I NEED A COMPUTER GEEK! please...?

Question

i know that it is said that when you delete a file from your computer, it doesnt reallly get deleted. simply "forgotten". what are some simple ways to delete them for good? is there anything that doesnt require another program needing to be installed to terminate these files? i have windows XP btw. 10 points awarded quickly to the most helpful answer! xoxox thank you!
p.s incase this helps, the files i want to permanently delete are internet cookies (i already clicked on the delete cookies button but i dont know if they are gone for good) and limewire files... stuff like that.

Answer 1

Even after the user has cleared the internet cache folder, temporary internet files folder, and history folder, the index.dat files on Windows continue to store all the visited web addresses and cookies and some temporary files.
Index.dat are files hidden on your computer that contain all of the Web sites that you have ever visited.
Every URL, and every Web page is listed there.
Not only that but all of the email that has been sent or received through Outlook or Outlook Express is also being logged.
The file names and locations depend on what version of Internet Explorer you have.
If you are running IE version 4.0 or above, the file name is "index.dat".
Microsoft has not supplied an adequate explanation as to what these files are for or why they have been hidden so well.
******


'ATF Cleaner' will clean up your Temp. Internet Files and Cookies, and provides the user with a window showing the total bytes freed upon completion.
The program is small (36kb), quick to run and no installation required.

ATF Cleaner
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/atfcleaner.html

Answer 2

I think one guy actually nailed it on the defrag.

If what you want is to kill your files beyond the ability to get them back, you must buy a program that shreds the file. The other tips and tricks that people are telling you are simply incorrect, Shift + Delete simply does not copy the file into the recycle bin (the file can still be undeleted).

A delete simply unlinks the file from the file allocation table, meaning it is still written to the drive and will only be overwritten once another file needs to take its place. A defragmentation is a process of copying bits and bytes of data into a sequence in which they are most likely to be read on order, thereby speeding up your hard drive read speed. A side effect of this is that your deleted files will get written over. Please note that a drive using 20/120 gigabytes is unlikely to completely destroy deleted file on the drive which leaves the file there for recovery.

Simply put, the ONLY way to truly get rid of your files for good is a 3rd party program that goes in, finds deleted files, and writes over them with junk data.

Some will say that even then your files can still be recovered, but the trouble that one would need to go through to get at that data is so costly that it is simply not practical and, if for you it is, what are you doing asking questions about the data on your CIA hard drive anyway?

Answer 3

To so-called permanently delete the files, you need a program that writes over the space on the hard drive where the file was previously stored many, many times. This makes it harder to recover the file.

When you delete a file, the space on the hard disk is simply marked as usable so the file is still there except that now the space can be used to store new data.

You can search the net for programs to permanently delete files on the computer or you try the following site. I've never tried it before actually so I don't know how well it works.

Try this:
http://www.analogx.com/contents/download/system/shred.htm

Answer 4

The only way to really delete your files its going to
>My computer
On the My computer window look for the (c:) Drive (or Hard Dsik drive) right click-it (the c: drive), and select properties
on the porperties window look for a button called "disk cleanup" and click it
after a window opens there is a list under "files to delete"(or something like that (im not sure cus im using vista)) and makes sure the following options in the list have their box checked
[ >]Temporary Internet files
[ >]Recycle Bin
makes sure just those two are checked and then click "ok" the window will close and then it ll take you back to the (c:)properties window and then click "ok" there too and i think that ll do the work

Answer 5

Assuming you are using XP, first pull up Internet Explorer. At the top, select "tools", then "internet options". Click "settings" and then click, "view files". These are your stored cookies that just doing the below won't do. Now from the toll bar select, "edit" and from the drop down menu "select all". Then go to the toll bar and select, "file" then "delete". Then click, "OK". On this menu now click on, "delete" where it says browser history.

Now go to, "start", "all programs", "accessories", "system tools", "disk cleanup". You will be prompted to select the "C" drive. Click it and follow the prompts. It will not let you delete any important files, just ones that you do not want (your history). There should not be any because you have just manually deleted them; it's just to be safe.

Now go to, "start", "all programs", "accessories", "system tools", "disk defragmentor". Select, "Defragment". This will arrange your current files and overwrite any past history.

Shut down your computer for at least 1 minute. This gives the current cache time to erase itself.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. This should take care of your situation.

Answer 6

Simple deletion:

1. select the file then press delete(the file is not deleted yet but move to recycle Bin folder)

Moderate Deletion:

1. select the file then press shift+delete (The file is permanently deleted to recycle bin)

Temporary Deletion

1. Partition your HDD, then format your hard disk

Permanently Deletion

1. Burn your Hard disk.

Answer 7

to delete files permanently, just highlight the file you want to delete then press Shift key + Delete. This won't throw the deleted file anymore in the recycle bin. But if you want to delete other program files you need to properly uninstall it or use third party program that uninstall unnecessary programs, this is to make sure of proper uninstallation without leaving unneeded files undeleted.

Answer 8

Defragmenting the drive helps. But you'll have to "wipe" over the previously used space to cover your tracks. That will require a utility to perform. Might not have to install anything, there are stand-alone applications for that task.

Answer 9

YOU CAN DELETE THEN EMPTY YOUR RECYCLING BIN. THE DATA HOWEVER CAN NEVER BE ERASED FOR GOOD. YOU COULD ALWAYS HOWEVER, OVERWRITE THE FILE WITH DATA. TO DO THIS, THEY'RE NUMEROUS PROGRAMS TO DO THIS. I SUGGEST YOU GO TO THE STORE TO BUY ONE INSTEAD OF USING A FREE ONE IF YOU'RE THAT CONCERNED ABOUT THE FILE YOU'RE DELETING.

Answer 10

Ther eis a free easy to use cleaning tool called ccleaner you can download it here http://filehippo.com/download/836aab53c0dfd8723b25ba68ecc6b540/download/ it will erase all evidence of internet and everything else this is the only way to get rid of them for good