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5 Descriptions of Erase/Wipe Parameters

Whether you choose to erase data from the drive or to wipe data from unoccupied drive space, the methods of writing over these spaces is the same.

5.1 Erase/Wipe Methods

5.1.1 One Pass Zeros or One Pass Random

When using One Pass Zeros or One Pass Random, the number of passes is fixed and cannot be changed.

When the write head passes through a sector, it writes only zeros or a series of random characters.

5.1.2 User Defined

You indicate the number of times the write head passes over each sector. Each overwriting pass is performed with a buffer containing random characters.

5.1.3 US DoD 5220.22-M

The write head passes over each sector three times. The first time with zeros (0x00), second time with 0xFF and the third time with random characters. There is one final pass to verify random characters by reading.

5.1.4 German VSITR

The write head passes over each sector seven times.

5.1.5 Russian GOST p50739-95

The write head passes over each sector five times.

5.1.6 Gutmann

The write head passes over each sector 35 times. For details about this, the most secure data clearing standard, you can read the original article at the link below:

<http://www.cs.auckland.ac.nz/~pgut001/pubs/secure_del.html>

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