Is it true that you can't really delete anything from your computer?

Question

my computer is a piece of crap and has a really small amount of space on it. to make more space i was going through and deleting old stuff like music files, programs and pictures. it doesn't seem to do much good. it looks like alot of my stuff is saved to more than one place so deleting it once doesn't do much good. so is the stuff just forever going to take up space on my harddrive?

Answer 1

When data is deleted, it is removed from memory, BUT, it is only gone to never never land when new data uses that space. Until then it can be recovered.

Have you cleaned your Recycle Bin?
Go to Tools at top of screen, .....Browser Options...Clear History/Address bar..........Click on Internet Options.....Delete all History and Temp files.

Go to Start...All Programs.........Accessories....System Tools.........Use Disk Cleanup......Use defragment your hard disk. All that can take some time.

Then check there System Information.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

By deleting 10 pictures or 8 mp3s you do nothing. You have to delete programs, go start, control panel, add/remove programs and remove unnecessary programs. Also go to mycomputer , right click on your (c:) dirve and run clean up wizard or something. Empty your recycle bin, delete cookies ( open your browser, tools, clear private data), delete some favorites and so on.. Or you can just buy an external hard drive

Answer 3

Yes BUT in your case what i would recommend is reloading your Operating System especially if you are deleting things in multiple locations.
That is unless you have lots of time to search for all the files you are trying to delete.

And i said yes you can never really erase things from the hard drive in the sense that there is software to retrieve deleted files that users think they actually disposed of.

Answer 4

In response to Hot_hondagirl2005, you can really erase things. What I think your talking about is how when you "delete" a file, the icon disappears, but the enclosed data remains until written over. But, like Pyria said, you can use a shredder or similar utility to demolish stuff.

EDIT:
Sorry Edward I didn't see that you sort of already explained that, I'm new to this and was confused by the chronological ordering of the posts. :P

Answer 5

i guess you need to clear disk space and ask us what files you can delete.
there is a program called system restore in the start -> accesories.
open it. there is a link for settings i think in the left. open it and check the box disable system restore on all partitions. then apply.
then look if you have more free space.
this program could take a lot of space in your hard drives.

Answer 6

To find all your duplicate files:

ToniArts EasyCleaner 2.0.6.380 (free)
http://www.download.com/ToniArts-EasyCleaner/3000-2094_4-10522776.html?tag=lst-0-2

Do not delete system and program files or you will be very sorry.

In options click on "duplicate file options" tab
I use "same contents" regardless of name and date
There are also same name, same size, and same date and time options.

Then click on "duplicates" button. Double click on drive and set directory to search. Then click search. You manually have to select which duplicate file found you want to be deleted.
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When you delete a file windows marks the space that was used by the file as available space for storage. Any recovery software can recover these deleted files if performed soon after deletion. Later as files are added and moved around there is a possibility the deleted file will be overwritten with new data and become unrecoverable.

There is software to take the files you want to delete and overwrite the file making them unrecoverable.
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Increase Hard Drive Free Space

1) Remove programs you no longer use.

2) Save files to CD/DVD disks and delete the files off your computer.

3) Run "check disk" check both options and restart. (runs a long time)
Run Disk Cleanup then Disk Defragment.
See: 4 Ways to Speed Up Your Computer's Performance
http://www.microsoft.com/atwork/getstarted/speed.mspx

4) Install CCleaner: Do not install toolbar option
http://www.ccleaner.com/
Removes unneeded files, history, tracking cookies
In options.
Set to run when computer starts.
Place cookies you want to keep in save list

5) Update Java or download at
http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp
Remove all but the latest version of java from add/remove programs. then go to Program Files\Java remove directories of older versions. (jre1.5.0_08, jre1.5.0_09, etc.)

6) Reduce space allocated for system restore to about 2 GB
start> Right click on my computer icon.> choose properties> in system properties choose restore tab.> move slider to about 2GB (1%?)
.

7) Right click on drive C icon choose properties > click on general tab > click on disk cleanup on disk cleanup "files to delete" click on compress old files (default is compress files not used for 50 days or more) . Highlight line "compress old files" button appears below "options". Options allows you to change how long a file must remain unused before being compressed.

8) On disk "C" properties page is the option box. to compress the entire disk.

9) Replace the hard drive with one with larger capacity, or add an external hard drive.

Hard drives:
http://www.newegg.com/Store/Category.aspx?Category=15&name=Hard-Drives
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Category/category_tlc.asp?CatId=8

Answer 7

When you "delete" something from your computer....all you are doing is telling Windows that it is ok to store things where the file you just "deleted" used to be.

The only way to actually "erase" a file is to do write over it or reformat your hard drive.

Answer 8

No. You just need to delete it in all locations. Try doing a search for the file to see where it's all at. A search for *.mp3 will show all MP3 songs on your PC.

Answer 9

Make sure to empty the recycle bin after deleting. You can also run disk cleanup. Start > Run > cleanmgr.exe

Answer 10

If you use a file shredder, then yes you can permanantly delete things by writing over the file several times
If you don't use a file shredder then no you can't permanantly delete files