Applies to: All editions
Purpose
The Output area is the primary live record of an operation. It reports session context, selected controls, current progress, item outcomes, warnings, errors, cancellation, and completion.
Review before starting
Confirm that the log identifies or reflects:
- Session start;
- Application and version context where available;
- Selected erasure method;
- Pass count;
- Verification setting;
- Alternate data stream setting;
- File identity and metadata settings;
- Free-space or metadata-churn settings;
- Target count and paths.
Review during processing
Watch for:
- Access failures;
- Read-only attribute handling;
- Rename or timestamp failures;
- Alternate stream enumeration or overwrite failures;
- Overwrite pass progress;
- Verification retry or failure;
- Deletion failure;
- Folder cleanup failure;
- Cancellation messages;
- Temporary-file cleanup problems.
Review after completion
Do not rely only on the final status line. Confirm the outcome of every target, especially in sessions with multiple files or folders. A single failed item can invalidate a statement that the entire approved data set was erased.
Copy and clear
Right click on the Output area to open a Copy/Clear and Export menu.
Use Copy to place log text on the clipboard for an approved destination. Clipboard content can be exposed to other applications or clipboard-history features; handle it according to the sensitivity of paths and system information.
Use Clear only after the required evidence has been exported or captured. Clearing the display should not be part of normal evidence retention.
Evidential role
The output log is useful for operations and troubleshooting. For formal enterprise records, use the structured sanitization report and attach the raw log where policy requires it.