How do you completely remove all deleted files from your hard drive?

Question

My husband and I got into a bit of an argument over this. He is saying that, no matter how much you "scrub" a computer, that there is still a way to retrieve the deleted information from it. I say that there are programs (legal and available) that allow you to "scrub" the hard drive clean.

He says that law enforcement agencies have programs that can still find old files, like when they are searching the PCs of pedophiles and other whackos.

Neither one of us are computer saavy enough to know the answer ourselves LOL.

Answer 1

format the hard drive

or quick and easy if you NEVER want to use the hard drive again, just use a strong magnet. just make sure you take out the hard drive and keep the magnet away from the rest of the computer.  

Answer 2

technically you can never "completely" delete a file.

I agree with the first dude, if you microwave your computer it will be like, "Uh oh" and then boom!

Answer 3

All those programs that say they erase your files dont work at all.

I often use other programs to retrieve some files that are deleted or erased.

Even when use an eraser program, im still able to retrieve files.

Even a (low-level)format or repartition wont help.

The best way to really delete all files in the HDD is to use a powerfull magnet, or if the drive is not needed anymore, disassemble the thing

Answer 4

How to permanently delete files on hard disk

http://www.review-ninja.com/2008/08/perm...

Make sure to shred the file at least 32 times.

Answer 5

Well, there's always physical destruction. Open up the hard drive cover, cut open a road flare. Empty the flare all over the inside, making sure the powder gets in between the platters. Set the hard drive inside an old BBQ, and light it with a long match. I've done Viking funerals for a few crashed hard drives, setting it on a cardboard raft. That way, the water hitting the hot platters does some extra damage to the surface. That works better than a sledgehammer as you won't be tired and sweaty.

Nowadays SD-cards are being used - a easy twist of the card can snap the chip in half - in much less time it takes to use a road flare.

Saving that, there's a program I've tried, and it works. It's called Evidence Eliminator. It has a function that writes random information over empty sectors, as well as fragmenting your existing files, moving parts everywhere. Sure it'll take longer to load the files. When it's time to physically destroy the media, finding a complete file after-wards would be difficult. Shop around, there may be a reseller out there willing to sell a copy at a greatly reduced price (they get half) . Sorry, I can't post my link, as that will violate the rules here. You won't find my link anywhere, just search on-line for the program.

Answer 6

Download - Eraser. Secure data removal for windows. UNTRACEABLE.