Erase Hard Drive for DOS

3. Running Active@ KillDisk for DOS

After you purchase Active@ KillDisk, you will receive a zip file named KD-SETUP.zip. This file contains everything you need to set up and run the application.

Double-click on the .zip file to open it up. In the window that opens, click Extract all files. The Extraction Wizard will open. Click Next to continue.

From the Select a Destination dialog, select the location where you want the folder to be placed. Then click Next to extract the files.

Use these files while following the steps to prepare a bootable disk.

3.1 Preparing a DOS-Bootable USB / floppy Disk  

Active@ KillDisk for Hard Drives is a powerful utility with a small footprint.

It is small enough to operate from a single USB / floppy drive in a Microsoft DOS environment.

This can be useful in a number of situations. For example, a computer technician who is assigned to erase the data on PCs with hard drives containing Windows operating systems or operating systems other than DOS or Windows, can use a single DOS-bootable USB / floppy to erase all data.

This chapter describes the steps to create a DOS-bootable USB, floppy(a startup disk) and run the utility. If you have a bootable USB / floppy, skip to the Copy Active@ KillDisk to a USB / floppy section, below.

If you want to create a bootable CD ROM, follow instructions in 3.2 Preparing a Bootable CD.

3.1.1 System Formatting  

To prepare a bootable USB / floppy from MS-DOS, Windows 95/98/ME/XP, put a blank 3.5-inch USB / floppy in the USB / floppy drive (drive A:) and follow the appropriate instructions below.

Windows 95/98 MS-DOS or Command Prompt Mode

1. On the screen, type the format command as follows: FORMAT A: /S
2. Follow on-screen messages until process is complete.

Windows 95/98/ME Operating System

1. Click the Start button and click Settings > Control Panel.
2. From the Control Panel screen, click Add/Remove Programs.
3. In the Add/Remove Programs screen, click the Startup Disk tab.
4. Click Startup Disk... and follow the screen instructions until the process is complete.

Windows XP Operating System

1. Right-click A: drive.
2. From the drop-down menu, click Format...
3. Enable the checkbox beside Create an MS-DOS startup disk.
4. Click the Start button and follow the screen instructions until the process is complete.

3.1.2 Copying KILLDISK.EXE, DOS4GW.EXE Files to a USB / floppy 

Copy the Active@ KillDisk for Hard Drives file (KILLDISK.EXE) and DOS-extender file (DOS4GW.EXE) to the bootable USB / floppy disk or startup disk in drive A:.

If you don't have the Active@ KillDisk for Hard Drives file, download it from http://www.killdisk.com/downloadfree.htm.

After copying the file onto the USB / floppy, remove it from the USB / floppy drive.

Labelling the Disk

If you plan to use Active@ KillDisk for Hard Drives in Command Line mode, please skip the next section and read Boot to DOS (Command Line Mode). Once preparation of the bootable 3.5-inch USB / floppy disk is complete, you are ready to begin removing data.

3.1.3 One-Step Method  

Combine all the above steps into one by navigating to our Web site.

Download and run Bootable USB / floppy Disk Creator for Active@ KillDisk.

Once you have installed Active@ KillDisk on the USB / floppy, you are ready to boot from the USB / floppy and use the software for disk erasing.