JP2002312128A - Method for erasing hard disk, and application software used for the method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for erasing a hard disk and application software used for the method, capable of obtaining the information on the application software used for erasing the hard disk by recording information specific to itself, when using the application software. SOLUTION: After data erasure processing for the hard disk, the specific information on the used application software is recorded at a predetermined address of the hard disk. In this way, by using such a configuration, the application software used for erasing the data in the hard disk can be specified, and in addition, the specific information includes serial numbers for each application software, which enables specifying each application software.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a method for erasing a hard disk used in a personal computer or the like, an application software using the method, and a method for protecting the application software.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the development speed of computers such as personal computers has been high, and the number of computers disposed of has been increasing. Usually, when disposing of a computer, the contents of the hard disk are erased.

[0003] However, not all data on the hard disk is cleared, and erasure may be incomplete.
In some cases, all data cannot be erased even if the user intends to erase the contents of the hard disk.

[0004] Therefore, application software for securely clearing the contents of a hard disk has been proposed. By using this application software, data remaining on the hard disk can be reliably erased.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional application software, even if the hard disk is erased using the software, the history is not left.
For example, even if the hard disk after erasure is examined, it is not known that the data has been erased by the application software.

For this reason, even if the application software is used by a person who is not a legitimate purchaser, even if the application software is used, it is not known which application software was used. In such a case, if the application software used for erasing the hard disk is known, it becomes an effective tracking means.

[0007] Further, in some cases, it is necessary to prove that the hard disk was not erased by the application software. Therefore, in view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention specifies the application software itself when using the application software. By recording information,
The present invention proposes a method by which information of application software used for erasing can be known, and further, it can be proved that the erased hard disk was not performed by the application software of the present invention.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an erasing process for erasing data from a hard disk, and specific information recording for recording specific information of software on the hard disk after the erasing process. This can be achieved by providing application software for performing the processing.

Here, the specific information is, for example, a serial number of the software as described in claim 2. With this configuration, it is possible to specify the application software used for the hard disk after erasing. it can.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the above object is provided.
This can be achieved by providing a method of erasing a hard disk using application software that performs an erasing process for erasing data from a hard disk and, after the erasing process, a specific information recording process for recording specific information of software on the hard disk.

[0011] With this configuration, it is also possible to record information on the used application software on the hard disk after erasure. According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an application software for performing an erasing process for erasing data from a hard disk and, after the erasing process, a specific information recording process for recording specific information of software on the hard disk. This can be achieved by providing a recording medium.

The present invention is an invention of a recording medium such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk or a CD-ROM. The program having the above-described configuration is recorded on the recording medium and used for erasing the hard disk. The application software used for erasure can be tracked.

[0013] The above object is attained by the invention according to claim 6.
A data erasing process for erasing data from the hard disk;
After the erasing process, a specific information recording process of recording software specific information on a hard disk, a read process of reading a model name and a serial number of the hard disk from the hard disk, and the read model name;
This can be achieved by providing application software for performing a storage process for storing a serial number.

According to the present invention, when the application software of the present invention is copied and used illegally, the history of the model name and the serial number of the hard disk which has been erased is further saved. However, the proof can be made.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the specific information is a software serial number and a job number. With this configuration, the serial number and the job number of the application software used for erasing are left on the hard disk, and certification can be performed when the application software that erased the hard disk is later checked.

The above object is achieved according to the invention described in claim 8.
An erasing process for erasing data from the hard disk, a specific information recording process for recording software specific information on the hard disk after the erasing process, and a reading process for reading a model name and a serial number of the hard disk from the hard disk. And a storage process for storing the read model name and serial number.

This embodiment is intended to protect the application software from unauthorized copying by the above configuration. According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an erasing process for erasing data from a hard disk, a specific information recording process for recording specific information of software on a hard disk after the erasing process, This can be attained by providing a recording medium on which application software for performing a reading process of reading the model name and the serial number and a storing process of storing the read model name and the serial number are stored.

The present invention relates to a floppy disk or a CD-RO
M is an invention of a recording medium such as M. The program having the above configuration is recorded on the recording medium and the above-described processing is performed, thereby protecting the application software itself from unauthorized copying.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. <First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram used for a method of erasing a hard disk according to a first embodiment. In FIG. 1, the system includes a CPU 1, a ROM 2, a data erasing unit 3, and a hard disk 4. CP
U1 is driven according to the program stored in the ROM 2 and outputs a data erase signal to the data erase unit 3. The data erasing unit 3 controls the hard disk 4 under the control of the CPU 1.
Is erased.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining a method of erasing a hard disk according to this embodiment. First, it is determined whether there is an instruction to erase data (step (hereinafter, referred to as ST)).
1). Here, if there is no instruction for data erasure, the instruction is waited for (ST2 is NO).

On the other hand, if there is an instruction to erase data (ST1)
Is YES), the CPU 1 outputs a data erasing signal to the data erasing unit 3 to erase the hard disk 4 (YES in ST1 and ST2).

Next, it is determined whether or not all data in the hard disk 4 has been erased (ST3). If all data has been erased (YES in ST3), the serial No. of the application software is written to the hard disk 4 (ST3). ST
4).

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which the serial No. of the application software is written on the hard disk 4. For example, if the serial No. of the application software used in this example is “abcde”, the serial No. is written at the head address of the hard disk 4 as shown in FIG. The position where the serial number is written is not limited to the start address, but may be, for example, the last address or another position.

The serial number of the application software used for the data erasure is recorded on the hard disk 4 from which the data has been erased as described above. Therefore, for example, by reading the information of the hard disk 4, the serial number of the application software used for erasing the data can be easily known.

Therefore, by examining the hard disk 4, it is possible to easily know the application software used for erasing data, which is an extremely effective means.
If the data has been completely erased and nothing remains on the hard disk, it means that the application software is not used.

As described above, the application software of this embodiment executes the data erasing process,
Since the serial No. can be written in the application software, the purchaser of the application software can purchase the software without anxiety.

The specification of the application software is not limited to the serial number. For example, a special code may be set for each application software, or specific information specific to the information of the purchaser. You may. <Second Embodiment> Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 4 is a system configuration diagram of this embodiment. In this figure, this system has a CPU 1 and a ROM as described above.
2, a data erasing unit 3 and a hard disk 4, and further include a data reading unit 5 and a memory 6. here,
The data reading unit 5 has a function of reading a model name and a serial number from the hard disk 4. Also, the memory 6
Stores the model name and serial number read by the data reading unit 5. Incidentally, the memory 6 may be constituted by another storage medium such as a floppy disk.

The configurations of the CPU 1, the ROM 2, the data erasing section 3, and the hard disk 4 are the same as those in FIG. Next, the processing operation of this example will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Also in this example, it is first determined whether or not there is a data erasing instruction (step (hereinafter, referred to as STP) 1). Here, if there is no data erasing instruction, the system waits for the instruction (STP2 becomes N
O). On the other hand, if there is an instruction to erase data (STP1 becomes Y
ES), the CPU 1 outputs a control signal to the data reading unit 5 and reads information from the hard disk 4 (ST).
P2).

This information is the aforementioned model name and serial number. That is, the hard disk 4 to be deleted
Are the model name and the serial number of the personal computer on which is mounted. If the hard disk 4 has an individual number, that number is also read.

Next, the information of the model name and the serial number is stored in the memory 6 (STP3). FIG.
Is a configuration example of information stored in the storage area 6a to 6c for storing a model name, a serial number, and other information, and information read from the hard disk 4 is stored in the corresponding storage area.

Next, the CPU 1 outputs a data erasure signal to the data erasure section 3 to erase the hard disk 4 (STP4). Then, it is determined whether or not all data in the hard disk 4 has been erased (STP5). If all data has been erased (STP5: YES), the serial No. of the application software is written to the erased hard disk 4 (STP6). . In this example, the job number is also written to the hard disk 4 (STP
7).

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which the serial No. and the job number of the application software are written on the hard disk 4. For example, if the serial No. of the application software used in this example is “abcde” and the job number is, for example, JOB1, the above information is written to the head address of the hard disk 4 as shown in FIG. Also in the case of this example, the position where these pieces of information are written is not limited to the head address, but may be, for example, the last address, or may be another position.

The job number is updated every time the application software of the present embodiment erases data on the hard disk, and the updated job number is written on the hard disk as, for example, JOB2, JOB3, or.

On the hard disk 4 from which data has been erased as described above, the serial No. and the job number of the application software used for the above-mentioned data erasure are recorded. The history of the serial number is stored.

Therefore, even if the application software is copied and used to erase the hard disk 4 without the knowledge of the authorized owner, such a job (job number) is recorded in the history of the authorized application software. By comparing the serial number and job number remaining on the erased hard disk 4 with the job number, it can be understood that the erase processing is not the erasure processing by the legitimate application software.

As described above, this example is illegally copied,
Even if the application software copied without the knowledge of the authorized user is used illegally, the model name and serial number remaining in the memory 6 are changed to the illegally used hard disk 4.
Does not match the data corresponding to the job number remaining in
It can be easily proved that the hard disk 4 is erased due to unauthorized use.

[0038]

As described above, according to the hard disk erasing method of the present invention, the specific information such as the serial No. of the application software is written on the erased disk, so that the history of the used application software remains. It can be effective tracking information.

Further, since it is possible to easily prove that the hard disk has been erased due to unauthorized use, it is possible to protect legitimate application software.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a recording state of a serial number written on a hard disk.

FIG. 4 is a system diagram of a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of a memory.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a recording state of a serial number written on a hard disk.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 CPU 4 2 ROM 3 Data erasing part 4 Hard disk 5 Data reading part 6 Memory

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. Application software that performs a data erasing process for erasing data from a hard disk, and after the erasing process, a specific information recording process for recording specific information of software on the hard disk. 2. The application software according to claim 1, wherein the specific information is a software serial number. 3. A method of erasing a hard disk using application software for performing an erasing process for erasing data from a hard disk and a specific information recording process for recording specific information of software on the hard disk after the erasing process. 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the specific information is a serial number of software. 5. A recording medium for recording application software for performing an erasing process for erasing data from a hard disk and a specific information recording process for recording specific information of software on the hard disk after the erasing process. 6. A data erasing process for erasing data from a hard disk, a specific information recording process for recording software specific information on the hard disk after the erasing process, a model name and a serial number of the hard disk from the hard disk Application software for performing a read process of reading the model name and a storage process of storing the read model name and serial number. 7. The application software according to claim 6, wherein the specific information is a serial number and a job number of the software. 8. An erasing process for erasing data from the hard disk, a specific information recording process for recording specific information of software on the hard disk after the erasing process, and a model name and a serial number of the hard disk from the hard disk. A method for protecting application software, comprising: performing a read process for reading; and a storage process for storing the read model name and serial number. 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the specific information is a serial number and a job number of the software. 10. An erasing process for erasing data from a hard disk, a specific information recording process for recording specific information of software on the hard disk after the erasing process, and a model name and a serial number of the hard disk from the hard disk. A recording medium on which application software for performing a read process for reading and a storage process for storing the read model name and serial number is recorded.