Users Guide

RUNNING Active@ ERASER with DOS Interface

This chapter describes how to use the application.

The chapter’s sections are:

• Preparing a DOS-bootable Floppy Disk
• Modes of Operation:
• DOS Interactive Mode
• DOS Command Line Mode
• DOS Autoexecute Mode

Preparing a DOS-Bootable Floppy Disk

 Active@ ERASER is a powerful utility with a small footprint. It is small enough to operate from a single floppy drive in a Microsoft DOS environment. This can be useful in a number of situations. For example, a computer technician who is assigned to erase the data on PCs with hard drives containing Windows operating systems or operating systems other than DOS or Windows, can use a single DOS-bootable floppy to erase all data.

This chapter describes the steps to create a DOS-bootable floppy (a startup disk) and run the utility. If you have a bootable floppy, skip to the Copy Active@ ERASER to a Floppy section, below.

System Formatting

To prepare a bootable floppy from MS-DOS, Windows 95/98/ME/XP, put a blank 3.5-inch floppy in the floppy drive (drive A:) and follow the appropriate instructions below:

Windows 95/98 MS-DOS or Command Prompt Mode

1. On the screen, type the format command as follows:

 FORMAT A: /S 

2. Follow on-screen messages until process is complete.

Windows 95/98/ME Operating System

1. Click the Start button and click Settings > Control Panel.
2. From the Control Panel screen, click Add/Remove Programs.
3. In the Add/Remove Programs screen, click the Startup Disk tab.
4. Click Startup Disk... and follow the screen instructions until the process is complete. 

Windows XP Operating System

1. Right-click A: drive.
2. From the drop-down menu, click Format...
3. Enable the checkbox beside Create an MS-DOS startup disk.
4. Click the Start button and follow the screen instructions until the process is complete.

Copying Active@ ERASER to a Floppy

Copy the Active@ ERASER file (HDERASER.EXE) to the bootable floppy disk or startup disk in drive A:.

If you don’t have the Active@ ERASER file, download it from http://www.active-eraser.com.

After copying the file onto the floppy disk, remove it from the floppy drive.

Labeling the Disk

If you plan to use Active@ ERASER in Command Line mode, please skip the next section and read Boot to DOS (Command Line Mode). Once preparation of the bootable 3.5-inch floppy disk is complete, you are ready to begin removing data.

One-Step Method

Combine all the above steps into one by navigating to our Web site.

Download and run Bootable Floppy Disk Creator for Active@ ERASER.

Once you have installed Active@ ERASER on the floppy, you are ready to boot from the floppy and use the software for disk erasing.

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