shredos.x86_64

Project Overview

ShredOS is a bootable mini Linux system dedicated to secure disk erasure, with the well-known nwipe tool built in. It boots straight into nwipe's interactive interface and targets x86 PCs, servers, and Intel-based Macs, allowing irreversible data destruction even when the installed OS no longer boots. It ships 64-bit and selected 32-bit builds, supports both BIOS and UEFI booting, and can generate PDF erasure certificates for audit purposes.

Item	Value
Platform	x86 PCs, servers, Intel Macs
Core tool	nwipe
Boot media	USB / CD-DVD / Ventoy / PXE
Build system	Buildroot

Boot from USB to securely destroy an entire drive and get a certifiable erasure report.

Key Features

• Multiple erasure methods: nwipe's multi-pass overwrite and pseudo-random patterns with configurable rounds and verification
• Interactive interface: boots into nwipe's GUI where you select drives, choose a method, and confirm
• Unattended mode: autonuke enables fully automatic wiping for batch disposal
• PDF certificates: per-drive or system-wide certificates including SMART data and host information
• Disk toolbox: bundled smartmontools, hdparm, nvme-cli, hexedit, and more
• Flexible booting: BIOS and UEFI, PXE network boot, persistent configuration, and custom scripts
• Custom certificates: place a logo.jpg on the USB partition to brand your certificates

Target Audience

• Users retiring or reselling old computers
• IT admins disposing of drives in batches
• Organizations with data destruction audit requirements
• Technicians handling sensitive storage media

Quick Start

1. Download an .img or .iso image from the releases page
2. Verify the checksum listed in the release notes
3. Write the image to a USB drive or optical disc

   sudo dd if=shredos.img of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress conv=fsync

   On Windows use Rufus or Etcher; Ventoy users can simply copy the image onto the drive
4. Boot the target machine from the media and select drives in nwipe
5. Choose the erasure method and rounds, then start once the selection is confirmed

Core Advantages

• Ready to use: no installation required, works right after USB boot
• Forensic-grade destruction: multi-pass overwrites plus archivable PDF certificates
• Batch friendly: autonuke and PXE boot suit automated fleet disposal

System Requirements

Item	Requirement
CPU	64-bit Intel or compatible AMD processors; 32-bit builds available
Boot mode	BIOS or UEFI
Media	USB drive (.img), CD/DVD, or Ventoy (.iso)

Notes

• Data is unrecoverable: wiping cannot be undone once started; double-check every device name on multi-drive systems
• Write target: dd should target the whole disk (e.g. /dev/sdX), not a partition (e.g. /dev/sdX1)
• Pre-releases: pre-release builds may be newer than the latest stable; prefer stable for reliability