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How to erase a CD-RW
on Mac OS X using ShredIt X
Before disposing of a CD-RW or giving it to someone else, we recommend that you securely delete all the files you don't want the next user to be able to recover.
- Using the Disk Cleaner function of ShredIt X will erase your data, (i.e. your files), making the CD-RW safe to re-use because you will have destroyed the data on it so it can't be recovered
- This type of function is called interchangeably "shredding", "erasing", "wiping, or "secure delete". more info
- If you don't need to destroy confidential files on the CD-RW, you can use the erase function in the operating system instead. This will delete, but not erase the data on the CD-RW disk
- This procedure works with any CD-RW, but not with a CD-R. To ensure that the data on a CD-R can't be recovered by someone else, you need to damage the disk so that the data can't be read. We recommend the following two methods:
- Using a sharp instrument, scratch up the data surface of the disk so that it can no longer be read
or
- Place the disk in a plastic bag and then bend the disk in half until it snaps. (The plastic bag will protect you from flying plastic shards.) If you can't get the disk to snap, try using a hammer or mallet.
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Requirements
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Instructions
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There are two ways to shred a CD-RW using ShredIt X.
Double-click the ShredIt X Icon to start the program.
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Using the Buttons. Click the Shred CD-RW button on the main dialog. From the pop-up menu, pick the drive containing the CD-RW you want to erase.
or
Using the Menu. Click the Shred CD-RW option from the File Menu. From the pop-up menu, pick the drive containing the CD-RW you want to erase.
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Notes
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- For more detailed information about ShredIt X for Mac OS X, refer to the
- There's an important difference between the technical terms "delete" and "secure delete".
- The technical computer term "delete" refers to the type of computer function where the data is marked as deleted, but not really gone. Functions such as dragging a file to the trash/recycle bin and then emptying it marks the data as deleted so the space can be used again, but the data itself remains on the hard drive and recoverable until it is overwritten by something else. On a hard drive with lots of free space, this could take months or even years.
- On the other hand, the technical term "secure delete" refers to the type of computer function where the data is overwritten by other characters so the data can't be recovered. "Secure Delete" is also referred to as "clean", "wipe", "erase" and "shred". Computer software that performs this type of function is often called a "file shredder" a "data shredder" or "secure delete utility".
- If you just want to delete the contents of the CD-RW so you can re-use it, you don't need to shred the CD-RW contents. You only need to shred the CD-RW contents if you don't want someone else to be able to recover the previous contents. To re-use a CD-RW, just use the Apple Erase function. You can find instructions on the Apple Web Site "Mac OS X: How to erase a CD-RW disc"
- For more information, see "Shred" in Wikipedia
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