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Q: Can I select multiple files and drag them to Shredder95?
Yes. In the Explorer, it is normal to use the shift key to highlight a range, and the ctrl key to highlight multiple files. Once highlighted, drag and drop to Shredder95 (the running program).

Q: How can I shred multiple files?
The way to shred multiple files is to have a windows explorer folder open with all the files and while the running Shredder95 is also on your desktop, drag as many files over, in-group, into the running Shredder95. This is also documented in your help file. Remember to run Shredder95 first and then you can drag any files onto Shredder95.

Q: How can I automatically Shred multiple files at a time?
Register the software. We have a small message between shreds in the UNregistered version only. When you receive unlock codes (many times within a few of business-hours), you can shred an unlimited number of files (well, limited to the number on your hard drive, of course).

Q: When I Shred Files... sometimes they don't disappear from the Explorer Window (the files remain after shredding), but if I close it and open it - they're gone. Why?
Internal to Windows95/98/NT is a 'refresh rate' that waits a certain length of time to refresh, or redisplay the contents of the Explorer Window. To tell it to "refresh now!," simply press F5, while your Explorer Window is in focus.

Q: What is ShredCom.exe? Can I run it?
A file used by Shredder95 in less than 1% of the circumstances to bypass possible Windows blocks. It is useless by itself.

Q: What about the recycle bin? Can you link to that?
We are looking at the best way to link to the recycle bin while still ensuring security by not having multiple files (even deleted) on the hard drive. Stay tuned for this.

Q: What about previously deleted files? Can I Shred those?
Regarding shredding previously deleted files...
The FreeSpace option of Shredder95/98/NT shreds data that currently exists in your open/free space which is the "available" part of the previously deleted records. Therefore, the DATA of previously deleted files will be shredded after using the FreeSpace option of Shredder95/98/NT.

Q: How does DEFRAG affect files?
Freespace wipes the data associated with files, but not fileNAMES. Shredder95/98/NT needs to operate on these directly. This is done by letting Shredder95/98/NT shred the files directly instead of deleting them first and letting freespace clean up the data. We *are* looking into addressing a further level of name destruction - while the best way right now is to let Shredder95/98/NT kill the name/size/date/data altogether.
DEFRAG (defragmenting) files simply 'packs' them together. If sensitive files are at the end of the drive, sectors will be copied to the newly packed position, but left at the end where they are unsecure. Even if sensitive files are overwritten, they may be done in a way not approved by government security measures, meaning they would still be recoverable. Before using DEFRAG, copy your files to another secure location (diskette, other hard drive), use Shredder95 on your secure files, DEFRAG, and copy them back.

Q: How can I get the latest copy of Shredder95?
Visit http://www.gale-force.com/shredder/updates/index.html (or just click there) Gale-Force Software

Q: What operating systems and platforms can Shredder95/98/NT run on and supports?
Shredder95/98/NT will support ALL 32-bit Windows releases

Q: Just downloaded the latest version and it reverted to trial mode.
Occasionally when the program is updated, it requires reentry of codes...
Just re-enter the codes making sure that all four items (registration number, name, email, and key) are entered as shown on the original registration email.

Q: Can't select folders/directories:
Regarding the way Shredder95 handles folders/directories...The Shredder95 Professional Version has the ability to "optionally recourse subdirectories" which allows for recursing and deleting of files within and including directories. The basic and standard versions do not delete subdirectory names. We are looking into adding this into these versions - and should this occur - you will be able to get this freely. However, to delete whole directories of files, you need to go into the directory, hit CTRL-A (or choose Edit...Select All) and drag and drop onto Shredder95/98/NT. This will allow complete file shredding for all versions of Shredder95/98/NT.

Q: Can I shred Temp and Cookie files?
Temp and cookie files on a Windows machine are actually not files but registry entries. The Explorer is able to 'show' them as files, but they exist as a few bytes inside the protected registry. Therefore, Shredder95 cannot delete/shred these virtual protected bytes. (Actually no file-shredder does). We are looking into finding a 'normal' way to virtually shred them - but for now, the best way to insure security is to delete them normally through your Internet Explorer and then run the 'Freespace' option of Shredder95.
Note: Freespace wipes the data associated with files, but not fileNAMES. Shredder95/98/NT needs to operate on these directly. This is done by letting Shredder95/98/NT shred the files directly instead of deleting them first and letting freespace clean up the data. We *are* looking into addressing a further level of name destruction - while the best way right now is to let Shredder95/98/NT kill the name/size/date/data altogether.

Q: Can't shred:
Regarding being unable to shred in...
1) It is possible that what you are seeing is a version problem. We would suggest downloading our latest version and using this version as we have not had any such reports.
You may download our latest version of Shredder95/98/NT from the following site: http://www.gale-force.com/shredder/updates/index.html
2) The only time that the codes don't work is if any or all four items were not entered correctly. The codes work with the name & email as listed. The number one reason that we hear that it didn't work (which is rare) is that a user either entered a middle initial that wasn't originally listed or omitted one that was or that the e-mail address being used is different from the one given to us at the time of placing the order.
NOTE: If you would like us to make a permanent change on any of those items, please fill out the change of address request.

Q: Corrupt installation detected.
This may occur when the download is aborted. Just re-download.
You may download our latest version of Shredder95/98/NT from the following site: http://www.gale-force.com/shredder/updates/index.html

Q: After using Shredder95/98/NT, is all the data really gone?
It depends on how much money and effort the people trying to restore the data are willing to use. The erased data cannot be recovered with any software utility and even if the hard drive electronics are bypassed and the disk platters are examined, recovering the data will be extremely difficult if not impossible.

Q: Command line interface.
You can use Shredder95/98/NT from the command line by running the program with a file specification such as: c:\progra~1\shredder95\shred95.exe c:\test\*.txt which, in this example, would shred the *.txt files in the c:\test directory. Although this is limited, we are working on an automatic-safety system as should be out in a future version of Shredder.

Q: Is there a DOS version of Shredder95/98/NT?
Sorry, we do not have a DOS version at this time.

Q: Does it shredd email messages...
Depending upon your email client program (i.e. Outlook, Netscape, Eudora, or other), if the emails exist as a file, you can shred it as Shredder95/98/NT is a file shredder. However, even if they are not (such as in the case of Outlook, or specific email messages with Eudora, since Eudora saves a whole FOLDER of messages in each file separately), you can still (after deleting/trashing them), run the FreeShred of Shredder95/98/NT and clean the space that they used.

Q: I have an error.out
If you have any error.out messages, please attach and send us your error.out file (located in the c:\program files\shredder95 directory) to Shredder@Gale-Force.com. Please identify your setup so that we can best attempt to duplicate this error. This would include your platform (Win95/98/NT?), type of computer, and size of hard drive(s).

Q: Can I shred an entire hard drive?
Regarding Shredding an entire drive (including the operating system): The main problem with trying to shred everything is that you are using the operating system to shred the operating system. It's kind of like picking yourself up off the ground with no help from a device. The files that are "in use" or locked or shared make up the operating system and cannot be deleted as we are relying on them to shred files. The system "holds open" those files while in use.

Q: How does Shredder95/98/NT work on a network?
If a network drive does not do its own buffering, in other words, if it is a windows network, the shredding will occur, but not the renaming. Renaming is a function that can only be done locally, although the data is gone. To take advantage of the renaming you would have to run it on the local computer, which has the drive in question.