Delete Doesn't Delete???

SAAER45

SAAER45

New Member
I was under the impression that when you delete a file, it permanently deletes, someone told me that traces of deleted files still remain on the hard drive, is that true? If it is, after all the use my computer has got those small traces have to add up to something (space)... So my question is, how do you permanently delete deleted files?
 
SAAER45 said:
I was under the impression that when you delete a file, it permanently deletes, someone told me that traces of deleted files still remain on the hard drive, is that true? If it is, after all the use my computer has got those small traces have to add up to something (space)... So my question is, how do you permanently delete deleted files?
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i think thats true. and i think the only way to get rid of all the deleted files is to reformat but i could be wrong.
 
You can recover deleted things. But if the sectors that the file used up become written over by another file, then the space is re-used and the fiule cant be recovered....if ya see what i mean
 
So if I used an un-eraser I would restore the file remnants that haven't been written over, then I could use Killbox or Windows Washers to permanently delete those files, and that would do the trick?
 
umm, i dont think so. easiest thing to do is just fill up the hard drive, then unfill it. like copy a dvd to the hard drive of something. that should overwrite it.
 
Yeah, all deleting does is earmark that sector of the hard drive to be written over by the operating system (yes deleting not recycling-the difference between those two is that the recycling option does the same thing, just allows the operating to easily access the file again.) Anyway, you can also get some drive washing software that should get rid of the files that are "deleted" or erasing. I've seen programs entitled "Drive Washer" and "Drive Eraser" or something that I beleive this was their primary function.
 
spacedude89 said:
umm, i dont think so. easiest thing to do is just fill up the hard drive, then unfill it. like copy a dvd to the hard drive of something. that should overwrite it.
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So your saying that if I put more information on the hard drive than was deleted (say I have deleted 10GB and then put on another file of 11GB) then that deleted 10GB would be overwritten completely by the 11GB
 
SAAER45 said:
So your saying that if I put more information on the hard drive than was deleted (say I have deleted 10GB and then put on another file of 11GB) then that deleted 10GB would be overwritten completely by the 11GB
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most likely not, because the segments that the 11GB used may not be the same ones that the 10GB used. But i've heard of program that delete a file and write over it numerous times.
 
geoff5093 said:
most likely not, because the segments that the 11GB used may not be the same ones that the 10GB used. But i've heard of program that delete a file and write over it numerous times.
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So you are saying that if I use an uneraser to bring back all the deleted files that haven't been overwritten and then use one of those programs (I think one of them is called Window Washer) to overwrite those files then that would clear the deleted files completely?
 
Sorry to bump this thread up, but have you tried Eraser 5.7?

I use it all the time and it allows you to chose how many times you want to overwrite the data. Simply download it and then go to one of you drives C: for example, right click and chose the option "Erase unused disc space". Once you've done that all the deleted temporary internet files (and recycle bin content) should be completely erased. I'm not sure what the default pass is, I think it may be three, but I'm not sure.

Also don't worry, using eraser to erase unused disc space won't wipe your entire drive. It will only erase exactly what it says on the tin. Unused disc space isn't important, and once you've erased it, it will be able to be replaced by new data, (I hope that makes sense). You can chose how many passes to do in options, bear in mind the higher the pass rate the longer it will take to do, 1 pass should be more than adequate. You can download it below if you want:

http://aolsearch.aol.co.uk/redir?ur...searchType=MS&partner=google&query=eraser 5.7

There's also a handy help forum which should have the answers to any of your questions. :)

I've never used windows washer before but I would imagine it would challenge any average Joe data recovery program.

Hope that helps
 
I use something called Eraser, not too sure, at work at the mo, but Windows Washer can do the same thing. Just right-click teh file, then select 'Shred (with bleach)', or something along those those lines. That file is then repeatedly overwritten, then the random stuff that was written is deleted.
 
when u delete a file the hard drive doesn't remove the file it just says that the space where the file was is free, gettit.
there is software that can overwrite the entire hard-drive with total rubbish
 
yea the file doesn't really delete, it just gets marked with a certain flag so that new files may overwrite that exact space on the hard disk. it is possible to recover, though sometimes hard depending on what deleting software and method you use (ie. DoD 3, DoD 7, and the Gutmann 35; Gutmann being the best because it overwrites that space of the file with different methods 35 times, and is hard to recover)
but why would you worry about this? just wondering.
 
the way i used to do it is when i clicked delete it would go into the junk binm and to permantly delete it go into the recycle bin right click and click permantly.
 
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