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Operation of "Boot up Erase Program"-> Utility

Operation of "Utility"

Utility screen

When the "Bootup Erase Program" menu or the operation screen is displayed, press "ALT + F5" to display the following utility menu.

 


Common operation when writing to FD / USB flash drive
Floppy disk and USB flash drive must be prepared and inserted at startup. Format the floppy disk in MS-DOS format and the USB flash drive in FAT / FAT32 / exFat.
* USB flash drive over 64G cannot be used for log storage.
* Built-in FD drive and USB-connected FD (1.44MB) can be used.

If you insert a USB FD/flash drive after displaying the menu, execute this utility screen "Rescan Disks/Reset Network". 



Save Hardware Information to FD/USBmem/Net

If there is any problem such as the disk is not recognized or the network does not work, this process is used to acquire the information of your PC.
The acquired information is saved as "HWINFO.TXT" on the connected floppy disk or USB flash drive. If the network settings are valid and writing to a floppy disk/USB flash drive cannot be performed, the data will be written to the network share.
When written to the network share, the file name will be "hwinfo_mmddhhMMss.txt" (month, day, hour, minute, second).

Please send the saved information file to us.

The file is a text file. You can check the contents in advance with a notepad etc,.

If you see the message "could not write file (Net)", then there is an error saving to the network share.
For details and how to deal with it, see "Using "Network log"/ Trouble shootings".




Save ScreenShot to FD/USBmem/Net


It is used when there is some problem in processing, or when you want to save screen information and use it as a processing record, or when you want to maintain a manual. The screen shot (hard copy) is saved as a binary screen file (* .stx) on the FD / USB flash drive.
If the network settings are valid and writing to a floppy disk/USB flash drive cannot be performed, the data will be written to the network. When written to the network, the file name will be "mmddhhMMss.stx" (month, day, hour, minute, second).

The (* .stx) file is a hard copy file for Linux.
Use the "stx2bmp.exe" program that comes with the product to convert it to an image file (* .bmp).

If you see the message "could not write file (Net)", there is an error saving to the network share.
For details and how to deal with it, see "Using "Network log"/ Trouble shootings".

Rescan Disks/Reset Network

When the USB flash drive is inserted or the disk is hot-swapped after the boot is completed, this process updates the disk environment to the latest state. In addition, the network environment will be reset.
The screen shows the status of drivers installed and the network status, so you can use it to check the status. When the process is completed, "press [enter]" will be displayed at the end, so press the [enter] key.

All screens (ALT + F1-F4) must be returned to the menu to perform this process.

Abort execution process


It is used to interrupt the process ,when the processing of "erase disk", "verify/read check".
However, it cannot be interrupted during the Secure Erase step in "secure erase".




Select the screen (1-4) where the process you want to interrupt is being performed, and press the [enter] key.


Dump Disk

This is a function that displays the contents written on the disk as they are.
You can actually see what the contents of the disk are now.

In the list display, select the disk to dump and press [enter].



The contents of the current sector (1/2 sector = 256 bytes) are displayed in hexadecimal.
If you press [enter] in this state, the next 1/2 sector will be displayed.
You can also display the contents of the specified sector by directly entering the sector number and pressing [enter].

Test writing log to FD/USBmem/Net


Tests whether the disk erase log can be written.
You can make sure that the logs are really written by testing them before you start the erasure process.



If the write is OK, [OK] is displayed, if the write fails, [ERROR], and if the device cannot be found, [-] is displayed.

Network log error code


For details and how to deal with it, see "Using "Network log"/ Trouble shootings".
 

Read HDD log

The HDD log, written when "Log (HDD)" is selected in the erase process is read from the disk and displayed.



After selecting the disk you want to display in the list,
[Show log] Shows log on the screen.
[Copy log] Copy and save the contents of the log to the FD / USB flash drive.
If the network settings are valid and writing to a FD/USB flash drive cannot be performed,
the data will be written to the network share.
[Del log] Delete the log from the disk. Writes zero only to the written part of the disk log.


Set Secure Erase Method/Unfreeze

Used to perform secure erase method selection ,secure erase processing test (ATA drive) and Unfreeze process.
In the list display, select the disk to process and [Set Method] or [Test Secure Erase].

In the list view, the supported secure erase processes are displayed.
sec: Secure Erase
enh: Enhanced Secure Erase
* If "X" is displayed before "sec" and "enh", it is in a "frozen" state.
stz: Sanitize

* If there is no disk that supports secure erase / sanitize, "*** NO supported disk ***" is displayed.



Secure Erase Setting (Set Method) (for ATA,NVMe,eMMC drives)
The normal "Secure Erase / Sanitize" process automatically selects and processes the most effective method supported by the disk.
If you want to perform a specific method, or if an error occurs in the automatically selected method, you can specify the method here.
The specified method is performed by "Secure Erase / Sanitize".

The corresponding methods are displayed as shown below. Select the method with the space key and press "OK".The method to be executed is registered.
When the "Secure Erase / Sanitize" process is executed next time, the selected method is performed.


(*)Auto(default)

( )Secure Erase
( )Enhanced Secure Erase
( )Sanitize/Block Erase
( )Sanitize/Over Write
( )Sanitize/Crypt Scramble

* If the process is not supported, you will not be able to select it as shown below.
--- Sanitize / Over Write

Test Secure Erase (only for ATA drives)
* This test is for ATA (IDE, SATA) drives. Not used for NVMe and eMMC drives.

It does not actually erase, it only tests whether the command processing step of secure erase processing is processed without error. The process may take up to 1 minute.

No actual secure erasure can be done unless this test is OK.
However, even if it is OK, there is a possibility that an error will occur in the actual erasure.

For details on processing interruptions and errors that may occur, see "Secure Erase/Sanitize".

In the list, select the disk you want to test and press [enter].
If the test is OK,
Secure Erase execution test [OK]
In case of error
Secure Erase execution test error[error code]
Message is displayed.

Unfreeze
Perform Suspend-wait 3 second-Resume.
By this process, ATA frozen state may released.
If there is no disk that supports secure erase / sanitize,  this process is not executed.

* When performing this process, the CD/USB flash drive used for booting must be left in without removing it.

Do not enter any key until the confirmation screen after the process is displayed.
When the confirmation screen is displayed, press "Confirm" within 30 seconds.If "Confirm" is not pressed, the PC will shutdown.
*This is a function for automatic shutdown when the screen is not displayed.

In order to perform this process, the video chip of the PC must be compatible. If it is not compatible, it will not be executed even if the process is selected, or the screen will remain black after processing and nothing will be displayed. When it becomes blank screen, trun off the power switch.
This process changes the screen resolution by installing the video driver.

* NVMe drives do not have a frozen state due to their specifications, but with some drives, secure erasing will result in an error under normal conditions, and processing may be possible by "unfreezing" processing.

See "Supported display chips"

Remove HDD password

Use this when you want to erase the preset HDD password when the secure erase (ATA disk) is interrupted and the HDD password is still set.
* In Ver4.6.x or later, this process is not required even after the secure erasure on the ATA disk is interrupted.



In the list, select the disk for which you want to erase the password and press [enter].
On the password entry screen, enter the currently set password and select "OK" to complete the process.

n the "Green pepper" system, a password "pass" is temporarily set and used for secure erasure. If you want to erase the password set in the "Green Pepper" system, use "pass" on the screen to erase the password.


Remove HPA / Reset DCO


Performs the process of canceling the HPA setting for the disk HPA (Host Protected Area) is set.
Please note that removing the HPA will prevent you from accessing the internal data.

Also, if the disk size is set by DCO (DeviceConfigurationOverlay), the setting is reset.
Please note that resetting the DCO may cause problems when reusing the disk.

In the DCO reset process, first, only the disk size is returned to the physical disk size.
If that process results in an error, it resets all DCO data.
Therefore, if the personal computer assumes that setting, it may cause an obstacle during re-installation.
However, since it only returns to the original specifications and performance of the disk, there is no problem in using it on other computers.

* For HPA / DCO, see "Points to consider about erasing method" (Consideration of HPA, DCO, Recovery area).

In the list, select the disk for which you want to remove HPA / reset DCO and press [enter].
* If both HPA / DCO are set, the HPA removal process is performed first. After that, reset the DCO again in this process.

"Remove HPA" screen


Remove HPA permanently
If checked (selected with the spacebar), the HPA will be permanently removed and will remain removed when the disk is powered off.
If you do not check it, HPA removal will be temporary and effective until the power is turned off. The previous HPA settings will be maintained the next time the power is turned on.

Reset DCO
Check "Confirm execution" (select with the space key), and then select [OK].
The DCO is reset.

When the removal / reset is completed, "Rescan Disks/Reset Network " is automatically performed.

Network status


You can check the current network status.
If the network is not set, "Network configuration is not enabled" is displayed.

For the errors displayed on your screen and how to deal with them, see "Using "Network log"/ Trouble shootings".

For details on incorporating network functions, see "Common options "/"Network" when creating a boot environment.

Please incorporate the network settings when creating the boot environment.
It cannot be changed with "Utility" etc. after starting "Boot up Erase Program".



Network status
If the driver of the network interface card installed in the PC is read correctly and the IP address (ipv4), subnet mask, etc. are enabled, "Status: OK" will be displayed and the address etc. will be displayed.

If Status: is "NG", it means that the network address etc. have not been set.
For details and how to deal with it, see "Using "Network log"/ Trouble shootings".
 
Log config
* Protocol:   
Windows(CIFS/SMB) ・ ・ ・ When writing to a Windows share.
FTP・ ・ ・ When writing to a FTP server.
* Connection:  
Only displayed for Windows shares.
"OK" is displayed when the connection to the Windows share can be established,
"NG" is displayed in the case of an error.

For the errors displayed on your screen and how to deal with them, see "Using "Network log"/ Trouble shootings".

* Server:  
The IP address (ipv4) of the Windows / FTP server, or the server name.
* Share:  
Only for Windows shares. The name of the shared folder.
* Directory: 
In Windows sharing, it is the folder to write under the shared folder.
For FTP connection, this is the write directory after connection.

* UserID/Pass: 
User ID / password for connection. (Password is not displayed)

* NIC driver
Displays the information of the network interface card used in your PC and the status of the installed driver.

[PING Test]


A tool for checking connections for specific IP addresses and host names.
Enter the IP address or Host Name for which you want to test the connection, and select [PING].
If "ping test OK" is displayed, the basic connection with the PC has been established.

* When connecting with a host name, it is necessary that the name server (NamerServer) is set correctly and that the name server can resolve the name.
* Caution: Depending on the firewall of the PC, the PING response may be blocked.
In that case, you may be able to connect even if it becomes NG here.

'Write Cache' control

This is the process to change the state (on / off) of the write cache of the disks.
The disks that can be processed are ATA (SATA, IDE) and SCSI / SAS drives (when connecting with a compatible interface without RAID function).

In the list display, select the disk for which you want to change the write cache and press [enter].
It can be turned on if the current state is off and off if it is on.

Write Cache is a mechanism that the disk drive itself has.
When writing to a disk, it is written to the memory inside the disk drive first, and then writing to internal magnetic disk media is performed in the subsequent processing.

By using the write cache, the writing process of the PC software becomes faster, but there is a risk that the data before writing to the disk media will be lost due to a power failure.
Therefore, in the initial state, the SATA drive used for desktops and laptops is often in the write cache ON state, and the SAS drive used for servers etc. is often OFF.

In the erase process, it is faster to process with the write cache turned ON.
In "Green Pepper PRO", if the write cache of the disk drive is OFF on the compatible disk / disk interface, it is automatically turned ON at the start of erasing, and then returned to OFF after the erasing process is completed.
Therefore, if the erase process is interrupted in the middle, the cache status may remain ON. There are many disks whose write cache returns to the initial state when the power is turned off. But if you want to change the cache state for a disk whose set value is retained even when the power is turned off, change it in this process.

In addition, in the case of a disk with many failures such as error sectors, the failure status can be grasped more accurately by turning off the write cache for processing.

* If the write cache is set to off on this screen, it will not be automatically turned on even in the erase process.  

OPAL CryptoErase-Revert operation

Only valid for OPAL (self-encrypting) disks.

Displays the mode and lock status of OPAL compatible discs.
Also, using the set password, the OPAL mode (encryption mode) is canceled and the normal ATA mode is restored.
Please note that the encryption key will be deleted and any data inside the disk will be unreadable.

For the unlock password, the entered value is sent to the disk as it is.
The password may be stored on the disk in the form converted by the software, such as when operating in OPAL mode by OPAL processing software.
In that case, even if the entered password itself is correct, the password will not match and processing will not be possible.


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