manage-bde wipefreespace
Wipes the free space on the volume, removing any data fragments that may have existed in the space. Running this command on a volume encrypted using the Used Space Only encryption method provides the same level of protection as the Full Volume Encryption encryption method.
Syntax
manage-bde -wipefreespace|-w [<drive>] [-cancel] [-computername <name>] [{-?|/?}] [{-help|-h}]
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
<drive> |
Represents a drive letter followed by a colon. |
| -cancel | Cancels a wipe of free space that is in process. |
| -computername | Specifies that manage-bde.exe will be used to modify BitLocker protection on a different computer. You can also use -cn as an abbreviated version of this command. |
<name> |
Represents the name of the computer on which to modify BitLocker protection. Accepted values include the computer's NetBIOS name and the computer's IP address. |
| -? or /? | Displays brief Help at the command prompt. |
| -help or -h | Displays complete Help at the command prompt. |
Examples
To wipe the free space on drive C, type either:
manage-bde -w C:
manage-bde -wipefreespace C:
To cancel the wipe of the free space on drive C, type either:
manage-bde -w -cancel C:
manage-bde -wipefreespace -cancel C: