Applies to: All editions
Cancellation behaviour
Select Cancel to request that CertErase stop the active operation. Cancellation is cooperative, not instantaneous: the application may need to finish or exit the current block, pass, stream, item, or cleanup stage before it can stop safely.
Cancellation does not restore data already overwritten, renamed, timestamp-modified, or deleted. A cancelled session can therefore contain:
- Successfully erased items;
- Partially overwritten items;
- Renamed or metadata-modified items;
- Untouched pending items;
- Temporary cleanup artifacts awaiting removal.
Final status meanings
Completed successfully means the configured stages completed without a reported fatal error for the recorded targets. Review item-level records and scope limitations before making an assurance statement.
Failed means at least one required stage could not be completed. A failed file may already have been modified. Read the per-item error and do not assume that the original remains usable.
Cancelled means an operator or system request stopped the session before the planned scope completed. Treat the manifest as partially processed until item-level records establish otherwise.
Response to cancellation
- Preserve the current output log.
- Record who cancelled the operation and why.
- Identify the last completed item and current item.
- Check for temporary wipe folders or incomplete cleanup.
- Determine whether partially processed data requires a new authorized operation.
- Do not rerun blindly if identity changes have altered paths.
- Export a final record and link it to the original authorization.
Unexpected interruption
If the application, operating system, or storage device stops unexpectedly, treat the result as unverified. Preserve logs, inspect the target volume, and use a controlled follow-up procedure. Do not infer success from missing files alone.