Data Destroyer
Protected files

When using Method 1, files with extension bat, bin, com, dll, drv, exe, ini, kbd, ocx, ovl, pif or sys are handled with care to prevent accidental purging of files which may be necessary for the proper operation of your computer, as explained below.

A file with one of the extensions listed above may be purged only after you have confirmed that it is OK to purge such files. You can give a blanket confirmation at the start of the purge operation (see Refining and confirming the purge operation). If not given there, and if a file with one of these extensions is encountered then you will be asked for permission to purge it. This permission applies only for the duration of the current operation (the permissions are reset to No for each file extension at the start of each operation).

There is no such check when using Method 2. When all files in selected subfolders of a folder are purged (see Purging selected folders) all the above-mentioned types of file will be purged without confirmation.

But there are two exceptions:

  1. The software will not purge the current Data Destroyer executable file (that is, the Data Destroyer program currently being executed), and will also not purge any file which is in the same folder as that file.
  2. The software will not purge any file with a sys or swp extension which is on the first fixed drive (a.k.a. fixed disk), that is, the first fixed drive starting from drive letter "C". (The first fixed drive is usually Drive C.) It will purge such files on drives after the first fixed drive.

Exception #2 implies that you can remove a hard drive from a PC and connect it to another PC as an external hard drive, then proceed to purge all files, including those with a sys or swp extension (e.g., pagefile.sys).

See also the warning about Anti-Malware Software.

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