Utility to zero-fill unused space on HD ?

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Patches Forever - 29 Jun 2007 23:48 GMT

I thought there was a Norton Utilities program that had the capability to
write zeros on all the unused space on the hard drive. I looked at all the
menu options in Norton DiskEdit and Disk Doctor and I don't see any such
capability.

Can someone tell me do you know if Norton has it anywhere? Or what utility
can do it ?

TIA Bill S.

Reply to this Message

Leon Manfredi - 30 Jun 2007 00:16 GMT

Western Digital Utilities for WD Drives.....Check Web Site.
Seagate may have also...

>I thought there was a Norton Utilities program that had the capability to
>write zeros on all the unused space on the hard drive. I looked at all the
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
>TIA Bill S.

Reply to this Message

Michael Cecil - 30 Jun 2007 00:20 GMT

>I thought there was a Norton Utilities program that had the capability to
>write zeros on all the unused space on the hard drive. I looked at all the
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
>TIA Bill S.

Eraser

heidi.ie

Signature

Michael Cecil
http://home.roadrunner.com/~macecil/
http://home.roadrunner.com/~safehex/
http://home.roadrunner.com/~macecil/hackingvista/

Reply to this Message

Al Dykes - 30 Jun 2007 00:32 GMT

>>I thought there was a Norton Utilities program that had the capability to
>>write zeros on all the unused space on the hard drive. I looked at all the
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
>Eraser

I have some vague memory of hearing of a feature in XP to write zeros
as appropriate to make sure that old data it to be found in unused
blocks.

Signature

a d y k e s @ p a n i x . c o m
Don't blame me. I voted for Gore. A Proud signature since 2001

Reply to this Message

Michael Cecil - 30 Jun 2007 01:41 GMT

>>>I thought there was a Norton Utilities program that had the capability to
>>>write zeros on all the unused space on the hard drive. I looked at all the
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>as appropriate to make sure that old data it to be found in unused
>blocks.

You can use the command line tool cipher.

cipher /w:D:\

where D:\ is the drive desired to be cleared. See the options with
cipher /?

Signature

Michael Cecil
http://home.roadrunner.com/~macecil/
http://home.roadrunner.com/~safehex/
http://home.roadrunner.com/~macecil/hackingvista/

Reply to this Message

PeterC - 30 Jun 2007 09:12 GMT

>>I thought there was a Norton Utilities program that had the capability to
>>write zeros on all the unused space on the hard drive. I looked at all the
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> heidi.ie

Eraser is better than most, as it also overwrites cluster tip areas, file
name and alternat[iv]e data streams. Set it to 3 passes for speed, 7 for
security or 35 for paranoia (and go on holiday while you wait).
Don't defrag before using Eraser.

Signature

Peter.
You don't understand Newton's Third Law of Motion?
It's not rocket science, you know.

Reply to this Message

Frank McCoy - 30 Jun 2007 00:35 GMT

In alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt "Patches Forever"
<jorkimer99@comcast.net> wrote:

>I thought there was a Norton Utilities program that had the capability to
>write zeros on all the unused space on the hard drive. I looked at all the
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>Can someone tell me do you know if Norton has it anywhere? Or what utility
>can do it ?

TWO Norton utilities will do the job:
Wipeinfo
SpeedDisk

In Wipeinfo, you can "Wipe Free Space".
In SpeedDisk, you have the option of filling free space with zeroes
after the defrag is done. (Look under Options.)

In either case, if you really want to completely wipe the disk, then
format it first (Fast Format) and then run either the defrag or the
wipe.

Signature

_____
/ ' / ™
,-/-, __ __. ____ /_
(_/ / (_(_/|_/ / <_/ <_

Reply to this Message

Patches Forever - 30 Jun 2007 06:57 GMT

Thanks for the info everybody

Bill S.

> In alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt "Patches Forever"
> <jorkimer99@comcast.net> wrote:
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> format it first (Fast Format) and then run either the defrag or the
> wipe.

Reply to this Message