An alternating current (AC) bulk eraser (degausser) is used for complete erasure of data and other signals on magnetic media. Degaussing is a process where magnetic media is exposed to a powerful, alternating magnetic field. Degaussing removes any previously written data, leaving the media in a magnetically randomized (blank) state.

The degausser must subject the media to an alternating magnetic field of sufficient intensity to saturate the media and then by slowly withdrawing or reducing the field, the magnetic media is left in a magnetically neutral state.

To erase recorded data, it is necessary for the strength of the degaussing field to be greater in value than the coercivity of the magnetic media. Simply stated, coercivity is the magnetic field strength, rated in oersteds (Oe), required to change the magnetic orientation of the magnetic material. Check with knowledgeable dealers or degausser manufacturers to identify degausser models that meet your requirements.

Data is typically not lost until its level has been decreased 65% to 75% (or more) below its original saturation recording signal level, dependent upon the drive system.

 

For more information on freeware delete all data windows me, erasing hard drives, degaussing equipment, and degaussing services, see also: sv91m diskette degausser mds5 eraser v92 video tape degausser hd-1 professional hard drive degausser erase data cd and microwaves v-890 video tape eraser erase media from 8mm tape pf252 video tape degausser steps for cleaning data in a data warehouse hard drive degauser erase rewritable cd utility per-1100 hard drive eraser tv degauser pc hard drive cleaning degaus zenith tv erase and freespace and harddrive v-860 gsa schedule hard disk nuke eraser hd-1 audio tape degausser hd-1 eraser v-94 video tape degausser data security acts and laws per-4516 tape eraser western digital disk eraser v-860 degausser manually cleaning hard drive how to erase a hard drive windows xe pf252 video tape eraser c64 disk erase navy degausing system product manually cleaning hard drive how can you erase data from a cd-r 1200 cd eraser plasmom optical media cleaners surface hd-1 eraser erase media from 8mm tape wipe hard drive clean software mds5 hard drive eraser erase page files western digital disk eraser

A complete erasure level, for most users, is considered to be 60 dB below the original signal level – this of course depends on user requirements. A 60 dB signal decrease equates to reducing the signal to one tenth of one percent of its original value.

Magnetic media products that have factory prerecorded magnetic servo patterns should not be degaussed. Degaussing would erase the factory written magnetic servo signals and leave the media unusable. For all other magnetic media (without magnetic servo signals), after proper degaussing, the quality of subsequent data recording should be unchanged or even improved.

It is very important to understand and follow the degausser’s operating instructions. This is especially important for manual units where the operator controls the media’s movement through the degaussing field. For higher coercivity media, four passes are often recommended – two passes, with a 90 degree rotation for the second pass, and then repeat the process with the media turned upside-down. Of course, these and other important operating considerations will vary with the type, power and construction of the individual degausser models.

For more information on freeware delete all data windows me, degaussers, erasing hard drives, cleaning hard drives, degaussing, and erasing harddrives, see also: