How to deleted already deleted files

[covert24]

Well im trying to speed up and free up some space on my grandmas laptop and i need to know how to delete already deleted files permanently from the computer. I know that windows doesn't actually destroy the file/folder it just sets a hex code to 0 which makes it so that it doesn't take up space and can not be accessed. I have found programs that can recover these files but none that can destroy them. someone give me some info on how i can go about doing this. Thanks.

 

[evolvedbullet]

Possibly that could be what de-fragmenting would be. I don't really know if I'm wrong.

 

[WildHorse]

There's a free utility you might take a look at to see if you like it:

Simple File Shredder

 

[Nothinman]

Once the file is marked deleted the space is reported as free and nothing you do will cause more free space to randomly appear.

 

[WildHorse]

Originally posted by: Nothinman
Once the file is marked deleted the space is reported as free and nothing you do will cause more free space to randomly appear.

Yes, but on the other hand, some file shredders have an option to over-write the file up to 20 times with random bytes, which will obliterate remnants of deleted files.

Back when I used to use McAfee, the srhredder that came with it let you set the number of passes it'd overwrite random data. You could set it to a high number, say maybe 7 passes, to make sure no old remnants could ever be recovered.

 

[Nothinman]

Yes, but on the other hand, some file shredders have an option to write zeros to the disk areas that don't contain files, which will obliterate remnants of deleted files.

Yes but that's orthogonal to what the OP wants. And you really want a shredder that writes random or patterned data in multiple passes if you really want to make things difficult for recovery people.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Sure it's your "grandmothers". Delete it and empty the trash can. Nothing else you do is going to speed it up, other than running a defrag.

 

[covert24]

yea ive ran defrag about twice. noticed a bit of difference, not much tho. Shes been in the market for a new one since my little cousin has destroyed this thing (riped keys off, broke floppy drive, etc) She bought this thing for like 2400 bux to lmao. you can buy a Acer Ferrari for that much now.

anyway thanks for all the help guys. i found a program that writes zeros to freespace and i let that run. it let you choose what you want it to write. i chose in this order (Random letters - AA - 00 - FF) so there shouldn't be any trace of anything.

 

[nweaver]

Originally posted by: covert24
yea ive ran defrag about twice. noticed a bit of difference, not much tho. Shes been in the market for a new one since my little cousin has destroyed this thing (riped keys off, broke floppy drive, etc) She bought this thing for like 2400 bux to lmao. you can buy a Acer Ferrari for that much now.

anyway thanks for all the help guys. i found a program that writes zeros to freespace and i let that run. it let you choose what you want it to write. i chose in this order (Random letters - AA - 00 - FF) so there shouldn't be any trace of anything.

What's grandma hiding?

 

[morkman100]

Like others have already said, programs that write 0's to the free space are not doing it to free up space. It's for security reasons. These programs are literally writing 0's to the drive (0 is a character), then deleting them so data recovery is more difficult.

To free up space, just uninstall any old programs, run windows disk cleanup (to remove old temp files, clear cache, etc.), empty the recycle bin, then defrag.

 

[covert24]

Originally posted by: nweaver

Originally posted by: covert24
yea ive ran defrag about twice. noticed a bit of difference, not much tho. Shes been in the market for a new one since my little cousin has destroyed this thing (riped keys off, broke floppy drive, etc) She bought this thing for like 2400 bux to lmao. you can buy a Acer Ferrari for that much now.

anyway thanks for all the help guys. i found a program that writes zeros to freespace and i let that run. it let you choose what you want it to write. i chose in this order (Random letters - AA - 00 - FF) so there shouldn't be any trace of anything.

What's grandma hiding?

nuttin. just thought it would be good to get rid of all the old files and directory traces incase she sends it into best buy or something. To get rid of tax info ad her business transacations and such.