Making sure deleted 4ever

jutnm · 07-19-2007, 04:03 AM

i know how to delete a program from ur computer by going to

my computer> uninstal/change program> deleting w/e file u want

but does it really delete the program u selected completely?? like are there still partial fragments of the file still on the computer. if there is how do u delete all the whole file completely ??

PC eye · 07-19-2007, 04:18 AM

One freeware raved about for cleaning up leftovers on a drive is called CCleaner found at http://www.ccleaner.com/ That will also clean out all of the IE history and offline content if left checked in the options.

For a good and reliable registry cleaner that opens to a main window first to see the main reg keys for anything you have installed allowing those to be removed by checking them off and clicking the remove button RegCleaner has done the job here for some time on any version of Windows. It includes an automatic registry cleanup option in the tools menu. http://www.dewassoc.com/support/useful/regcleaner.htm

Once the registry values are removed and a fresh boot of Windows any remaining files/folders can be manually deleted when found. First you want to make sure no part of the former program is still being loaded.

jutnm · 07-19-2007, 04:27 AM

ill look into that thanks

munkyeetr · 07-19-2007, 05:21 AM

When you delete a file it is often recoverable by using "undelete" utilities. It is (theoretically) recoverable until the physical space that the deleted file occupied on the HD is written over. There are even methods that use probability algorithms to recreate the file after multiple rewrite-overs.

A program like Restoration can often recover deleted files. It can also "permanently" erase the deleted files. I use quotations because while the files appear to now be gone under Restoration, another program with a more powerful recovery set may be able to still recover them.

There are many data recovery programs (CIA Unerase, Restoration, Encase, R-Tools, Undelete, etc...) and from what I've played around with them, some find things that others cannot.

Honestly (though impractically), to ensure that a file is completely gone throw the HD on the ground as hard as you can about a dozen time, crush it in a hydraulic press, then toss it into an active coal seam. Aside from complete destruction files can possibly and theoretically be recovered.

EDIT: Though, now that I've ranted on about this, I see I may have misunderstood the question. Oh well.

PC eye · 07-20-2007, 12:07 AM

There are ways to wipe a drive completely where no data recovery programs will work. But the main question was how to remove anything leftover after a program is removed. The one problem that can come up is deleting the files and folders left in the "DocumentsandSettings>user name>Application Data" area where you can run into the access denied when trying to manually delete something there. With Vista you can't even get in there but have to go into the new "users" directory. The other is now an archive off limits.

jutnm · 07-20-2007, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PC eye

There are ways to wipe a drive completely where no data recovery programs will work. But the main question was how to remove anything leftover after a program is removed. The one problem that can come up is deleting the files and folders left in the "DocumentsandSettings>user name>Application Data" area where you can run into the access denied when trying to manually delete something there. With Vista you can't even get in there but have to go into the new "users" directory. The other is now an archive off limits.

ic gotcha

GearBox · 07-20-2007, 01:57 AM

You could always use an app called Eraser.

PC eye · 07-20-2007, 02:40 AM

Eraser deletes files from drives by actually zero filling that space used several times to insure deletion. The free tool does have to be used with a degree of caution to avoid deleting the wrong items from the drive. Sorceforge offers the free tool at http://sourceforge.net/projects/eraser/

07-19-2007, 04:03 AM	#1 (permalink)
jutnm Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Anahiem Hills Posts: 1,526	Making sure deleted 4ever i know how to delete a program from ur computer by going to my computer> uninstal/change program> deleting w/e file u want but does it really delete the program u selected completely?? like are there still partial fragments of the file still on the computer. if there is how do u delete all the whole file completely ?? __________________ 1. AMD ATHLON 4600 X2 ~ 2.4 GHz 2. HIS ATI RADEON 1650 IceQ Pro Turbo 512Mb 3. RAM- ADATA PC6400: 2Gbs 4. MOBO-MSI K9N6GM VClass SERIES 5. 550 WATT LOGYSIS PSU 6. MAXTOR 230 GB HDD 7. Windows Vista ULTIMATE 8. Logitech 5.1 X-530 Surround Sound System 9.Ultra eTorque ATX Case (provided by gf "P)

07-19-2007, 04:18 AM	#2 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 20,508	One freeware raved about for cleaning up leftovers on a drive is called CCleaner found at http://www.ccleaner.com/ That will also clean out all of the IE history and offline content if left checked in the options. For a good and reliable registry cleaner that opens to a main window first to see the main reg keys for anything you have installed allowing those to be removed by checking them off and clicking the remove button RegCleaner has done the job here for some time on any version of Windows. It includes an automatic registry cleanup option in the tools menu. http://www.dewassoc.com/support/useful/regcleaner.htm Once the registry values are removed and a fresh boot of Windows any remaining files/folders can be manually deleted when found. First you want to make sure no part of the former program is still being loaded. __________________ What The Data Miners Are Digging Up About You http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Tec...6355541&page=1 Making an Old Brain Young http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Hea...6371136&page=1

07-19-2007, 04:27 AM	#3 (permalink)
jutnm Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Anahiem Hills Posts: 1,526	ill look into that thanks __________________ 1. AMD ATHLON 4600 X2 ~ 2.4 GHz 2. HIS ATI RADEON 1650 IceQ Pro Turbo 512Mb 3. RAM- ADATA PC6400: 2Gbs 4. MOBO-MSI K9N6GM VClass SERIES 5. 550 WATT LOGYSIS PSU 6. MAXTOR 230 GB HDD 7. Windows Vista ULTIMATE 8. Logitech 5.1 X-530 Surround Sound System 9.Ultra eTorque ATX Case (provided by gf "P)

07-19-2007, 05:21 AM	#4 (permalink)
munkyeetr Platinum Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Age: 85 Posts: 629	When you delete a file it is often recoverable by using "undelete" utilities. It is (theoretically) recoverable until the physical space that the deleted file occupied on the HD is written over. There are even methods that use probability algorithms to recreate the file after multiple rewrite-overs. A program like Restoration can often recover deleted files. It can also "permanently" erase the deleted files. I use quotations because while the files appear to now be gone under Restoration, another program with a more powerful recovery set may be able to still recover them. There are many data recovery programs (CIA Unerase, Restoration, Encase, R-Tools, Undelete, etc...) and from what I've played around with them, some find things that others cannot. Honestly (though impractically), to ensure that a file is completely gone throw the HD on the ground as hard as you can about a dozen time, crush it in a hydraulic press, then toss it into an active coal seam. Aside from complete destruction files can possibly and theoretically be recovered. EDIT: Though, now that I've ranted on about this, I see I may have misunderstood the question. Oh well. __________________ If the advice you receive helps, please post a reply saying so as courtesy to others who will come here with the same problem. MSI MS-7032 MB - Sempron 3000+ 1.8Ghz - 2GB PC3200 500GB Western Digital - 80GB Samsung - 80GB Maxtor (Dualbooting Ubuntu 7.10/Debian Lenny) nVidia GF 5700LE 256MB (AGP) - SoundBlaster 24bit PCI LiteOn DVDRW - Acer AL1916W 19" (2x) Registered Linux User: 448689 Last edited by munkyeetr; 07-19-2007 at 05:23 AM.

07-20-2007, 12:07 AM	#5 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 20,508	There are ways to wipe a drive completely where no data recovery programs will work. But the main question was how to remove anything leftover after a program is removed. The one problem that can come up is deleting the files and folders left in the "DocumentsandSettings>user name>Application Data" area where you can run into the access denied when trying to manually delete something there. With Vista you can't even get in there but have to go into the new "users" directory. The other is now an archive off limits. __________________ What The Data Miners Are Digging Up About You http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Tec...6355541&page=1 Making an Old Brain Young http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Hea...6371136&page=1

07-20-2007, 01:57 AM	#7 (permalink)
GearBox Bronze Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 44	You could always use an app called Eraser. __________________ Cpu: AMD 3800+X2 @ 2.95 GHz Cpu Cooler: Zalman Cnps 9500 Mobo: Mach Speed MSNV-939 HDD: Maxtor 250 Gb + Seagate 320 GB Gpu: Geforce 9600 GT (750/2200) Ram: 3 Gb Pc 400 Mhz Psu: Ultra 500 Watt

07-20-2007, 02:40 AM	#8 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 20,508	Eraser deletes files from drives by actually zero filling that space used several times to insure deletion. The free tool does have to be used with a degree of caution to avoid deleting the wrong items from the drive. Sorceforge offers the free tool at http://sourceforge.net/projects/eraser/ __________________ What The Data Miners Are Digging Up About You http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Tec...6355541&page=1 Making an Old Brain Young http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Hea...6371136&page=1

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