trueformat

trueformat is a Linux terminal utility for HDDs that completely erases a single selected raw block device by overwriting every logical sector with 0x00, leaving the drive in a blank, reusable state with no partition table, no filesystem, and no recoverable user data by normal tools.

Operates on whole disks only, never on partitions.
Must be run as root.

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Install

git clone https://github.com/alreadyClosed/trueformat.git
cd trueformat
sudo make install

Or with the convenience script:

sudo bash install.sh

To uninstall:

sudo make uninstall

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Usage

trueformat [OPTIONS] DEVICE
trueformat --list

Options

Flag	Description
DEVICE	Target whole-disk block device (e.g. /dev/sdb)
--list	List available HDD block devices and exit
-h, --help	Show help and exit
-v, --verbose	Print detailed live output during the operation
--verify	After wiping, read back every sector and rewrite any that are not 0x00
--remove-delays	Skip timed pauses (warnings and confirmations are never skipped)
--disable-safety-locks	Bypass system-disk protection. Dangerous.
--version	Print version and exit

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Wipe modes

Mode	Label	Description
1	Fast Wipe	Overwrites only the first and last 64 MiB. Not thorough.
2	Deeper Cleanup	Single full sequential pass. Not verified.
3	Full Wipe	Overwrites every logical sector 0-last LBA. Recommended.

Only mode 3 constitutes a complete sanitization of all user-addressable sectors.

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Workflow

trueformat --list

  DEVICE       MODEL                        SERIAL               SIZE     STATUS
  ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
  /dev/sda     Samsung SSD 870              S5XXNXXXXX          500.1 GB  SYSTEM DISK — protected
  /dev/sdb     WDC WD10EZEX-08WN4A0         WD-WXXX1234567     931.5 GB  available

trueformat /dev/sdb

1. Disk identity is displayed (model, serial, size).
2. A 3-second pause lets you read the information (skip with --remove-delays).
3. First confirmation: Y / N — is this the correct disk?
4. Mode selection: 1, 2, or 3.
5. Mode-specific warning is printed.
6. Final confirmation: type WIPE or N.
7. Partitions on the selected disk are unmounted.
8. All sectors are overwritten with 0x00, with a live progress bar.
9. Optional verification pass (--verify).
10. Final report printed.

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Safety

• The system disk (the disk your OS is running from) is blocked by default.
  Use --disable-safety-locks to override, which triggers a much stronger warning and requires the same confirmations.
• Interrupting before wiping starts reports: no changes were made.
• Interrupting during a wipe reports: operation incomplete, do not use disk.

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Requirements

• Linux
• Python 3.6+
• Root privileges (sudo)
• findmnt, umount (standard on all Linux distributions)

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License

MIT

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Note

The current version of this tool only supports HDDs