Erase Hard Disk.
Common Questions

6.1. How does the licensing work?

The software is licensed on a per CD/DVD or USB media storage device basis. Each license allows you to use the program from a separate CD/DVD or USB device. For example, if you want to use the program to wipe five computers concurrently, you would need five CDs or DVDs or USB devices (or combination of the three not exceeding five), and therefore need a five-user license.

6.2. How is the data erased?

Hard disk eraser Active@ KillDisk communicates with the system hardware device directly. The Free version erases data by overwriting all addressable locations on the drive with zeros.

Hard disk eraser Active@ KillDisk Professional version suggests several methods for data destruction. For example, in US DoD 5220.22-M method it overwrites all addressable storage and indexing locations on the drive three times: with zeros (0x00), complement (0xFF), and random characters. It then verifies all writing procedures. This complies with the US DoD 5220.22-M security standard.

6.3. What is the difference between the Site and Enterprise license?

A Site License allows for unlimited usage of the program at one physical location, whereas an Enterprise License allows unlimited usage at any of the purchasing companies locations worldwide.

6.4. Which operating systems are supported by Active@ KillDisk?

Hard disk eraser Active@ KillDisk for Windows can be launched and work under all Windows operating system family, includint Windows Servers.

Hard disk eraser Active@ KillDisk for Windows can be also launched from the pre-installed on media storage device operating system (WinPE).

Active@ KillDisk for Linux can be launched and work under different Linux versions (OpenSUSE, Ubuntu, Fedora, Oracle, …). Required Linux graphical environment: KDE or Gnome, Linux Kernel 2.x or higher, and shared libraries for Qt v.4.x to be installed.

As it can be installed easily onto a bootable CD/DVD or USB card, it does not matter which operating system is installed on the machine's hard drive. If you can boot from the boot CD/DVD/USB, you can detect and erase any drives independent of the installed operating system. This way you can easily erase UNIX, Linux and MacOS X partitions and disks.

6.5. Is Active@ KillDisk compatible with Macintosh computers?

You cannot run Active@ KillDisk in the old Mac OS environment (based on PowerPC architecture). However, the most recent Apple computers (iMac running MacOS X) are based on the Intel architecture. In this case, it is possible to boot from Active@ Boot Disk using a CD, DVD or USB device. To do so, hold the Option key down when starting the computer.

6.6. What to do if I cannot boot from a USB?

There are many possible reasons that you cannot boot from a USB / floppy. Please consult this troubleshooting chart:

6.7. Will I be able to use my Hard Disk Drive after Active@ KillDisk erase operation?

Yes. To be able to use the HDD again you need to:

• Repartition the hard drive using a standard utility like FDISK.
• Reformat partitions using a standard utility like FORMAT.
• Reinstall the Operating System using a bootable CD/DVD-ROM.

6.8. I cannot boot from the CD/DVD. What should I do next?

Your computer may have boot priority for Hard Disk Drives, or another device set higher than boot priority for CD/DVD device.

Parameters that are set in low-level setup are written to the machine's BIOS.

To change the boot priority:

1. Open the low-level setup utility, usually by pressing F1, F2, F10 or ESC on the keyboard during startup.
2. Use the arrow keys to locate the section about Boot device priority. This section will allow you to set the search order for types of boot devices. When the screen opens, a list of boot devices appears. Typical devices on this list will be hard drives, CD or DVD devices, floppy drives and network boot option.
3. If the CD or DVD device has been disabled, enable it (provided you have a device installed). The priority should indicate that the CD/DVD device is the number one device the BIOS consults when searching for boot instructions. If the CD/DVD device is at the top of the list that is usually the indicator.
4. Save and exit the setup utility.

6.9. Does KillDisk shorten SSD lifetime by overwriting several times?  

No, because:

1. Windows OS writes to HDD much more than KillDisk (DoD 3 passes are nothing, comparing to Windows caching activity)
2. This applied mostly to old-style flash memory-based SSD which almost not manufactured anymore
3. Any storage media (SSD, HDD, Flash Card, etc…) has limits on usage (writes number), and the more you write, the more chances that, for example HDD Head touches the plate and thus producing bad sectors

6.10. I need to DOD a fiber channel san and I am wondering if you support that and if there is some info around the process to do it.  

If your BIOS and Operating System (DOS or Windows) detect a SAN device and display it properly in BIOS (for DOS) or Computer Management Panel (Windows), KillDisk is able to see such devices as well and to erase them properly.

How to store certificate and log file to a network location?

If you mapped a network share before launching KillDisk using operating system’s standard dialogs, this network share should be accessible in the list of locations in Save As dialogs.

Another option is to map a network share when operating the KillDisk:

• Click Map Network Share… from the File menu
• Type connection parameters: drive letter (or mount point on Linux), network share full path, user account and password for the account
• Click Connect button.

If all parameters are correct, network share should be mapped and available in Save As dialogs. All typed parameters stored to KILLDISK.INI file, and network share mapping will be restored when you launch KillDisk the next time.