Utility to zero-fill unused space on HD ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Patches Forever
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Patches Forever

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.
 
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
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.
Click to expand...

Eraser

heidi.ie
 
In alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt "Patches Forever"
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 ?
Click to expand...
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.
 
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.
Click to expand...

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 /?
 
Thanks for the info everybody

Bill S.

Frank McCoy said:
In alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt "Patches Forever"

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.

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/ ' / T
,-/-, __ __. ____ /_
(_/ / (_(_/|_/ / <_/ <_
Click to expand...
 
Eraser

heidi.ie
Click to expand...

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.
 
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