Erase Failure to erase

[dogdog]

I have a new Dell PC with Vista Ultimate. I have installed Eraser v 5.84. Eraser seems to work fine on the C: drive and on a removable media drive G: (DVD RW). However, when I try to use Eraser to remove a file on an external hard drive (L:) and on a partition (D:) of the PC hard disk the erase fails - the message is simply failure with note that access is denied. This happens when Erase is attempted after right clicking on the file or if the file is dragged into the Erase window and then trying to delete files in the window.

I have also tried running Eraser as "run as administrator".

I can think of no reason why "access is denied" should apply to the files in question.

Any thoughts or suggestions???

[Joel]

Hi dogdog

Does the file you are trying to erase belong to a different user ?

Is the file read only ?

Is the file part of some running software ?

Is the file in use when you try to delete it ?

[Joel]

No to everything!!!

[Joel]

What type of file is it ?

Are you able to delete it with Windows ?

Are you able to overwrite the free space on that drive / partition ?

[Joel]

A number of files of varying types. However, the files were all created by backup programs (either using Memeo software or Windows file backup in Vista).

I deleted the files with Windows with no problems.

The space created by deleting files was recorded as usable space; and I have written further information to that drive/partition without any problems.

[Joel]

Hi dogdog :D

Interesting that they were all made by your backup program. I am wondering if your backup program was somehow protecting them ?

Could you copy a few normal word docs or mp3’s to the directory the backup files were in and then try to Eraser them please ? I am guessing that Eraser will be able to overwrite them.

If so then I suggest when you wish to erase files created by your backup program in future shut down your backup program before attempting to overwrite them with eraser.

If you are worried about the files you have previously deleted with Windows don’t forget you can perform a free space wipe at any time.

Let me know how you get on !
;)

[Joel]

If you consider yourself the tech-savvy kind, then you can try this.

Download Handle from Sysinternals (free download).
Extract to a folder.

Start > Run > cmd > OK
cd <path>
handle <drive>:\

See which files are opened on which drive. If no handles are found, then check for ownership of the files in the Sharing and Security dialog in File properties.

Joel

[Joel]

Introduction to Handle ​here

Download Handle 3.20 ​here

[Joel]

FWIW, I have an identical problem -- new HP running Vista. Tried to erase files on a Segate external hard drive. "Access denied" -- for ecah and every file. Many different file types. Finally just deleted them and am now erasing unused file space.

[Joel]

Hi arthurj

Welcome to the forums !

This is starting to sound like a bug, could you possible follow Joel’s instructions above please and let us know what happens.

Thanks.

[Joel]

Too late, I'm afraid -- already deleted all the files with explorer.

Then ran erase unused space and got a new kind of error message -- "don't know reason".

Then I copied a new file to the drive and tried to erase that file. This time no problem.

However, I'm not sure that the unused space on the drive has truly been erased.

[Joel]

Tried erasing unused space on the external drive again. This time I saved the log. It lOoks to me like it's ALMOST working. but the file names still remain:

Information:
Statistics:

Erased area = 95281 MB

Cluster tips = 0 bytes

Data written = 95281 MB

Write time = 4985.64 s

Write speed = 19570 kB/s

Failures:
Error: Failed to erase file names from drive L:\, don't know why exactly.

[Joel]

Hi Arthur :)

Thank you for coming back with some info.

This sounds strange, files that were previously on your external drive were only able to be deleted by windows.

Files added later (to test with) were able to be erased with Eraser.

Were the test files the same size and type as the ones you originally had trouble with ?

How is your external drive formatted ? NTFS or FAT32

SATA or IDE

Thanks.

Joel will be all over this soon ! :D

[Joel]

Hi Overwriter, It's NTFS and IDE. 100 GB capacity. The test file was a tiny word file. The ones I originally had trouble with were all over the map. Some were huge (over 4 gigs), some small. Thanks!

[Joel]

OK. Since two people have it I'll try my best to replicate it. Thank goodness I got a spare external disk to try.

I believe it is an UAC issue since all who are complaining uses Vista.

Joel

[Joel]

I don;'t have a Eraser built-in workaround, because this is caused by Vista becoming more restrictive about NTFS security. They won't let you write to any file (and especially not root) that you don't have write permissions on (unless you're an admin) and to be an "admin" you must elevate.

Either we make Eraser an admin-only application (which is not good, because non-free space wipes can and should be do-able by non-admins), or we find a way in Vista to make Erasing Free Space only for Admins. But the latter will be a gigantic undertaking

[Joel]

Also remember that in a portable external hard disk, you are using NTFS which supports strict permissions. Copying files over from another computer copies the ownership and permission objects to your disk, so when you get home and free space erase your disk the files still belong to the user on the other computer which you copied the files from. This means you dont "own" the file and you must be an admin to open them (and clear the cluster tips).

I hope this gives an adequate explanation.

Joel

[Joel]

Hi Joel. :)

Don’t beat yourself up about this issue, it is clearly not an Eraser fault it is obviously a Vista “feature”.

You are doing a great job on all the other bugs. ;)

[Joel]

In other words, if I log in as admin, the problem should not appear?

[Joel]

Thats right. :D

[Joel]

No you must elevate the Eraser process as well.

Joel

[Joel]

I have 2 laptops...Ones a Sony Vaio running Vista Ultimate and the other is a Toshiba Satellite Pro running Vista Premium. Eraser 5.84 works fine on Vista Ultimate...however...im having difficulties on Vista Premium.

First of all:
(1) Runs Windows Vista Premium
(2) Version Eraser 5.84.
(3) I am the Administrator and have Privilages.
(4) System runs programs un AVG Anti Virus, CC Cleaner, Zone Alarm, Spyware Terminator, Ad Aware, SpyBot? Search & Destroy.
(5) System (as far as am aware, is clean of viruses, trojans, adware & spyware)
(6) The particular files that I want to delete are sized at 42.2MB, 709MB & 9.16MB.
(7) I have right-clicked on each file & selected 'Erase' to which returns the below Failed message, and also selected all 3 files and dragged into the Eraser Window and clicked 'Run'...to which also returns the below 'Failed' message.
(8) The files in question are .zip, .rar and .mp3. I havent had problems on other similar files.

On the particular files I am trying to erase....the Eraser simply doesnt erase them and returns the message:

Task completed: All data could not be erased.

Information:
Statistics:
Erased area = 0 bytes
Cluster tips = 0 bytes

Data written = 0 bytes
Write time = 0.34 s
Write speed = 0 kB/s

Failures:
#1 Failed: C:\Vis_32_03369.zip
#2 Failed: C:\123.rar
#3 Failed: C:\GoodLife?.mp3

Can anyone please shed any light on this or offer any such advise or remedy?

Thanks in advance, ~ Mark.

[Joel]

I was having similar difficulties, so I tried another erasing/shredding utility and ran into the same issue. I have seen this error (I hope I'm remembering it correctly): "ran into end of file." Of course I'm thinking. "That's great: just go ahead and erase it all the way to the end, at least this file has an end, suppose it didn't," but obviously I'm not understanding what this error means.

[Joel]

Is SPTD installed? See ​http://bbs.heidi.ie/viewtopic.php?t=2685&highlight=sptd

Joel

[Joel]

I replicate this on erasing a SD card running FAT.

Joel

[Joel]

5.x problem.