files are deleted but are still stored in your system?

Question

i've heard from somewhere that even when you deleted the files and empty the recycle bin, that file is still somehow stored in your computer. how do you completely delete that file from your system? i am selling my laptop and i dont want my buyer to be able to retrive these deleted files. i know there are ways to retrive these files if you're a tech geek or if u install some software. so do you know if there's anyway i could completely delete the files from my computer/hard disk/system?

Answer 1

Even formatting your drive more than once won't permanently erase the files.

Try WipeDrive, it overwrites every sector of the hard drive to permanently erase everything.

Answer 2

When you delete a file from your computer, all you are really doing is deleting the directory information for that file - basically telling the disk not to remember where that file is so it can no longer find it when browsing or searching. But that data is still there on the disk, and it is rather trivial to restore the directory info for it, with a disk utility program like Norton or several others. You sure don't have to be a geek to do it - anyone could, it is simple.

The only way to really delete that data is to do a "secure delete" which also overwrites the file data with random data, making it irretrievable. On a Mac this is done using the "secure empty trash" command. For a Windows-based computer there are a lot of products available but they aren't free - do a search on "secure delete files" and you will see a list of them. Buy whichever one has the features you need.

This was a good question because a lot of people don't realize how much personal information is on their computer after they "delete" it.

Answer 3

Yes even when u delete it from the trash bin it is still there so if u r getting rid of a hard drive disk u will more an likely have to break it if u dont want other people to read what is on the hard drive or u can go and buy another and install that new hard drive.

Answer 4

when you put the files in the recycel bin and delete them the area on the hard drive they are on is just marked as writable so they will stay there until they are overwritten. you can use a programm like spybot search and destroy which is free it has a secure shredder so you can chop the files into at the most 99 pieces. Also you could wipe the hard drive but you would then have to also have the disk to install the operating system agine.

Answer 5

Don't worry brother, this is very simple, what you said is correct that even whn the files are deleted they r still there on the system somewhr, and yes there r ways to retrieve it, wat u can do is, take a backup of watevr files u wan from ur laptop and perform a clean windows installation which will format the hard drive and will install a fresh new copy of windows, and all the files and everythin will be gone.

Answer 6

Try Simple File Shredder (http://www.snapfiles.com/get/simplefileshredder.html).

This program will permanently shred the files you wish to delete. It garbles the files and makes them permanently irretrievable by overwriting it with rubbish data.

If you want your customer to have a "clean slate" again, I suggest either reformatting (if you have your Windows disc) or using the Restore Disc that comes with your Laptop.

Answer 7

Just format your HD a couple times to scramble the data up a bit. The person you are selling it too would have to be a good PC tech or pay someone a large free to do data recovery.

Answer 8

I have a program that says it destroys data so that it can't be recovered by even the the most sophisticated recovery methods. Don't know if it really works.

Answer 9

That is the absolute truth...there is a way, or so I hear
And if you put in a new hard-drive (where your trash is actually stored) that defeats the purpose of selling it...

Answer 10

Ok, yes, most of the things you delete, are not deleted..make sense? good;)
And no, you don't need to be a geek, to "undelete" them....software, is the key...to more then one problem;)

Try this link....

http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/

If you really don't want them to access it, reformat your pc...that's only if you have not included software in the deal...I.E office, etc:

Try that link, and see how it works...

You're welcome, glad to help;)