# 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 *.*

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## Options:

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

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## 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.

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## Examples:

      erase C:\PROGRAM\test.txt

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## See also:

      debug
      del
      deltree
      rd
      ren
      rename
      rmdir
      undelete

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## File:

      Please read this command's lsm file also.
      You will find the updated version (internet) here and
      the version described in this manual page here.
      The lsm file contains information about the name of the programmer,
      the download site, and some other command related information.

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      Copyright © 1998 Jim Hall, updated 2007 by W. Spiegl.

      This file is derived from the FreeDOS Spec Command HOWTO.
      See the file H2Cpying for copying conditions.