You know how they say once you delete stuff from your computer it's not actually gone?

Question

Where does it go and can I manually delete it

Answer 1

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

AnalogX SuperShredder = http://www.analogx.com/contents/download/system/shred.htm

http://www.diskcleaner.nl

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&safe=off&q=%22diskcleanER%22&btnG=Search

DBAN=Darik's Boot and Nuke = DBAN=Darik's Boot and Nuke ("DBAN") is a self-contained boot floppy that securely wipes the hard disks of most computers. DBAN will automatically and completely delete the contents of any hard disk that it can detect, which makes it an appropriate utility for bulk or emergency data destruction. = http://dban.sourceforge.net + Note: Also see = BootDisks - PC Support - Essential Utilities = http://bootdisk.com - - http://dban.sourceforge.net

BCWipe = http://www.jetico.com/index.htm#/bcwipe.htm

Autoclave = hard drive sterilization on a bootable floppy = http://staff.washington.edu/jdlarios/autoclave/

PC INSPECTOR e-maxx = (FREEWARE) = http://www.pcinspector.de/emaxx/uk/welcome.htm = PC INSPECTOR™ e-maxx only deletes entire hard drives.

You may need to try deleting in SAFE MODE if possible = http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2001052409420406?OpenDocument&src=sec_doc_nam

Answer 2

When you delete a file, it is removed from the directory but is not totally erased until you format the hard drive or the tracks are overwritten by new data.

Simply deleting your files and folders is NOT ENOUGH!
Be Warned — DELETE DOES NOT MEAN ERASE. Easy to use recovery programs make it possible for anyone to “Un-Delete” and view your files.
Think emptying your Recycling Bin will remove a file or a folder?
Emptying your recycling bin is like playing hide-and-seek. It makes it appear as if the file is gone, but in reality the file is just hiding somewhere else on your PC. And by running a simple recovery or un-delete program, it can be easily found and viewed!
Source: http://www.winferno.com/c/002/pcconfidential/permanently_delete_files.asp?

To remove every trace of a file, use a tool such as Cipher.exe to permanently overwrite deleted data. This utility is included in WindowsXP. Here are links to how to use:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/298009/EN-US/
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315672

Answer 3

A hard drive is set up in a unique way. Basically, there is an instructional file on your hard drive that tells your computer what data is on the drive and where it is on the drive. When you delete files, it only modifies the instructional file to tell your computer the data is gone.

The only way to truly erase data from your drive is to either write over it with another file. There is software out there that writes "blank data" over everything on your drive -- this ensures that any existing data is gone.

Answer 4

It remains on the hard drive exactly where it was until it is overwritten. The only way you could remove it is with special software or, pull the drive out and chuck it in the oven for 15 mins on 250 degrees.
It doesnt dissappear with a reformat either folks!

Answer 5

Actually it is not deleted the address will be changed you can recover the files even you formated the hdd

Answer 6

When you delete a file you remove the instructions the computer uses to find the file on your drive. The file is not destroyed. Later as the computer writes more and more data to the drive the chances increase that the deleted files may be overwritten, damaging the files or making them unrecoverable.

You can use recovery software to recover files that have been deleted. The sooner the file recovery takes place after the file deletion, the better the chances of recovering the file undamaged.

Drive Discovery 2.34 (free for 30 days)
http://www.download.com/Drive-Discovery/3004-2248_4-10641143.html?tag=tab_scr
Analyze the hard disk to see what files and data can be
recovered, see inside deleted files and view deleted images.
You can choose to either recover the file or overwrite the file to make it not recoverable.

Recuva - File Recovery (free)
http://www.recuva.com/
Freeware Windows utility to restore files that have been accidentally deleted from your computer. This includes files emptied from the Recycle bin as well as images and other files that have been deleted by user error from digital camera memory cards or MP3 players. It will even bring back files that have been deleted by bugs, crashes and viruses!


Restoration
http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,23108-order,1-page,1-c,alldownloads/description.html
Recover deleted files--or delete them for good--with this small program.

Restoration is a free program that can scan your hard drive, floppy diskette or USB thumb drive and find files that have been deleted (Windows doesn't actually destroy files that you delete: it just marks the space they occupy as being available). It can then recover any recently deleted files it finds with a single mouse click.
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To delete the file so that it can not be recovered the data in the file must be overwritten. Many programs will allow you to overwrite the data 1, 3, or 7 times. Per government standards.

Drive Discovery and Restoration (above) in addition to recovering files, can also overwrite this recoverable data making it unable to be recovered.
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To delete your browsing history permanently you need to overwrite the file data.

Install CCleaner: Do not install toolbar and recycle bin options
http://www.ccleaner.com/
Removes tracking information from all browsers, toolbars, movie players. etc.
In options:
-Set to run when the computer starts
-Choose secure file deletion and number of passes
(if you do not want the files to be able to be recovered)
- Uncheck if needed "only delete Windows Temp folders older than 48 hours"
-Place cookies you want to keep in the save list.
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When you sell a computer you want to make sure you files can not be recovered. Reformatting the drive does not prevent all files from being recovered. The best way is to run a program that overwrites the entire drive, often called wiping the drive.

Wipe the drive use any of these three methods:

http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6142_102-0.html?forumID=5&threadID=194873&messageID=2115918
"You can find out the manufacturer of your HD and then attempt to download the formatting tool created by that manufacturer for their HD's. Most HD Manufacturers have a Zero Fill Low level formatting tool available to erase their HD products. This will clean any existing OS files from your system as well as any viruses other files etc.."

Darik's Boot and Nuke (DBAN) free
http://www.download.com/Darik-s-Boot-and-Nuke/3000-2092_4-10165154.html
http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=61951&package_id=58479&release_id=439240
DBAN will automatically and completely delete the contents of any hard disk that it can detect, which makes it an appropriate utility for bulk or emergency data destruction.

Active@ Kill Disk - Hard Drive Eraser (Free version/ $29.95 enhanced version)
http://www.killdisk.com/
Active@ KillDisk - Hard Drive Eraser is powerful and compact DOS software that allows you to destroy all data on hard and floppy drives completely, excluding any possibility of future recovery of deleted files and folders. It's a hard drive and partition eraser utility.
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Format and Reinstall Windows

When you format enter "fdisk /mbr" to format the master boot record.
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6132_102-0.html?forumID=32&threadID=49909&messageID=593967

Reformat and install.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/313348
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/winxp/install.mspx
http://www.whitecanyon.com/reformat-the-hard-drive-in-windows-xp.php
http://www.smartcomputing.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles/archive/l0910/32l10/32l10.asp

Load all drivers and software.