Copyright: © 1994-2001 Symantec Corporation. All rights reserved.
Citation: © 1994-2001 Symantec Corporation. All rights reserved.


Introducing Wipe Info

Wipe Info removes all traces of selected files or folders from your hard drive. Free space can also be wiped from your hard drive, ensuring that previously deleted information is not left on your hard drive.

You can use Fast Wipe to write any character you choose to the area of the drive you are wiping. Alternately, you can use Government Wipe—a seven-pass procedure that conforms to the method specified in DoD (Department of Defense) document 5220-22-M, National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual.

Be certain before you wipe anything with Wipe Info. You cannot unerase information after it has been wiped.

Note: Windows Me System Restore can restore files that have been wiped if they are one of the protected file types. By default, many document types, such as .DOC and .XLS files in My Documents are protected. Windows Me System Restore maintains a copy of protected files. Wiping the original file does not wipe the copy that Windows Me System Restore maintains.

To wipe files, folders, or free space, click here  [image]  to start Wipe Info Wizard.

 More Info…	Click here for more information.


To open Wipe Info Wizard

You can open any of the Norton Utilities programs from Norton Utilities Integrator.

To open Wipe Info Wizard:

1	Double-click Norton Utilities Integrator on the Windows desktop.

2	Click System Maintenance in the left pane of the Integrator.

3	Click Wipe Info in the right pane.

Or click here  [image]  to open Wipe Info Wizard now.


To wipe a file or folder

Click here  [image]  to open Wipe Info Wizard, and then follow the on-screen instructions. Click Help on any screen for more information.

 More Info…	Click here for more information.


To wipe free space on your hard disk

Click here  [image]  to open Wipe Info Wizard, and then follow the on-screen instructions. Click Help on any screen for more information.

To be certain that you wipe everything off your hard disk, be sure to empty the Recycle Bin first.

 More Info…	Click here for more information.


 About the wiping process

Wipe Info has two choices for wiping.

Fast Wipe writes the value 0, or any other value you choose, to replace the data being wiped.

Government Wipe is a 7-pass procedure that conforms to the Sanitization procedure specified in DoD (Department of Defense) document 5220-22-M, National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual.

The steps for a Government Wipe are as follows:

1	The data is overwritten with all 0s, and then overwritten by all 1s.

2	The first step is repeated as many times as you like.

3	Then a random value, or any other value you choose from 0 to 255, is written.

4	The value written is verified to insure that it was written correctly.

5	The entire process is repeated as many times as you like.

To be certain that you wipe everything off your hard disk, be sure to empty the Recycle Bin first.

Note: Windows Me System Restore can restore files that have been wiped if they are one of the protected file types. By default, many document types, such as .DOC and .XLS files in My Documents are protected. Windows Me System Restore maintains a copy of protected files. Wiping the original file does not wipe the copy that Windows Me System Restore maintains.


Welcome to Wipe Info Wizard

Wipe Info Wizard erases information from your hard drive so that it cannot be recovered.

You can wipe files, folders, or free space from your hard drive.

When you wipe a file, Wipe Info wipes the file and attempts to wipe any free space associated with the file and the file’s directory entry.

When you wipe a folder, Wipe Info wipes all the files in the folder, and then if the folder is empty, it attempts to wipe the directory entry for the folder.

When you wipe free space, Wipe Info wipes the free drive space, file slack space, and erased file entries.

You cannot unerase files that have been wiped.

 More Info…	Click here for more information.


What files do you want to wipe?

Choose the file or files you want to wipe.

Drag files from Windows Explorer and drop them on the list.

Click Add To List to browse for files you want to wipe.

Select a file, then click Remove From List to remove files from the list.

You cannot unerase files that have been wiped.


What folder do you want to wipe?

Choose the folder you want to wipe.

Drag a folder from Windows Explorer and drop it on the box.

Click Browse to find the folder you want to wipe.

Check Wipe Subfolders to wipe all the files in the selected folder and all its subfolders.

You cannot unerase files from a folder that has been wiped.


What free disk space do you want to wipe?

Choose the drive that has free space you want to wipe.

Click the disk next to the drive you want to wipe.

Wipe Info wipes only the free space on the drive. It does not affect any current data that is on the drive.

You cannot unerase any previously deleted files from a drive that has been wiped.


What wipe options do you want to use?

Wipe Info has two choices for wiping.

Fast Wipe writes the value 0, or any other value you choose, to replace the data being wiped.

If you prefer to write a value other than 0, enter that value. You can choose any value from 0 to 255.

Government Wipe is a 7-pass procedure that conforms to the Sanitization procedure specified in DoD (Department of Defense) document 5220-22-M, National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual.

The default values meet the Department of Defense standards, but you can make any changes you like.

To repeat writing alternate 0s and 1s, enter the number of times to repeat in the Number Of Times To Repeat box.

To change the final value written, enter any value from 0 to 255. The final value written, in binary format, defines the pattern of 0s and 1s to be written to the wiped area of your disk.

If you wish to repeat the entire procedure, enter the number of times to repeat it in the Times To Perform This Procedure box.


Wipe Summary

Wipe Info Wizard lists the actions that you have asked it to take.

Click Back to change your choices.

Click Next to complete the wipe.

You cannot unerase files that have been wiped.


Could not open program

The program is not installed or has been moved from the folder in which it was installed.

To properly install the missing program, run Setup again.


Wipe Info is done

Wipe Info Wizard has completed the wipe. The results are displayed.

Click Close to exit.