Version history for Hardwipe (64-bit)

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Changes for v5.1.4 - v5.2.0

• Built with updated compiler and QT5 libraries
• Color theme now defaults to "Bright White"
• Internal changes to improve compatibility with WinPE
• Other internal changes

Changes for v5.1.3 - v5.1.4

• New Features
• The portable edition is now available in both 64 and 32 variants.
• Additionally, command line only downloads are available. These can be found on the Portable Edition page.
• Added command line option to input license key via the command line. Previously, this could only be done using the GUI.
• Minor Updates
• Internal changes to the overwriting engine to reduce the occurance of "access denied" errors. Windows sometimes locks files during the wiping process. While, ultimately, the behaviour of Windows cannot be controlled, this change should really help things.
• Portable variants of Hardwipe Commander now log to its local "hw-log" directory by default, although this can be overriden with a command option.
• The command line option "log-user" has been deprecated. Hardwipe Commander now logs this information by default, and the option will be ignored.
• If the file renaming process (part of file removal) fails after overwriting the file, this is now explicitly logged with a new error description. Previously, it would have been reported that procedure simply failed.
• The command line utility now displays the bus architecture (i.e. 32 or 64-bit) with the version information command.

Changes for v5.1.2 - v5.1.3

• Bug Fix: Intermittent crash when using the built-in file browser for the second time. This was problem was introduced with a recent QT library update. This release fixes the issue.

Changes for v5.1.0 - v5.1.1

• Update: Latest version of the QT libraries
• Update: Minor updates for support with promotional programmes

Changes for v5.0.9 - v5.1.0

• New "Local Log Directory" option added to the Portable Edition
• The "Log User Details" option now checked by default
• Installer signed with SHA-256 key (previously SHA-1)
• Links to social media updated
• Other minor tweaks

Changes for v5.0.8 - v5.0.9

• Minor updates to the Spanish language file
• Installer version update
• Installer file descreased in size

Changes for v5.0.7 - v5.0.8

• Minor tweak for Windows 10: Explorer shell context menu items now have fully transparent backgrounds
• Ships with latest Qt 5.5 libraries

Changes for v5.0.5 - v5.0.6

• Important Updates
• Previous versions required OpenGL to be present on the target system. This caused problems on some machines, and limited portability. While version 5.0.6 will still use OpenGL where available, it is able to run independently of it
• The translations files for the Spanish language has been completely re-written by a professional translator (improved German translations are in the pipeline)
• The Chinese language has, for the time being, been dropped from the default deployment
• Minor Updates
• Update to latest QT libraries (5.4)
• Bug fix: Incorrect language sometimes used in context menus

Changes for v4.1.2 - v5.0.5

• Important Updates
• New features and major updates include:
• New command line utility, Hardwipe Commander, allowing integration with Task Scheduler.
• Portable Edition, designed to for use in conjunction with Windows PE to deliver a bootable Hardwipe solution
• New feature to clear the system pagefile makes it debut
• The following languages are now directly supported: English, Spanish, German and Chinese
• Hard wiping at the physical device level was previously a paid feature, but is now free in version 5
• Replaced third-party ads in the free version with more friendlier reminder notices to upgrade and click "like" on Facebook etc.
• Ability to color theme the main window
• Added VSITR overwrite scheme and several proprietary "RAZER" schemes
• Added advanced option to write log reports to disk
• The "pre-analysis" option was removed (analysis is now done silently in the background)
• Added advanced option to perform verification on first or last write pass (or both)
• Hardwipe will now accept a "SendTo" command to wipe a file
• Noticeable aesthetic improvements to the user interface
• Minor Updates
• Other changes include:
• Now using the ISAAC pseudo-random number generator in overwriting schemes
• Colored progress shown on taskbar in the Desktop Edition
• Smoother UAC elevation and a new de-elevation feature to gain access to restricted files and resources when needed
• Some minor configuration options removed
• Main window now remembers size changes
• Hardwipe now appears in the screen center when called from Windows File Explorer
• Option to empty-recycler when cleaning free space now appears on drive selection dialog
• Latest version of QT libraries used
• Updates to the installer
• Bug fix: Hardwipe failed to remove zero sized files
• Other minor updates and bug-fixes

Changes for v4.1.2 - Technology Preview v5.0.4

• Major Changes
• Major updates include:
• Device Wiping is Now Free
• Hard wiping at the physical device level was previously a paid feature in version 5, but is now free in V5. The key utility of Hardwipe, namely to securely wipe files, drives, and clean free space will always be free. Some advanced features, such as verification and logging, may require an upgrade.
• Clear the Windows Pagefile
• A long-planned update to make clearing the system page-file easy makes its debut in V5.
• Hardwipe Command Line Utility
• There is a brand new command line utility (aka "Hardwipe Commander") which ships with the software. This makes it easy, for example, to automate data sanitization in conjunction with the Windows Task Scheduler. There is an interim user guide for this feature available here. Hardwipe Commander will be a "professional" feature that will operate in a non-erasing mode until a paid upgrade is taken out. If you're interested in trying out the command line, please drop a mail to support.
• Portable Edition
• The Portable Edition was a feature of early Hardwipe versions. In V5, it is re-introduced and targets 32-bit machines and Windows XP. Significantly, the Portable Edition is designed to be used in conjunction with Windows PE to deliver a fully bootable Hardwipe solution which can be used to wipe the primary drive of any computer. A Portable Edition V5 Preview can be downloaded here, but you will need an upgrade key to use it. Customers who have previously purchased an upgrade should dig out their license key email!
• Removed Pesky Ads for Third-Party Products
• Replaced third-party ads in the free version with more friendlier reminder notices to upgrade and click "like" on Facebook etc. Upgrading gets rid of these.
• Improvements to the Interface
• There's been a lot of work to improve the user interface and integrate better with the Windows File Explorer. You will also find some new "color themes" in the configuration options allowing you to personalize Hardwipe.
• Other Changes
• Other changes include:
• Added VSITR overwrite scheme and several proprietary "RAZER" schemes
• Added option to perform verification on first write pass, last, or both
• Smoother UAC elevation and a new de-elevation feature to gain access to restricted files and resources when needed
• Hardwipe will now accept a "SendTo" command to wipe a file
• New professional feature to log wiping operations to disk
• V5 now uses the ISAAC random number generator in its overwriting schemes
• The main window now remembers size changes
• On use from File Explorer, Hardwipe now appears in the screen center
• Option to empty-recycler when cleaning free space removed from configuration, and now appears on drive selection dialog instead
• Some configuration options removed and simplified, while some minor options added
• Bug fix: Hardwipe failed to remove zero sized files
• Other minor updates and bug-fixes

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