Sending a zero information gain formatted encoded data slice

A computing device comprises:

• an interface;
• memory;
• and
• a processing module operably coupled to the interface and the memory, wherein the processing module is operable to:
• encode, in accordance with a dispersed storage error encoding function, a data segment of a data object to produce a set of encoded data slices, wherein a decode threshold number of encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices is required to recreate the data segment;
• create a subset of encoded data slices from the set of encoded data slices, wherein the subset of encoded data slices includes less than the decode threshold number of encoded data slices;
• create one or more partial encoded data slices representing one or more encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices that are not within the subset of encoded data slices based on the dispersed storage error encoding function and at least some of the encoded data slices of the subset of encoded data slices;
• output, via the interface, the subset of encoded data slices to storage units of a dispersed storage network (DSN);
• and
• output, via the interface, the one or more partial encoded data slices to another device of the DSN, wherein the one or more encoded data slices are recoverable from the one or more partial encoded data slices and one or more properties of the dispersed storage error encoding function and wherein the subset of encoded data slices and the one or more encoded data slices produces at least the decode threshold number of encoded data slices.