Wipe free space of a drive

Screen 2: Configure Options

Overview of Wipe Free Space of a Drive wizard

DriveScrubber uses patterns of random characters to overwrite the free space. This screen allows you to set the number of overwrites or specify a pattern for the overwrites. You can keep the default settings or change them.

Note: If you keep the default selections, data will be overwritten one time and the DOD 5220.22-M compliant technique will be used.

To follow are the configurable options:

Perform deep clean (may take several hours to complete)

Select the check box to perform a deep clean that wipes all of the free drive space, regardless of whether it was ever occupied by deleted data. A deep clean provides the highest level of security.

This option wipes both the Unsafe deleted files and the Unused free space. (Running an analysis on the previous screen will show the amount of space occupied by unsafe deleted files and unused free space.)

Clear the check box to perform a standard clean that wipes only the free space that was occupied by deleted data.

This option wipes only the Unsafe deleted files. (Running an analysis on the previous screen will show the amount of space occupied by unsafe deleted files.)

Configure advanced options

Click the Configure advanced options link to view or change the number of overwrites and the pattern used for overwrites. The screen expands to show the following fields:

Number of overwrite passes. Specify the number of times DriveScrubber overwrites the data. You can enter from 1 to 100. A higher number of overwrite passes increases security, but takes more time to complete. Help me choose.
- One (1) overwrite pass will generally prevent recovery using software-based programs, such as undelete utilities and hex, drive, and sector editors.
- Seven (7) overwrite passes will generally prevent recovery using hardware-based recovery methods. This is the standard used by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD 5220.22) and other government agencies.

Patterns of characters are used to overwrite data. One of the following two pattern techniques must be selected:

Use DOD 5220.22-M compliant technique. Select this option to generate a pattern that is compliant with the U.S. Department of Defense's standards for erasing data. This method uses an alternating cycle of random characters.
Use a custom pattern. To designate your own pattern, select this option and type the characters in the field.

When you are finished making your selections, click Next to start the wiping process.