Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 16

Thread: Where do my deleted files go?

  1. #1
    Novice
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Age
    39
    Posts
    188

    Angry

    Hey, I download a lot of stuff over the net and sometimes I don't like the programs, games, music, or any other file sometimes. So,....I delete them, but my files are still in my hard drive correct? Can anyone explain in more detail what happends to the files I delete and is there a REAL way to get rid of everything I deleted out of my hard drive?

  2. Software & Hardware   -   #2
    can I curse? FUCK!
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Posts
    1,265
    yes, just press empty recycle bin, and its all gone, if you really want to get rid of EVERYTHING, do a format or a low level(?) format.

  3. Software & Hardware   -   #3
    uNz[i]'s Avatar Out of order
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    2,217
    This is how it works as far as I understand it.

    Deleting a file simply removes the file's header info from the computers file table.

    The OS may not be able to see the file once it's deleted, but the file data itself will remain on the drive until that section of the hard disk gets overwritten by something else.

    Even after that, it's still possible to retrieve the originally deleted file.

  4. Software & Hardware   -   #4
    dban is good for wiping files off your HD. and Sdelete I think is also good.
    Last edited by Ariel_001; 03-04-2005 at 05:44 AM.

  5. Software & Hardware   -   #5
    tesco's Avatar woowoo
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Canadia
    Posts
    21,669
    programs like ariel posted write over your files you want to delete with 0's and 1's to make them corrupt, so that it is unrecoverable.

  6. Software & Hardware   -   #6
    peat moss's Avatar Software Farmer BT Rep: +15BT Rep +15BT Rep +15
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    Delta B.C. Canada
    Posts
    10,547
    I like System Mechanics " Incinerator " for individual files, set at 7 times wipe.
    Once a month I use system shield for a harddrive wipe. It does take awhile tho.

  7. Software & Hardware   -   #7
    Novice
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Age
    39
    Posts
    188
    What about Sureclean? Doesn't that delete with 0's and 1's? So how do actually format my hard drive? Is it safe?

  8. Software & Hardware   -   #8
    ahctlucabbuS's Avatar <
    Join Date
    Jan 2003
    Location
    Oslo
    Posts
    1,917
    Quote Originally Posted by peat moss
    I like System Mechanics " Incinerator " for individual files, set at 7 times wipe.
    Once a month I use system shield for a harddrive wipe. It does take awhile tho.
    *me wonders what you have on your hard drive*

  9. Software & Hardware   -   #9
    sparsely's Avatar °¤°¤°¤°¤°¤°¤°
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    static hum
    Posts
    3,486
    depends on who you're hiding stuff from.
    last I read (ages ago) the goverment had equipment and techniques capable of recovring data that had been overwritten up to 12 times.

    this post is guaranteed 100% parrot-free

  10. Software & Hardware   -   #10
    peat moss's Avatar Software Farmer BT Rep: +15BT Rep +15BT Rep +15
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    Delta B.C. Canada
    Posts
    10,547
    Quote Originally Posted by Barky
    *me wonders what you have on your hard drive*
    oh nothing important ! But I learned after selling and buying used harddrives to becareful! You can reclaim disk space by overwriting your deleted files aswell !
    Last edited by peat moss; 03-05-2005 at 12:56 AM.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •