Command: erase

  ERASE deletes one or more files.

Syntax:

  ERASE [drive][path]filename [/P] [/V] [/?]
        drive     Specifies the drive letter where the file is, e.g. C:
        path      Specifies the path to where the file is, e.g. \example\
        filename  Specifies the file(s) to delete. Specify multiple
                  files by using wildcards (*,?).
                  A period may be used to specify all files in the
                  current directory, and is the same as *.*

Options:

  /P  Prompts for confirmation before deleting each file.
  /V  Displays all deleted files.
  /?  Shows the help.

Comments:

  For performance reasons ERASE overwrites the first letter of the
  filename by a '?'. It does not delete the file itself, but it
  deallocates the space where the content of the file is written.
  FreeDOS, as other DOSes, recognizes the renamed file (myfile.txt
  becomes ?yfile.txt) as deleted, no longer shows it and does not offer
  access to it. Programs like DEBUG which have sector access are able
  to read the contents of the file. As long as you do not write on the
  drive you have a chance to restore the file again with UNDELETE, only
  the first character of the filename will be lost (_yfile.txt). The
  only ways to delete the file CONTENTS FOR ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN are to
  fill the disk completely with other files or by using a wipeout tool.
  The only way to delete a file NAME FOR ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN is to
  RENAME (REN) the file first (e.g. "a.") and to delete it later (only
  correct at 8.3 - not at long filenames!) You can also use DEL instead
  of ERASE.
  ERASE is a command internal to command.com and needs no other file
  in order to work.

Examples:

  erase C:\PROGRAM\test.txt

Command: erase

Syntax:

Options:

Comments:

Examples:

See also: