[SOLVED] Computer sleeps and cancels wiping of external hard drive

[wasaw]

Hi

I used two programs to wipe the unused space on my external hard drive. One program is called CCleaner and the other is called Eraser. I first used CCleaner's Drive Wiper. During the wiping process, the computer goes to sleep and cancels the wiping program. The same problem happened with Eraser. I thought the programs should run normally without the computer eventually going to sleep. I need the computer to stay awake while wiping the external hard drive.

How can I fix problem?

 

[Ralston18]

Disable sleep mode.

"WIN" + "I" > System + Power & sleep > Sleep [Never]

(Where "WIN" + "I" means press the logo key, hold, then type the "I" key.) Should take you to Windows Settings.

Is there a specific reason for wiping "unused space"? How often do you do that or feel the need to do so?

Windows will just write over those areas when space is needed.

All too easy to have some "wipe" go astray and needed apps and data are lost.

 

[wasaw]

Disable sleep mode.

"WIN" + "I" > System + Power & sleep > Sleep [Never]

(Where "WIN" + "I" means press the logo key, hold, then type the "I" key.) Should take you to Windows Settings.

Is there a specific reason for wiping "unused space"? How often do you do that or feel the need to do so?

Windows will just write over those areas when space is needed.

All too easy to have some "wipe" go astray and needed apps and data are lost.

Ok, so if I understand correctly, I will have to manually change this setting.

I am wiping the unused space on the external hard drive to prevent anyone else from restoring deleted files

 

[Ralston18]

Yes. Manually change the setting.

Be sure to test before setting up the next wipe.

Meaning wait 5 hours to ensure that the computer remains awake.

Start the wipe at a different time so you can keep an eye on things. At least for the first couple of wipes then go back to normal SOPs.

Afterthought: Look in Reliability History.

There may be some error codes, warnings, or simply informational events captured during previous wipe "failures".