drive, you eliminate this risk entirely.
