O&O SafeErase is secure-deletion software for Windows that removes selected files, private activity records or the contents of storage devices. It can also erase remnants left by ordinary file deletion, or clear an entire PC before it is passed to another owner.
File deletion and privacy cleanup
Files and folders can be added to a deletion list through selection dialogs or drag and drop. Removing an item from this list leaves it out of the job. Selecting a folder includes the files inside it.
O&O SafeErase overwrites the selected data using the chosen deletion method and then removes it. File and folder deletion is also available from the Windows context menu. An erase operation cannot be undone within SafeErase.
Security Check
Security Check scans browser data, temporary Windows and application files, and remnants in free disk space. Each category can be included or excluded. The scan marks candidates for deletion and provides a report; it does not erase them automatically.
The browser scan selects history, cache and cookies while leaving passwords, form data and bookmarks alone. These other categories can be selected separately in the Browser Data tool. Examining free-space remnants through the scan requires administrative access.
Browser and Windows data
Browser cleanup lets you choose browsers and the records to remove, including browsing history, cookies, cached pages and saved form data. Clearing download history removes its entries while leaving the downloaded files on disk.
Windows cleanup covers temporary files, thumbnail caches, Recycle Bin contents, memory dumps and files saved by CheckDisk. It also includes recent-document shortcuts and stored FTP credentials.
Free-space, partition and whole-PC erasure
Previously deleted files
Free-space erasure handles data that no longer appears as an existing file. You select one or more drives or partitions, and SafeErase overwrites their free areas to remove remnants of earlier deletions. Existing files are not selected for removal by this operation.
The same operation also removes remnants of accidentally deleted files that might otherwise be recovered. Additional settings can clear obsolete references to deleted files in the MFT or FAT, the structures used to track files on those file systems.
Partitions and complete disks
Choosing a partition erases that partition’s contents. Choosing the entire disk includes all its partitions and unpartitioned areas. The drive list can show or hide unpartitioned space, and selecting a system drive requires a separate confirmation.
O&O SafeErase works with internal and external storage, including hard disks, SSDs, USB sticks and memory cards. These targets can contain any kind of file; deletion operates on their stored data rather than on a particular document or media format.
TotalErase
TotalErase selects the computer’s internal drives for a complete system wipe. After confirmation and restart, it removes the operating system, applications, settings and data. This operation does not require a separately created boot medium.
External storage is excluded from the default selection but can be included explicitly. When an external drive is left out of the wipe, reports and logs are saved to the first available external drive. Including external storage in the erase operation prevents those reports from being saved.
O&O SafeErase deletion methods
The overwrite method can be set as a default or chosen for a particular job. Options range from a single pass of zeros or random values to multiple-pass procedures based on DoD, BSI and Gutmann patterns.
Each pass writes another pattern over the selected data, so additional passes increase the work and time required. Target size and the condition of the storage device also affect completion time. The displayed remaining time is an estimate.
SolidErase for SSDs
SolidErase uses the SSD manufacturer’s Secure Erase function instead of relying on repeated overwrite passes. This gives SSD deletion a separate operation suited to flash storage and reduces unnecessary write cycles.
Fortress Mode
Fortress Mode creates an isolated Windows environment separate from the normal operating system session. Applications running in the main system cannot access the deletion operation there. This separates erasure from background software that could otherwise access or alter the targeted data.
Deletion reports and editions
Job results
Deletion reports record the job’s time, scope and method, including items that could not be erased. A file still held open by an application can appear as locked. Access restrictions can also prevent deletion, and EFS-encrypted files are excluded from the operation.
Reports can be saved automatically, with file names and directory paths replaced by asterisks. An entry limit controls how many items are recorded, up to 10,000. A separate activity log records the application’s actions.
O&O SafeErase editions
Professional is licensed per computer for desktop use. The other editions change where the software can be used, whether deletion runs across devices in parallel, and how administrators or service technicians are licensed.
| Edition | Use and operating differences |
|---|---|
| Professional | Windows desktop PCs. Free-space and partition erasure across multiple devices runs sequentially. |
| Server | Windows servers and desktop PCs. Can erase free space or partitions on different physical storage devices simultaneously. |
| Admin | Boot-medium edition licensed to one administrator for an unlimited number of computers within the same organization. |
| Tech | Boot-medium edition licensed per technician for deletion work on an unlimited number of customer computers. |
O&O SafeErase is paid software. An unlicensed copy operates as a trial with limited functionality; a valid license unlocks the full edition.
