I'm on the hunt for a Linux program that functions like Guru's HDD Low Level Format Tool for Windows. I tried using zeros, but it didn't do the trick. Can anyone recommend a good GUI tool for formatting hard drives?
3 Answers
I installed Disks from the Lubuntu repository and find it useful since it provides detailed disk health info with SMART stats. It might be worth a try!
If you're looking for a secure way to wipe a SATA drive, consider using the built-in secure erase feature of the drive itself. You can typically do this from Linux. I found a guide that might help you out: [link](https://grok.lsu.edu/Article.aspx?articleid=16716). Just make sure to follow the steps carefully!
Have you tried using GParted? It's a solid option for zeroing out drives. If you're using GNOME, there's also the Disks utility you can check out. Both can help you format your drives.
You could even run a command like `dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/TARGETDRIVE bs=100M conv=sync status=progress` to zero out the drive if you don't mind the terminal. Just remember to replace TARGETDRIVE with your actual drive.
Yeah, `dd` can be powerful but be careful with it! GParted provides a nice GUI if you're less comfortable with commands.
Nice, I liked Disks for the SMART options too! I noticed a feature in Ventoy to remove/format drives as well; you might explore that.