I have a friend who saved all his passwords in a file on his computer (XP). I told him it is not such a good thing to have after all but I cannot answer his question: If he wipes the file can someone still find a version in system restore or anywhere else? I am sure he has to check the recycle bin and 'Norton Protected Files' for saved copies, too. Has anyone a suggestion how to get rid of a file and it's hidden backup copies? Is a program as suggested in Question http://computing.net/security/wwwboard/forum/4171.html doing it all for you?
Thanks for comments!

Good chance there will be a copy in the System Restore. After he removes the file, and clears the Recycle bin, he should go in and disable System Restore, reboot and then re-enable it. This should clear any saved copies as well as clear all system restore points. Then he needs to run DEFRAG and reboot several times to clear most traces of the file stored on the disk. Next set a new system restore point.

hello
anther good way to erase file is get the free program eraser do google.
it can over write the file puto 35 and makeing it veary hard to recover file short of electron microscope.

What wawadave is talking about, would be here.

Good Luck

Thanks Dave,

I downloaded the program but have not run it on my friends comp yet. How can I test whether all files are erased (I mean the "hidden ones")?