When you delete a file from your computer, it moves to the Windows Recycle Bin. You empty the Recycle Bin and the file is permanently erased from the hard drive. Right?
Well, the file appears to have been trashed but a skilled techie may have no trouble restoring that "deleted" file using data recovery software – some of which are freely available online. Here’s why:
When you delete files or folders, the data is not initially removed from the hard disk. Instead, the space on the disk that was occupied by the deleted data is "deallocated." After it is deallocated, the space is available for use when new data is written to the disk. Until the space is overwritten, it is possible to recover the deleted data by using a low-level disk editor or data-recovery software.
To permanently erase files and prevent your confidential files from getting into wrong hands, Microsoft offers a free command line utility – SDelete (Secure Delete) – that overwrites all the free space to prevent data recovery.
You can use SDelete both to securely delete existing files (replacement of delete), as well as to securely erase any file data that exists in the unallocated portions of a disk (including files that you have already deleted or encrypted). [via newsletter]
See some more command line tricks.
Find this article at: http://www.labnol.org/software/permanently-delete-computer-files/6076/
Tags: command line, delete, erase, feature, hacking, privacy, useful, windows vista, Software
Reader Comments
I use Eraser Project Freeware, it works great in Windows, they have many secure methods to erase files permanently. link
Written by Chris on 12.17.08
hi, there are also free software tools which deletes the files safely with no chance of recovery
Written by Techcreeze on 12.17.08
How about deleting file with “Shift+Delete” ? It won’t move file to recycle bin but not sure whether file can be recovered back or not ?
Written by Kevin on 12.17.08
Techcreeze,
using “Shift+Delete” definitely deletes the file and it is not possible to recover the deleted files.
Why go for softwares when you have this cool feature in Windows itself??.
Written by Rohit on 01.04.09
From what I read on the MS website, “shift+delete” is simply the shortcut version of “delete” and then empty the recycle bin. It looks to me that shift+delete simpy takes the space straight to “deallocation”. It does not appear to wipe the space clean and make the data unrecoverable.
Written by notatechie on 01.07.09
I downloaded the application, ran the .exe file..But then, it is still not recognized by the command prompt. Amit, can you help me out.
Written by Anand on 01.12.09
if you wipe your c drive with a recovery disk and return your computer to the original factory condition, can files such as pictures still be recovered?
ed: No, all the data is erased if you restore your computer using the original recovery disk supplied by the vendor
Written by steve on 02.11.09
I cant seam to deleate files I made up such as letters from boss or letters from trustee and what ever can anyone help and Microsoft are been a crap to me they wont let me deleate my hotmail or msn messenger and expect me to take the crap from other uers.
Written by Rodney on 02.23.09