Applies to: Pro, Enterprise and Audit
Purpose
The best-effort file-system metadata churn control repeatedly creates and removes large numbers of temporary files and directories. Its purpose is to encourage reuse of file-system metadata records after selected data has been processed.
How the control works
CertErase creates a temporary root on the relevant volume, creates a large number of small randomly named files in randomly named subdirectories, and then removes the temporary tree. This activity can overwrite or replace some metadata records through normal allocation behavior.
What it does not do
This control does not directly enumerate, overwrite, or validate every internal file-system structure. It does not prove complete removal of historical records from:
- The NTFS Master File Table;
- The USN change journal;
- Transaction logs;
- Shadow copies;
- Search indexes;
- Storage snapshots;
- External monitoring or backup systems.
Treat this feature as a best-effort supplementary control. It does not provide deterministic sanitization of file-system structures.
Operational impact
The process creates many temporary objects. Endpoint protection, file-system filters, quotas, storage latency, and permissions can affect performance or completion. Test it before enabling it in a production profile.
Use the control
- Confirm that the approved procedure requires best-effort metadata churn.
- Ensure that temporary file creation is permitted on the target volume.
- Close applications that actively monitor or manipulate the test area.
- Enable Scrub timestamps and metadata.
- Run a representative test.
- Review the output for temporary-file creation and cleanup failures.