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"Eraser"...completely remove sensitive data from hard drive. April 10th, 2007

by: Charlie Le Ber
Eraser Allows you to completely remove sensitive data from hard drive Your sensitive data could include financial records, passwords, and any files you would not want to give away to someone who will soon own your computer.

When you empty the Recycle Bin, the files are not erased. Only reference to the file is gone. The files remain on the hard drive until they are written over several times.

Caution: After using Eraser to remove a file… It is gone forever…

Eraser will work on Windows 95, 98 ME and XP operating systems. You can download it from Brighton Computer Club Software Page. or on the club CD.

To supplement this presentation you can get more on the Eraser Quick Start Guide. This guide outlines how to erase everything from your harddrive.

    How to use Eraser:

      To erase a file. Let us assume you wish to erase your financial records in My Documents. It is a MS Word document.
    • Click on Start
    • Click on My Documents
    • Find "Financial records.doc"

    • Right click on it.
    • Now you will see a list of choices, put your pointer over "Erase" and click.
    • Now you will see Confirm Erasing.

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    • Click on Options

    • 0Choose the number of write passes. Number 3 with 3 passes should do. Number 1 with 35 passes is over kill and it takes much longer. The Pentagon uses number 2 with 7 passes.
    • Click on OK
    • You will get a Erasing Report.

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    • Note: There are some protected records in your computer. You may get a report which lists the records Eraser could not remove. You could try to uninstall the program involved and run again.

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      To erase unused space from you C drive: You could have readable data on areas of your hard drive that have no files now but had files previously.
    • Click on Start
    • Click on My Computer
    • Right Click on Local Disk (C)
    • Put pointer on Erase unused space and click.

    • Click on Options and choose the number of write passes.

    • An 8 GIG hard drive may take 2 hours for one pass.

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      How to move a file from your C drive to a Memory stick (F) leaving no trace of it on your C drive.
    • As described in erasing a financial record from My Documents above...
    • Right click on the file you wish to move.
    • Place pointer over Eraser Secure Move and click.

    • Click Yes
    • Choose My Computer

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    • Click on TravelDrive (F)(or equivalent name & (letter)) and click OK

    • Click Yes if you are sure you want to move the file.
    • Now your file is securily removed from your C dive and is on your Memory Stick for safe keeping.