Disk Erase Options

The Disk Erase Options tab allows for users to configure settings for the KillDisk erase procedures.

The same erase options for each batch could be set through Edit Batch Attributes dialog

Erase method

One of 20+ sanitizing methods, including many international standards and custom patterns supported by KillDisk

Erase verification

Percentage of disk to be verified after disk erasure

Note: In some erase methods such as the US DoD 5220.22-M, this option is mandatory. After the erase operation has completed, this option will scan the entire drive evenly and verify the integrity of the erase operation. The percentage indicates the percent of the sectors that are checked, spread across the disk. Most standards specify 10% as an accurate sample size for the verification.

Initialize after erase

Initializes the first disk's sector (MBR) after erasure, for the disk to be visible and accessible by Operating System

Write fingerprint

This feature will write the specified fingerprint to the first sector of the erased drive. If erased disk is plugged into the system and system boots from this disk, the user will see this fingerprint as a message on the screen

Erase confirmation

As a safety precaution to prevent accidental destruction of hard drives, KillDisk has the user type a key phrase before the erase procedure is initiated (figure below). By default this precaution is set with the key phrase ERASE-ALL-DATA. This key phrase can be modified, set as a randomly generated set of characters, or disabled in these settings

Figure: Sensitive action confirmation dialog