Comments for How do I make sure that my deleted data is really gone?

Comment from 11bravo on 2008-03-10

2008-03-10T08:17:26Z

Use a program like DBAN (Darik's Boot and Nuke - hard disk WIPE). Freeware (just google - program and faq). Create a boot cd (or a boot floppy if the computer has a floppy drive), then run with multi-pass. Can take awhile (run overnight for the 32 pass wipe, but that might be overkill - the DOD 7 pass wipe might suffice), but it does work - disk is CLEAN.

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A comment on: How do I make sure that my deleted data is really gone?

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Comment from Leo A. Notenboom on 2008-03-09

2008-03-10T05:22:18Z

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SDelete works just fine in XP :-).

Another (free) option to wipe the hard drive is "Darik's
Boot and Nuke" (DBAN). http://dban.sourceforge.net/

Leo

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A comment on: How do I make sure that my deleted data is really gone?

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Comment from Ken Crook on 2008-03-08

2008-03-09T06:19:22Z

To delete the secure content on a disk, could you create a large file and copy it many times. Then defrag the disk. Then delete the files you created, including the ones you want to get rid of. Then defrag the disk again.
Wouldn't this scramble the disk contents that don't get deleted enough so everything would be unreadable except to the most sophisticated recovery tools. Unless you are doing something highly classified, or illegal, wouldn't this be enough for most personal files?

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A comment on: How do I make sure that my deleted data is really gone?

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Comment from Nicholas Gimbrone on 2008-03-08

2008-03-09T02:27:50Z

It would actually be rare that a write to a file would reuse the same cluster that the original data was in, as this would lead to a file system which was unstable in case of crashes (power outage, etc) in the middle of a rewrite of a file. In fact, much software will actually write an entire new file with the new content under a temporary name, and then do a rename of the two files to move the original to a temp file and the temp to the original filename, then finally remove the original file in its new name. (And yes, many variations on this theme exist. ;-)

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A comment on: How do I make sure that my deleted data is really gone?

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Comment from Natalie Kehr on 2008-03-07

2008-03-08T06:24:26Z

Thanks Leo. The question was prompted by a not-very-computer-literate retired doctor who still had patient records on her computer. The people selling her a new computer offered to physically destroy her old drive. I don't like the idea of destroying a perfectly good drive, and I also feel she should not let the drive out of her possession until she has removed all traces of patient data.

SDelete's writeup does not mention XP amongst the operating systems. Is this a documentation oversight? Her sensitive data has already been moved to the recycle bin, and that has been emptied. I have no experience in interpreting command line parameters, so we would be very grateful if you could tell us exactly what we should type in order to cleanse the free areas of her C drive.

I was considering spending 8 dollars and getting her PC Magazine's Shred 2 utility. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,219998,00.asp
Does anyone have any feedback about that product.

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A comment on: How do I make sure that my deleted data is really gone?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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Comment from Piyush on 2008-03-05

2008-03-06T06:17:17Z

Excellent article...

Adding one more wiping tool. Stellar Wipe.
Software deletes files, folders, internet traces, application software traces...

Download the trial version from here...

http://www.stellarinfo.com/file-eraser.htm

Trail version has full function activated for 30 days.

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A comment on: How do I make sure that my deleted data is really gone?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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