Deleting Files

  • Thread starter Thread starter Gene L.
  • Start date Start date
G

Gene L.

How can I be certain that a few files that I want permanently deleted cannot
be recovered by someone at a later date. I am using Windows Vista Home
Premium and I recently did a full hard disc recovery, reinstalling all the
applications of Microsoft Office. However, I read somewhere yesterday that
some files may still be recoverable by knowledgeable searchers. I had some
files that I never want to see again and I do not want anyone else to see
them either. How can I do a reliable, permanent delete? Thanks for any help
you can give me.

Gene L.
 
Gene said:
How can I be certain that a few files that I want permanently deleted
cannot be recovered by someone at a later date. I am using Windows Vista
Home Premium and I recently did a full hard disc recovery, reinstalling
all the applications of Microsoft Office. However, I read somewhere
yesterday that some files may still be recoverable by knowledgeable
searchers. I had some files that I never want to see again and I do not
want anyone else to see them either. How can I do a reliable, permanent
delete? Thanks for any help you can give me.

Gene L.
Click to expand...



Google for "file shredder"
 
Gene

It can always be recovered by Professionals that deal with file recovery. There is
nothing that will remove any access to it be it File Shredder or any 3rd party
software that claims so. The only possible way is to take out the Hard Drive and
destroy it. Governments and Law enforcement always have access to recover a
information on a hard drive even if you think it was wiped or overwritten
 
Peter Foldes said:
Gene

It can always be recovered by Professionals that deal with file recovery.
There is nothing that will remove any access to it be it File Shredder or
any 3rd party software that claims so. The only possible way is to take
out the Hard Drive and destroy it. Governments and Law enforcement always
have access to recover a information on a hard drive even if you think it
was wiped or overwritten

--
Peter

Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.
Click to expand...

Thank you very much for the reply. I guess that a future recovery would not
imperil the security of the United States or anything of that importance -
just some personal data and information I would like to have obliterated
permanently. I appreciate your willingness to help.
Regards.
Gene
 
Hi, Gene.

Peter is correct. Even an amateur like myself can download and run an
application like WinHex.exe. With this, I can read any sector on the hard
disk, whether it has been deleted or not - whether it is or ever was in any
file or not. Even most re-formats leave much readable data behind. If it
has been overwritten - not just deleted - my chances are much less.

There are applications to examine even overwritten data, but they are not
generally available to us amateurs. So a "shredder" application should
suffice for most purposes. Just be sure that it overwrites ALL THE DISK,
not just current or deleted files. Some of the juiciest tidbits might be in
the "slack space" at the end of a long file that has been only partially
overwritten by a shorter file.

Physical destruction of the disk platter(s) is the only sure way. A
whole-disk shredder will suffice for most purposes.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
Windows Live Mail 2009 (14.0.8089.0726) in Win7 Ultimate x64
 
Once again, I thank each one who responded to my inquiry. I do not wish to
appear mysterious because I am just an average old-timer who is considering
the purchase of a new lap top. I would like to donate my present desk
computer to the local school system but I do not want to have some personal
information dug up by some amateur hacker. It would be just embarrassing -
not criminal.



With appreciation:

Gene L.

"
 
Reading through this thread, I'm curious - if overwritting and deleting does not "really" delete stuff, it's known that there is information there; with all the kacking and IT pros, why hasn't there been something writen or figured out to overcome this issue?Just a small digression; forgive me.Josh


Post Originated from http://www.VistaForums.com Vista Support Forums
 
What I have learned from this thread is that if the program and/or hardware
head used to overwrite previous data does not overwrite it with a strong
enough "signal" that the government has classified equipment that can read
the previous data written on the HDD..

in message news:[email protected]...
 
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