Created 11 15 2004    Updated 11 15 2004


The IBM Wipe and Zap
Utilities Page



1.  What are the IBM Wipe and Zap Utilities?
2.  Why did you create this page?
3.  I'd like to download it
4.  I'd like to see the Zap readme
5.  I'd Like to see the Wipe readme



1.  What are the IBM Wipe and Zap Utilities?
In 1996, IBM created two excellent utilities called Wipe and Zap.
ZAP writes the first 128 logical blocks of the drive with 00h pattern, starting at Cylinder 0, Head 0, Sector 1.
This will very quickly wipe the FAT and boot sector, often necessary since Dos's Fdisk struggles 'seeing' non-dos partitions types

WIPE writes the COMPLETE drive with 00h pattern, starting at Cylinder 0, Head 0, Sector 1 and ending with Max Cylinder, Max Head, and Max Sector.
I understand WIPE only works on disks smaller than 8GB.  If so, better tools exist for your dangerously big drives these days
We've left Wipe on this page and in our download for completeness


2.  Why did you create this page?
I've used these tools many times in the past
When I went to download them recently, I could not find them
A search on IBM's site reveals IBM Secure Data Disposal v1.2
IBM Secure Data Disposal is 41MB
IBM's zap utility is 2KB


3.  I'd like to download it
You can download the utilities here
I honestly cannot find any information regarding licencing or distribution of these utilities
If you have an issue with this, please inform me and I will remove them


4.  I'd like to see the Zap readme

ZAP.TXT - Read me text file for ZAP.COM version 1.xx
        Instructions:
        
        1. Download ZAP.EXE to a temporary directory on your PC.
        2. Run the ZAP.EXE program to extract the files.
        3. The following two files will be extracted to the
           temporary directory.
           -- ZAP.COM
           -- ZAP.TXT (this file)
        4. Copy the files to a bootable diskette.
        5. Use the following syntax to run the ZAP program
           from a DOS prompt:


        Syntax: ZAP [<fdisk#>|?]

                Where <fdisk#> = 0 to 7 for Fixed Disk Drive 0
                                         to Fixed Disk Drive 7.
                  or     ?     = Display help.

        ZAP writes the first 128 logical blocks of the drive with 00h
        pattern, starting at Cylinder 0, Head 0, Sector 1.

        ZAP will prompt you to make sure you want to ZAP the drive
        before doing so, you must answer 'y' or 'Y' and press enter.
        Any other responce and ZAP will abort.

        ZAP will display any non zero error code returned from the
        Fixed Disk function call.

        If you do not enter a parameter, ZAP will display help.

     Sample Session Screen:
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

    A:\>ZAP ?
    ZAP Version 1.xx mm/dd/yy

    Syntax: ZAP [<fdisk#>|?]
      <fdisk#> = 0 to 7
          ?    = Diplays this help

     Example: ZAP 1
      This example will ZAP physical fixed disk drive 1

    A:\>ZAP 0
    ZAP Version 1.xx mm/dd/yy
    All Data on Fixed Disk Will Be Unrecoverable,
    Are You Sure You Want to ZAP Physical Fixed Disk Drive 0 (Y/N)? y
    ZAP of Fixed Disk Drive 0 Complete.

    A:\>_


5.  I'd Like to see the Wipe readme
WIPE.TXT - Readme text file for WIPE.COM
        ==============================================================

        Instructions:
        
        1. Download WIPE.EXE to a temporary directory on your PC.
        2. Run the WIPE.EXE program to extract the files.
        3. The following two files will be extracted to the
           temporary directory.
           -- WIPE.COM
           -- WIPE.TXT (this file)
        4. Copy the files to a bootable diskette.
        5. Use the following syntax to run the Wipe program
           from a DOS prompt:
        
        Syntax: WIPE <fdisk#>

                Where <fdisk#> = 0 to 7 for Fixed Disk Drive 0
                                         or Fixed Disk Drive 7.
                  or     ?     = Display help.

        WIPE writes the COMPLETE drive with 00h pattern, starting at
        Cylinder 0, Head 0, Sector 1 and ending with Max Cylinder,
        Max Head, and Max Sector.

        WIPE will display the drive parameters before prompting if
        you want to continue.

        WIPE will prompt you to make sure you want to WIPE the drive
        before doing it. You must answer with 'y' or 'Y' and press
        enter to continue, any other response will cause WIPE to abort.

        WIPE will display a progress line with the current Cylinder,
        Head and Starting Sector that is being written.

        WIPE will display any non zero error code returned from the
        Fixed Disk function call.

        If you do not enter a parameter, WIPE will display help.

     Sample Session Screen:
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

    A:\>WIPE ?
    WIPE Version 1.xx mm/dd/yy

    Syntax: WIPE [<fdisk#>|?]
      <fdisk#> = 0 to 7
          ?    = Diplays this help

     Example: WIPE 1
      This example will WIPE physical fixed disk drive 1

    A:\>WIPE 0
    WIPE Version 1.xx mm/dd/yy
    Fixed Disk Drive 0 Parameters:
     Maximum Cylinder (0 based) =  982
     Maximum Head . . (0 based) =    9
     Maximum Sector . (1 based) =   17

    All Data on Fixed Disk Will Be Unrecoverable,
    Are You Sure You Want to WIPE Fixed Disk Drive 0 (0=C: 1=D: etc.) (Y/N)? y
    WIPING Cyl  982, Hd   9, Sec  1
    WIPE of Fixed Disk Drive 0 Complete.

    A:\>_


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