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Permanent deletion of files?
Name: dennisc Date: December 9, 2005 at 00:04:07 Pacific OS: windows XP CPU/Ram: 632 MB RAM
Comment:
Whenever i delete files I have downloaded from the net such as wav, mpeg and other movie files and jpeg, bmp and also other file extensions, are there backup copies created on the registry although I have permanently deleted them on the recycle bin?
If yes, how do i locate these back up files and how do i permanently delete them?
Name: Richard59 Date: December 9, 2005 at 02:00:07 Pacific
Reply:
Unlikely to be "Backup" copies anywhere but a record of the URL you visited to download from will be contained in hidden index.dat files which reside in several locations and cannot be deleted by normal means. If you have deleted the files then they are gone (in laymans terms). Of course a forensic examination of the harddrive will probably reveal all since nothing is ever really deleted, only the cluster address becomes marked as available. This means deleted files remain until the clusters they occupied are overwritten (several times) The lengths you need to go to "delete" files permanently really depend on your level of paranoia. If you absolutely have to get rid of something then buy a new harddrive and do a clean windows instal. Take the old drive and heat treat it ( An oxy/aceteline blowtorch will do the job nicely.) Then take the remains and cast them into the vent of the nearest volcano. That's what I do anyway.
I used to have a signature but it disappeared and I just couldn't be bothered writing another so please feel free to ingore this.
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Response Number 2
Name: XpUser Date: December 9, 2005 at 06:57:45 Pacific
Reply:
What the heck is Clusters? In the world of electronics, data on a HD is stored via the magnetizing and de-magnetizing of ferric oxide on the surface of the disk. The de-magnetizing implies that data are only detached, not erased.
i_XpUser
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Response Number 3
Name: XpUser Date: December 9, 2005 at 07:04:00 Pacific
Reply:
Also read this to find out why deleting files doesn't mean its gone forever.
i_XpUser
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Response Number 4
Name: Flint Rockstone Date: December 9, 2005 at 07:05:59 Pacific
Reply:
to truly delete files you might try one of these programs : http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/ or http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,22393,00.asp Either one is free and both do a decent job of overwriting deleted files...and/or the empty spaces on your hardisk also..
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Response Number 5
Name: Flint Rockstone Date: December 9, 2005 at 07:09:45 Pacific
Reply:
Let me rephrase that. to truly 'overwrite files..'
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Response Number 6
Name: Jennifer SUMN Date: December 9, 2005 at 11:02:38 Pacific
Reply:
XP, you don't know what clusters are? You're kidding right?
Soylent Green is PEOPLE!!!
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Response Number 7
Name: XpUser Date: December 9, 2005 at 11:04:57 Pacific
Reply:
:-) :-)
i_XpUser
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Response Number 8
Name: dennisc Date: December 19, 2005 at 17:35:45 Pacific
Reply:
thanks for the tips... just the average user here guys...
Summary: download unlocker, run unlockerassistent.exe when you try delete the file and get the error, a window should pop-up select delete and press ok our patience is big...
Summary: Hi I have a lot of data (personal) which I have recently deleted from my computer into the Recycle Bin and then emptied the Recycle Bin. I have heard that it is still possible to find these files as t...
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