Runtime Questions

Q: Why is my disk coming up as "Unknown Device"?
Q: Secure Erasing my SSD only took a few seconds!
Q: How can I be compliant with NIST 800-88 when verifying my disk(s)?
Q: How does Disk Verifier verify my disk has been erased correctly?
Q: How do I add a pre-erased disk on Parted Magic?

Q:

Why is my disk coming up as "Unknown Device"?

A:

While most disks can be identified, there are some that are not. This doesn't matter, as long as you can determine if this is the right disk to verify by other means (for example by using GNOME Disks).

Q:

Secure Erasing my SSD only took a few seconds!

A:

This is normal. Modern SSDs have a special way of erasing their data that is extremely fast compared to HDDs, which often take hours.

Q:

How can I be compliant with NIST 800-88 when verifying my disk(s)?

A:

With the current version of Disk Verifier, you need to verify 100% of the disk(s) to be compliant. A future update may add the ability to verify disks in chunks to a lower percentage while still being compliant. However, 100% verification is really the only way to be absolutely sure the disk is erased, so I will always recommend 100% verification.

Q:

How does Disk Verifier verify my disk has been erased correctly?

A:

Disk Verifier reads over the whole surface of the disk to check that it contains only zeros. Note that the spare areas of the disk set aside for handling bad sectors cannot be verified in this way, so we just have to trust that any data stored there has been erased.

Q:

How do I add a pre-erased disk on Parted Magic?

A:

You can't - you need to buy the live disk to verify pre-erased disks, or you have to secure erase the disk again on Parted Magic.