tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13777170.post8068610238772064868..comments2024-03-11T02:35:50.848-05:00Comments on grand stream dreams: Free WipiesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13777170.post-19120850292433403192012-01-07T10:08:39.729-06:002012-01-07T10:08:39.729-06:00Another option is a FULL format (not quick) in Win...Another option is a FULL format (not quick) in Windows Vista or 7. <br /><br />Granted it is not an end to end wipe like DBAN but it does wipe all data and build the filesystem.<br /><br />This is documented by Microsoft at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/941961<br /><br />I have tested it in Vista and others have verified it in Windows 7.<br /><br />TonyCTonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12572789550230944335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13777170.post-33244365869034798242012-01-06T10:49:32.422-06:002012-01-06T10:49:32.422-06:00@MarkG -- You betcha!
I think I was focusing on G...@MarkG -- You betcha!<br /><br />I think I was focusing on GUI'ish tools rather than CLI ones with this post (with the exception of passing mention of FAU's wipe.exe which I like and the dcfldd tool); at least that's what I'm telling myself. I probably should have included mention of cipher and SDelete both.<br /><br />Back in a 2009 post I did spend some time on cipher: <a href="http://grandstreamdreams.blogspot.com/2009/03/partition-and-disk-management-part-iv.html" rel="nofollow">grand stream dreams: Partition and Disk Management: Part IV ...</a><br /><br />And again in a follow-on post hit them both again <a href="http://grandstreamdreams.blogspot.com/2009/04/secure-drive-wiping-postscript.html" rel="nofollow">grand stream dreams: Secure Drive Wiping postscript…</a><br /><br /><a href="http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897443.aspx" rel="nofollow">SDelete</a> – Microsoft Sysinternals – This is a command-line only tool that has a number of flexible options for secure wiping and cleaning of free space. It is tiny and relatively fast at what it does. Mark Russinovich also goes into great detail explaining just what the tool does and why it is good information to know about. Read the page closely to understand the command-line arguments particular to it as well as the method it uses.<br /><br />Then there is the previously described…<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=74306" rel="nofollow">cipher.exe</a> -- nV News Forums. Another command-line only tool that should be present on most XP/Vista systems, this Microsoft utility can also wipe out deleted files and remnants from free-space on a drive. The basic command is CIPHER /W:directory so to wipe the free space on your C: partition you would issue the command CIPHER /W:C:<br /><br />Both are great pocket-tools to keep handy for quick ad-hoc wiping jobs.<br /><br />Cheers!<br /><br />--Claus V.Claushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11692921474310162470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13777170.post-77709806073841652932012-01-06T10:39:42.669-06:002012-01-06T10:39:42.669-06:00@cdman83. Thank you for the greetings cdman83!
L...@cdman83. Thank you for the greetings cdman83!<br /><br />Like you mention, I've also had to zero-out freespace on a VHD to compact it. My VHD constructs have been pretty simple (single primary partition) so I've not run into the SDelete issue you mentioned, and it is indeed my choice for VHD free-space zero outs.<br /><br />I find the syntax (and descriptions) less than clear and there are sizable discussions in forums on the difference between "cleaning" free space versus "zeroing" free space.<br /><br />Sysinternals recently made some minor updates to SDelete: <a href="http://blogs.technet.com/b/sysinternals/archive/2011/09/01/updates-coreinfo-v3-debugview-v4-77-sdelete-v1-6-and-process-explorer-v15-04.aspx" rel="nofollow">Updates: Coreinfo v3, DebugView v4.77, SDelete v1.6, and Process Explorer v15.04</a> "SDelete, a command-line utility for securely deleting files and zeroing volume free space, fixes a bug that prevented it from accessing some files on 64-bit Windows and swaps the zero-free-space and clean-free-space arguments to make them more intuitive." OK, if they say it is more intuitive...<br /><br />I fully agree with the main issue with Eraser and the tasks/jobs scheduling. Once you understand it is OK but it does seems a bit clunky for the user-interaction.<br /><br />Cheers!<br /><br />--Claus V.Claushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11692921474310162470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13777170.post-42671563539439438752012-01-06T09:29:07.761-06:002012-01-06T09:29:07.761-06:00Don't forget Windows other built in wiping com...Don't forget Windows other built in wiping command:<br /><br />cipher /W:C:<br /><br />Wipes unallocated space on your file system. You can do the whole drive, or only a directory.MarkGnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13777170.post-17894596050879018752012-01-05T02:59:28.572-06:002012-01-05T02:59:28.572-06:00Happy new year!
Had to use a wiper to zero out th...Happy new year!<br /><br />Had to use a wiper to zero out the unused space on HDD recently (so that the VHD created from it could be smaller) and here is my experience:<br /><br />- SDelete has a weird syntax and refused to work on the non-primary partition (it could only wipe the free space in C not on D)<br />- Eraser has a weird interface (you have to create jobs and run them) and was slower than SDelete but at least it worked :-)<br /><br />Looking forward to many useful blogposts this year!Cd-MaNhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05030326541176171725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13777170.post-72449678172437301122012-01-01T00:26:41.959-06:002012-01-01T00:26:41.959-06:00Happy New Year, Claus! Many thanks for the shout-o...Happy New Year, Claus! Many thanks for the shout-out.<br /><br /><a href="http://tinyapps.org/docs/wipe_drives_hdparm.html" rel="nofollow">ATA Secure Erase</a> is also worth checking out:<br /><br />1. Hidden data areas like the Host Protected Area (HPA) and Device Configuration Overlay (DCO) can be overwritten.<br />2. Bad blocks are overwritten.<br />3. ATA SE is faster than block erase wiping tools.<br /><br />For further details, see <a href="http://ultraparanoid.wordpress.com/2007/09/12/securely-erase-hard-drives/" rel="nofollow">Securely erase hard drives</a>.Miles Wolbehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06088869267885343322noreply@blogger.com