Learn How to Wipe a USB Drive

BitRaser^® Knowledge Base

How to Wipe a USB Drive?

Updated On Jul 28, 2025

This KB provides instructions on how to wipe a USB drive to ensure permanent data erasure beyond the scope of recovery using BitRaser Drive Eraser.

A USB drive is a portable storage media device that connects via a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface. Commonly referred to as a USB flash drive, pen drive, thumb drive, or memory stick, it typically uses flash memory to store data. Flash memory is non-volatile which means it is retained even after the power is turned off.

In this KB, along with wiping a USB drive, we will also touch upon wiping USB-connected external Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) and Solid-State Drives (SSDs) that are used predominantly for storing backups by enterprises.

With BitRaser Drive Eraser, you can erase USB flash drives of all types, including:

USB flash drive (commonly known as a pen drive, thumb drive, or memory stick)
USB-connected drive (external HDDs and SSDs with a USB interface)

The KB on how to wipe a USB drive is divided into 2 stages:

Stage 1: Download BitRaser Drive Eraser ISO & Make a Bootable USB

Stage 2: Wipe a USB drive with BitRaser Drive Eraser

Stage 1: Download BitRaser Drive Eraser ISO & Make a Bootable USB

Step 1: Log in to your BitRaser cloud account using the credentials received in your registered email after purchasing BitRaser Drive Eraser.
Step 2: Click on ‘Download BitRaser’ on the left pane. Click on the ‘Cloud Variant: BitRaser Drive Eraser’ option from the BitRaser Drive Eraser variants. (Refer to Image 1)

For the cloud variant, a stable internet connection is a must.

Image 1: Click on ‘Download BitRaser’

Step 3: Go to https://rufus.ie to download Rufus – an open-source application for creating a BitRaser bootable USB. Read the instructions to prepare the BitRaser bootable USB.

Stage 2: Wipe a USB drive with BitRaser Drive Eraser

Step 1: Connect the BitRaser bootable USB into the host machine (laptop or PC). Also, plug in the USB drive(s) or USB-connected storage media that you need to wipe into the host machine.
Step 2: Switch ON the machine. Enter the boot selection menu by clicking on the relevant function key as per the device manufacturer.

The machine will boot, and the BitRaser Drive Eraser software will get initiated. In the menu, internal drives and externally connected USB drives get listed. By default, all connected internal and external drives are selected.

Step 3: Select only the USB drive(s) that you need to wipe. (Refer to Image 2)

Image 2: BitRaser Main Screen with Connected USB Drives
Step 4: Click on the settings icon and navigate to the ‘Network’ tab. Enter details such as SSID and password to connect to the internet using Wi-Fi or Ethernet. Click on ‘Connect,’ and once the connection is established, click on ‘OK.’ (Refer to Image 3)

Image 3: Connect BitRaser Drive Eraser to the Internet
Step 5: Next, click on the ‘BitRaser Server’ tab. Enter the User Name and Password of your BitRaser Cloud Console account to fetch erasure licenses. Click on ‘Connect.’ (Refer to Image 4)

Image 4: Connect to BitRaser Cloud Console
Step 6: Select the erasure method, and then click ‘Erase.’ Click on ‘Yes’ when an alert window pops up, informing that all data will be removed permanently. (Refer to Images 5 and 6)

For companies wiping bulk devices, the entire process can be customized and automated using the ISO customization feature in the BitRaser cloud console. Once the ISO is customized, there is no need for manual human intervention.

Image 5: Select the Erasure Method

Image 6: Click on ‘Yes’ in the Alert Box

The data erasure process of how to wipe a flash drive will now begin; you can see the erasure progress on the BitRaser main interface and the screensaver. (Refer to Images 7 and 8)

Image 7: USB Erasure Progress Screen I

Image 8: USB Erasure Progress Screen II

Once the process how to wipe a USB drive is completed, the software will generate digitally signed reports & certificates of erasure and upload them automatically to your BitRaser Cloud account. (Refer to the Report Below)

Erasure Report