It installs as a regular program, and requires elevated (run as Administrator) privileges in order to function. It has varying eraser methods, from a simple 'Windows erase' (simply tells the hard drive the file's no longer needed) to secure 1-35 (or maybe more) pass pseudo-random data overwriting. It has the option to wipe free space (where 'deleted files' reside), and you can also selectively erase files/folders from the drive. :drink LOLĪlready mentioned by plodr, Eraser is a great (free) program for securely erasing a hard drive while not destroying the things you want to keep.

:-o sorry for the rant - I've had a couple of Bloody Mary's and. I have performed MANY clean installs of Windows (probably over 2000 over the past 5-6 years), and MANY MANY people are shocked when they notice that Word and Excel are no longer on their PCs (even though I explained that 'everything will be erased, this includes ALL programs like Office or Nero or WordPerfect or iTunes, you will ONLY have regular Windows functionality with web access, multimedia capabilities, etc, but anything that is not 'built-in' to Windows will be gone). NOTE - Office is not 'built-in' to Windows. If the PC does not have a recovery/restore partition, the DO NOT wipe the drive unless you have an install disc for Windows with a corresponding product key. As Windows is re-installed and used, new data is written across the drive which effectively renders any previously remaining info un-useable. This will erase all the data on the main drive C: partition (however, it is not a 'secure wipe'). If you simply want to have a clean copy of Windows installed, use the recovery/restore partition if available. Generally speaking, performing a secure low-level wipe is unnecessary. All you'll get is a 'Operating system not found' message. Wiping will leave you with a laptop that powers on, and that's all. If you do not have a re-install disc for Windows, if you do not have re-install discs for Office and the other good programs, then wiping is NOT a good idea. Wiping a drive means that EVERY bit of data is COMPLETELY erased - forever.

Keep in mind that when you wipe the drive, all the 'good programs' like Office (and Windows 7 too) will be 100% gone forever, and if you're not careful, this may wipe any recovery/restore partition also.

Systemsaver wipedrive torrent