How to enduringly Delete Files - Using Windows private Built-In Tool

You may or may not know that when you drag items to the trash on your computer, they aren't enduringly deleted. Just watch an lesson of your popular Csi show, and you'll see that its potential to recover files that haven't been deleted properly. And while I'm sure you're not guilty of any Csi type crimes (or are you?), I'm sure you want to shape out how to enduringly delete your files and keep your secret things secret -- after all everybody has to have some secrets!

Why emptying your recycling bin doesn't enduringly delete your files

Hard Drive

When you tell your computer to empty its recycling bin, your operating system only deletes the records it has of the files you want to delete. Yet the files still remain on the hard drive memory.

Here's an analogy: If you think of your files as books in a library and you decree you no longer have use for a confident book. Emptying the trash is equivalent to removing the entry in the library's card catalog. The book is still there but not honestly found by daily visitors. But if man honestly wanted to find it, and had a clue where to look, they quite possibly do so since it is still physically there.

What it means to enduringly delete a file

To enduringly delete a file, you need to not only delete its record, but also overwrite the bodily part of the hard drive where it lives. A low level format is equivalent to replacing your secret file with random bits (1's and 0's). Lasting with the library analogy you need to take off take off the book, shred it, light up in flames and possibly replace it with a distinct book

A straightforward way to enduringly delete?

According to Microsoft, there is a keyboard shortcut in Windows to, quote, "permanently delete files". You do this by choosing your file and hitting Shift+Del. Convinced? Neither am I. What they're honestly explaining is a shortcut from having to move the item to the trash and then emptying the trash.

Take it a step further

Here's a poor man's version of permanent deletion. Delete your files, empty your recycle bin, and run Disk Defragmenter placed in the Start menu under Accessories/System Tools. What this will do is optimize your hard drive by rearranging (most) of your files, and in doing so will most likely overwrite the files you want enduringly deleted. Nice!

Do it right and do it better

While performing a defragmentation will probably do the trick, it's honestly not a viable solution. Waiting for disk defragmentation is not something I'd do every time I wanted to do a permanent deletion. The defragmentation process is way too long. The right way to how to enduringly and fast delete files is to use a agenda specifically designed for that purpose. You're in luck too because most Windows operating systems have a command line tool called Cipher to do the trick!

Here's how to use Cipher:

1. After end all windows, open up a command window.

2. Type the following: cipher /w:�driveletter:�foldername where driveletter and foldername correspond to the drive a location of where your deleted file used to live.

3. Sit back and enjoy your relaxation and privacy while your file is truly enduringly deleted!

Here's an example:

I have a photograph I want enduringly deleted which stored on my computer at the following location:

C:�images�scandalous_picture.jpg

After deleting this photograph and emptying the recycle bin, I would type the following (in a command prompt) to ensure that I can still run for senator (as long as they don't catch me in the airport bathroom):

C:>cipher /w:C:�images

I can then move on to my life of privacy and carefree surfing!

You can do better!

Although I'm comfortable working with the command prompt, you may not be. No worries, there are abundance of other graphical based software tools that achieve true permanent file deletion -- not to mention they are much less tedious to use. The chronicle at freedback.org/Reviews/Software/Permanently-Delete-Files.html gives a good summary of some of the most popular graphic-based file deletion software available.

How to enduringly Delete Files - Using Windows private Built-In Tool