CleanA.EXE

Example of securely erasing all data from a 1.44mb or 720 disk
in the approximately 4 minutes.

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First a lesson in terminology:

File Allocation Table (FAT) is a table that the operating system uses 
to locate files on a disk like an index in a book.  Due to fragmentation, 
a file may be divided into many sections that are scattered around the 
disk. The FAT keeps track of all these pieces.

Directory Table is where information about a directory, file, or 
volume entry is stored.  This includes whether it is a file, directory 
or volume, its name and if it is "read-only," "hidden" and/or "system" 
and if it has been changed since it was last saved.  Windows 95 added 
new attributes that indicate when a file was last modified or accessed.
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There are two frames on one form.  One overlays the other and
the visible property is FALSE on the hidden one.  Both frames
uses command buttons in an array.  Have I tweaked your curiosity
yet?

These are the steps:

1.  The user is prompted to continue to the next frame or leave
    the application.

2.  The user is prompted to insert a diskette in drive A:

3.  We then test to see if the disk:
		a.  is in the drive?
		b.	write protected?

4.	We now erase the directory table.  We use the VB SHELL 
    function and make a DOS call to do a quick format of the disk.
    The DOS command looks like this:
    
    command.com /c ren /?|format A: /q /u /v:"" >nul
    
       command.com /c   <- Loads another copy of command.com into
                        memory.  When the call has been completed,
                        this will insure if a DOS window has been
                        open, it will be closed.  This will clear
                        itself from memory.

       ren /?|          <- This will respond automatically to the
                        two prompts generated by the Format command.                         		
                        They are 1)to insert a diskette into drive A: 
                        and 2)to do another quick format.  Cannot
                        remember which web site I found this 
                        information.  Sorry.  :-(

       format A: /q /u /v:"" >nul   <- This is the command to 
                        perform a quick format on a diskette in 
                        drive A:.

5.  We will overwrite the data area four times and the directory
    table three times.
		
6.  Then we fill the directory table with random generated dummy file 
    names.  These are zero byte files.  We have now overwritten the 
    directory table two times.
    
7.  When finished, we use the DOS command again and overwrite the
    directory table one more time by doing a quick format.
    
The estimated time of this complete operation is 4 minutes per disk.        
		
There is an extra compressed file named Tst_Lvl.zip.  Unzip this file 
to a diskette to test the removal of multilevel directories.
                       
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Written by Kenneth Ives                    kenaso@home.com

All of my routines have been compiled with VB6 Service Pack 3.
There are several locations on the web to obtain these
modules.

Whenever I use someone else's code, I will give them credit.  
This is my way of saying thank you for your efforts.  I would
appreciate the same consideration.

Read all of the documentation within this program.  It is very
informative.  Also, if you learn to document properly now, you
will not be scratching your head next year trying to figure out
exactly what you were programming today.  Been there, done that.

This software is FREEWARE. You may use it as you see fit for 
your own projects but you may not re-sell the original or the 
source code. If you redistribute it you must include this 
disclaimer and all original copyright notices. 

No warranty express or implied, is given as to the use of this
program. Use at your own risk.

If you have any suggestions or questions, I'd be happy to
hear from you.
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CleanA uses multiple VB code snippet examples.  

The main purpose of the program is to completely and securely
erase all data from a 1.44mb or 720kb diskette in drive A:.  
Believe it or not, but just formatting a diskette will leave
sensitive data fragments behind.  

This program will use several segments of code retrieved from
different sites and some even written by me.  The form and the
BAS modules are well documented.  Pleae take the time to read
them.

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