Sweeping Free Space
Windows uses such a file system that only marks files as deleted when deleting them, and the information in them remains on the disk even if you empty the 'Recycle Bin'. There is a lot of means to restore files that were deleted this way, and even a schoolboy can use them. The information will be really erased (partially or completely) when the system overwrites this file with some other file. Unfortunately, it may take long for this to happen.
The StrongDisk Pro includes means for sweeping the free space on the disks. Sweeping fills all the free space on the specified logical disk, including the remains of deleted files, with random data. Thus, it is impossible to recover the deleted files after sweeping the free space.
To sweep the free space on a disk:
- Close all active applications. Applications that remain active when the free space is being sweeped can become unstable.
- In the Explorer click the icon of the disk where you want to sweep the free space.
- Select "Sweep free space" in the shortcut menu.
- in the dialog that opens
- check the "Sweep free space" checkbox if you want all the fully free space to be swept on the disk.
check the "Sweep file 'tails'" checkbox if you want the free parts of disk clusters containing existing files to be swept.
If there is much free space on the disk, this operation can take long. Still it has to be performed every time when 'conditionally' deleted files with sensitive information appear on the disk.
If there are many files on the disk this operation can take long. It is recommended to perform it when after deleting files with sensitive data by usual means many new files were written to the disk.
- Click "OK".
- Wait until sweeping is over. It can take from several minutes to an hour.
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