WHAT IS THIS?

WipeDisk fills each sector of the physical disk with a user entered value.
When you use secure wipe: WipeDisk fills each sector with zeros three times,
then fills each sector with ones three times, and fills each sector with a
user entered value.  Note: secure wipe takes six times longer than the
default wipe.

This program is intended for personal use only. WipeDisk is provided on an
as is basis because you, the user, assume the responsiblity for the use
of this program.

WHAT SYSTEMS DOES IT WORK WITH?

This program works with MS-DOS 5 or later, Windows 95 or 98 in MS-DOS mode
running on IBM compatible personal computers. I have not tested this program
with IBM DOS or Digital Research DOS (DR-DOS).

HOW DO I START WIPEDISK?

It is recommended the user copy the file "wipedisk.exe" to a bootable DOS
floppy diskette before using this program to wipe hard drives.  If you use
a bootable floppy diskette, you should enable the write protected tab on
the diskette.

To use WipeDisk, type "wipedisk" and the enter key at the DOS prompt. The
program will fill each sector with the user entered value once.

There are two switches for WipeDisk:

    /secure = write zeros in each sector three times,
              then write ones in each sector three times,
              and finally write the user entered value in each sector.
              (DoD 5220.22-M)
              
    /help or
    /?      = displays help text

For example: typing "wipedisk /secure" will securely wipe your disk
eliminating residual magnetic images.
   
HOW DO USE WIPEDISK?

1. When you start the program, the current physical disks on your computer
will be displayed.  You can select which disk to wipe or just quit.  The
program expects you to type "f1" for floppy drive A:, "f2" for floppy drive
B:, "h1" for the first hard drive in your computer, and "h2" for the second
hard drive.

2. After entering the disk you want to wipe, you can enter a value to you
want to fill each sector with.  If you press enter at this prompt, the
program will assume you want the number 246 or the value from the last wipe.

3. If you are wiping a floppy diskette, you will be prompted for the 
type of diskette, i.e. 720 kilobyte or 1.44 Megabyte capacity.

4. The program will now start wiping the disk you have chosen.  During the
wipe process, the current track will be displayed.  Secure wiping must go
through three phases: writing zeros, writing ones, and writing the user
entered value.

5. After the wipe completed, a message will display a message stating the 
wipe is done.  You will be prompted to wipe another disk or quit.

6. If during the wipe process an error occurs writing to the disk, the
program will stop wiping.  There is no reason to continue the wipe process
on defective media.

WHERE IS THE DOCUMENTATION?

This readme.txt file is the only documentation for the program.

WHAT IS THE CURRENT VERSION?

The documentation is for version 1.00.06 of the program.

CHANGES?

Version 1.00.05 - The first public release.  The version was slow because it
                  securely wiped the disk.

Version 1.00.06 - Includes this readme.txt file
                  Displays default DOS help switch - /? and /help
                  Allows the user to perform a quick wipe or secure wipe of 
                  a disk (with the /secure switch).

Version 1.01.02 - Optimized code to make speed up wipe process.
		  Makes floppy disk type prompt consistent with other prompts, user presses
		    enter key to finish key entry.

HOW DO I CONTACT THE AUTHOR?

Send comments and suggestions to
http://www.johndstanish.org/software/feedback.html
