Note: This document applies to DBAN version 1. Prior versions are obsolete.
This page was last updated 2004-07-11.
Q: Why did my large hard disk shrink to 128 gigabytes after running DBAN?
A: The Microsoft Windows installation media that you are using only has ATA-5 support, which has a 128 gigabyte limit.
The operating system installer must have ATA-6 support to use all of disk that is larger than 128 gigabytes. The solution is to reinstall with Windows 2000 SP4 media or Windows XP SP1 media. If you do not have recent Microsoft Windows media, then research a "windows slipstream install" for instructions about how to create it.
Alternatively, you can install to a 128 gig partition, apply the service pack that provides 48-bit LBA, and then enlarge the filesystem afterwards.
Microsoft documents the issue in KB305098 for Windows 2000 and KB303013 for Windows XP.
Seagate gives the issue full treatment in their Windows 137GB Capacity Barrier document.
Q: Does DBAN wipe remapped sectors?
A: No.
Q: Can I start DBAN from DOS or start DBAN from a compilation CD-ROM?
A: Yes, DBAN can be started with the LOADLIN.EXE program.
Copy the kernel.bzi and initrd.gz files from the DBAN floppy disk to a DOS filesystem and run this command:
Q: Why doesn't DBAN detect the SCSI disks attached to my RAID controller?
A: DBAN doesn't have drivers for RAID controllers, only regular SCSI host adapters.
Q: Why does the floppy version of DBAN lock-up after I push enter at the boot prompt?
A: The floppy disk is bad. Use another.
Q: Why does DBAN fail if there is an Iomega Zip drive in the computer?
A: The dwipe device detection routine mistakes it for a mass storage device.
This is a recurring problem that was partially fixed in the dban-1.0.3 release. A hardware sample has been donated.
Q: Why doesn't the ZIP file or its contents fit on a floppy disk?
A: The ZIP file contains the DBAN install program.
Download the ZIP file to your desktop, unpack it, and double-click the install program. This program will create the DBAN floppy disk. The readme file has extra information about creating the DBAN floppy disk.
You cannot install DBAN by copying or unpacking the ZIP file to a blank floppy disk.
Q: Does DBAN have SATA support?
A: The current release has partial SATA support.
If DBAN does not detect a SATA controller running in native mode, then run the controller setup program and enable the "legacy PATA support" option. (ie: "Push <F2> to enter setup" when the computer starts.)
Full SATA support will be added soon. If you want particular hardware support in the next DBAN release, then mail a hardware sample to me or make a donation to cover its purchase.
Q: Is the Gutmann method the best method?
A: No.
Most of the passes in the Gutmann wipe are designed to flip the bits in MFM/RLL encoded disks, which is an encoding that modern hard disks do not use.
In a followup to his paper, Gutmann said that it is unnecessary to run those passes because you cannot be reasonably certain about how a modern hard disk stores data on the platter. If the encoding is unknown, then writing random patterns is your best strategy.
In particular, Gutmann says that "in the time since this paper was published, some people have treated the 35-pass overwrite technique described in it more as a kind of voodoo incantation to banish evil spirits than the result of a technical analysis of drive encoding techniques. As a result, they advocate applying the voodoo to PRML and EPRML drives even though it will have no more effect than a simple scrubbing with random data... For any modern PRML/EPRML drive, a few passes of random scrubbing is the best you can do".
Read these papers by Peter Gutmann:
Q: How do I make a bootable CD with the ISO file?
A: Download the ISO file to your desktop and double-click it.
If nothing happens when you double-click the ISO file, then you must obtain CD burning software, like one of these products:
If you burn DBAN to CD-R and see just one file when you open the CD-R afterwards, then you have burned DBAN incorrectly.
(Unix users can just use the cdrecord command.)
Q: I used DBAN and my C drive disappeared. Why did this happen?
A: DBAN erases the partition table, which causes all drive letters to disappear.
Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows 2003 will automatically create a partition during installation.
Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows ME might require that you use the FDISK program on the startup media to "create a primary DOS partition", which you must also format.
A:\> fdisk
A:\> format c:
Q: I have a laptop computer. Why does DBAN hang when it tries to detect the floppy?
A: The laptop computer is not connected to the docking station or to the external floppy drive.
Disable the floppy driver at the boot prompt with this command:
boot: dban floppy=0,16,cmos
Alternatively, disable the floppy drive in the BIOS configuration.
The fdutils documentation has a summary of linux floppy driver command line options.
Q: I have a new Intel motherboard. Why is DBAN slow?
A: The dban-1.0.3 release has a fix for this problem.
Q: I have an Adaptec AIC-7902 SCSI host controller. Why doesn't DBAN detect the disks in the RAID array?
A: DBAN cannot detect individual disks when host controller is in HostRaid mode.
Reboot the computer, enter the SCSI bios setup, and temporarily disable HostRaid mode.
Q: Can I rebrand DBAN?
A: Yes, DBAN can be rebranded for a small fee. Contact me for details.
If you rebrand DBAN without my permission, then I'll send a free unadulterated copy of DBAN to your customers.
Q: Can I wipe just one partition or disk?
A: Yes. Use DBAN version 1 or later.
Q: Is it supposed to take that much time?
A: Yes.
This forum post briefly discusses the issue.
Q: I get this dialog when I try to install DBAN:
A: Click ignore.
You are probably running a virus scanner, like Norton AV, that traps floppy disk access.
Q: What is the difference between the DBAN image in the ZIP file and in the ISO file?
A: There is no difference.
The mkisofs utility is used to generate the ISO file directly from the contents of the ZIP file. The IMG file is booted from the cdrom with floppy disk emulation.
Q: Does DBAN wipe the empty spaces between files?
A: Yes.
Q: Does DBAN wipe the swap file?
A: Yes.
Q: Does DBAN wipe the registry?
A: Yes.
Q: Does DBAN wipe the index.dat file??
A: Yes.
Q: Does DBAN wipe the NTFS metadata?
A: Yes.
Q: Will DBAN work properly if my BIOS is is old or broken?
A: Yes.
DBAN will still work properly if your BIOS does not detect all of the hard disks in your computer, or if your BIOS has disk size limitations.
DBAN is not subject to any DOS limitations because DBAN is based on Linux.
Q: Will DBAN work with my offboard IDE or IDE-RAID controller?
A: Yes.
Note, however, that most IDE-RAID devices are not actual hardware implementations. DBAN uses these devices as regular IDE controllers.
Q: Are you absolutely sure that DBAN works properly?
A: No.
There are several situations in which a DBAN failure could go unnoticed:
If you are seriously concerned about any of these situations, then consider drilling open your hard disk, grinding down the platters, and melting all of the parts in a furnace.
DBAN is "good enough" for "most people".
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