Wiping / destroying files for good

Reaction · 04-11-06, 10:45 AM

If I want to sell or lend my Axim X51v to somebody, I need to completely clear the device to ensure that my financial and company data is not retrievable. If I reinstall a ROM image, A06 for example, does this guarantee that all data on the Axim is completely, utterly and irretrievably wiped for good? If not, what steps do I need to take to ensure all data is wiped?

04-11-06, 10:49 AM

hard reset does not remove BIS or storage card files

04-13-06, 01:46 AM

Yes, putting a new ROM image on there should get rid of everything, as that does a hard reset and overwrites everything.

disbethelife · 04-13-06, 02:10 AM

to do a hard reset press the stylus in the little hole on the back of the axim and hold in the contacts button the front (second from left) then follow the on screen directions.

Zaniax · 04-13-06, 02:22 AM

"Yes, putting a new ROM image on there should get rid of everything"

Oh no, I don't think so .... it only overwrites the memory space required for the upgrade.

If nothing better turns up I would suggest an reinstall and then fill up the memory with many instances of a large program ... say, odClient or like ....

or maybe create a very large sound/musikfile ....

Just my 2€ ....

aximbigfan · 04-13-06, 02:27 AM

create a .txt (text document) with nothing but billions of zeros in it. then put it i the bis and in the main memory.

chris

Kazkin · 04-13-06, 02:37 AM

Originally Posted by mofologic

hard reset does not remove BIS or storage card files

you can't be giving out info without thinking about the difference between 2003 & 2005 OS !!!

Kazkin · 04-13-06, 02:42 AM

Originally Posted by disbethelife

to do a hard reset press the stylus in the little hole on the back of the axim and hold in the contacts button the front (second from left) then follow the on screen directions.

that is not how a hard reset is done on the X51V ...

soft reset hole in the back + hold down the "power button"

please ... you have to look at the requester's "MYPDA" and give correct advice ( also specifically stated an X51V in the question ) .. not how according to "YOUR" device ... :)

disbethelife · 04-13-06, 03:08 AM

woops, even i have an X51. guess I'm to used to helping my mom with her X50v. Sorry about that. Thats really bad of me considering I have an X51 myself.

Reaction · 04-13-06, 04:37 AM

"create a .txt (text document) with nothing but billions of zeros in it. then put it i the bis and in the main memory."

Sorry to be dumb but I'm pretty new to the Axim. I was only aware of two types of memory - the PDA's own (whatever that is) and the SD card I inserted! So how do I deliberately put a file in "bis" (what is that?) and in "main memory"?

Many thanks...

Gigi · 04-13-06, 04:44 AM

BIS ("Built in storage") and Main Memory only exist in pre WM5 devices. In WM5, there is only the option of internal memory (plus memory cards if installed). And to clarify, a hard reset in ALL Axims is done by holding down the power button while doing a soft reset (stylus into the reset hole).

Zaniax · 04-13-06, 05:56 AM

"Reaction: I need to completely clear the device to ensure that my financial and company data is not retrievable"

It's NOT sufficient to delete all program/data files.

1. Reinstall the ROM image
2. Fill up the memory totally with garbage
3. Delete the garbage-file
4. Perform a hard reset

Reaction · 04-13-06, 07:06 AM

Many thanks for all your help. :approve:
Now over to VBA in MSWord to automatically write me out some nice big garbage .txt files...

04-13-06, 07:27 AM

Originally Posted by Zaniax

"Reaction: I need to completely clear the device to ensure that my financial and company data is not retrievable"

It's NOT sufficient to delete all program/data files.

1. Reinstall the ROM image
2. Fill up the memory totally with garbage
3. Delete the garbage-file
4. Perform a hard reset

So you can recover stuff out of flash memory like a hard drive even after it has been erased? I didn't know that was possible.

Zaniax · 04-13-06, 08:42 AM

Victor516 - honestly, I don't have a scientific proof.
I'm relying on information from a HW guy I know.

But let's assume (suspect ?) that it's the case, then the stated procedure will do the required task - I think.
And 'Reaction' wanted to be sure ...

Reaction - why don't you just set your x51v into record mode and put it away for some hours - this will create a large garbage .wav file.
If the file is not big enough then just make a new copy.