Topics | Cleaning
Erasing files and unused space
The effects of these commands are permanent; there is no way whatsoever to undo them. This is the intended result, but we just wanted to make sure you understand that.
Erasing a file
To overwrite the data in a file with zeroes and then delete the file, open the File menu and choose Erase. This prevents anyone from examining the disk at a later time and extracting the contents of the file. Once a file has been erased, it cannot be recovered. The Erase button in the List window erases the selected items in the window.
Erasing a folder
To erase all files in a folder and then delete the folder, open the File menu and choose Erase. Erasing a folder erases all subfolders as well.
Erasing unused space
To overwrite all currently unused space on a volume with zeroes, open the Cleaning menu and choose Erase Unused Space. It does the same thing as erasing a file, but applies it to the portion of a volume not currently allocated to any files. Once done, no previously deleted files can be recovered by any means.
Erasing unused space on your startup volume
For maximum compatibility with the Mac OS X memory management system, no other applications should be running and you should not attempt to use your Mac while File Buddy is erasing unused space on your system startup volume.

Please quit all other applications and do not attempt to use your Mac until File Buddy has finished erasing or until you cancel the operation.

For this reason we recommend the following sequence when erasing unused space on your system startup volume:

1. Restart your computer.
2. Launch File Buddy.
3. Start the erasing process.
4. Do not use your computer until File Buddy finishes erasing the unused space.

If erasing is interrupted
To erase the unused space on a volume, File Buddy creates one or more files on the volume and fills them with data until they fill all available space on the volume. The files will have names starting with "FB Erasing" and ending with a number.

Once all available space is filled, File Buddy deletes the files it created during the erasing process. If the process is interrupted for any reason such as a power outage or crash, File Buddy will not have a chance to delete the files. The Finder will then state that the volume has less space available than before the erasure process started because one or more files used to erase the space still exist. If this happens, simply drag the "FB Erasing xxxxxxx" files to the Trash and empty the trash.

File Buddy attempts to place the files in the root directory of the volume. If for any reason it can't, it will attempt to create them in the Trash. It is possible to not have sufficient privileges to erase a volume under Mac OS X.
Cleaning the file system