How to Permanently Delete Files from a Hard Drive
Many computer users are unaware that deleting a file or emptying the Windows Recycle Bin does not actually remove data from the hard drive. When data is saved to a hard drive, a record of its physical location on the disc is created. Deleting the file only deletes that record, not the data itself.
In order to delete the actual data, the space on the hard drive where the data is stored must be overwritten. One way to accomplish this is with a freeware program called Eraser, which overwrites selected parts of the hard drive with junk data.
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Instructions
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Instructions
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Download Eraser to your computer (see link in Resources). Select the "Downloads" tab on the Eraser website and click the link under "Stable Version."
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Install Eraser to a location of your choice other than your desktop, typically C:\Program Files (which is the default installation directory). When the installation is complete, open the program.
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Choose whether you'd like to begin the erasure process immediately (by selecting "On Demand" in the left-hand menu) or schedule it for later (by selecting "Scheduler").
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4
Select the data you wish to delete by using one of three methods: Navigate to the files or folders in Windows Explorer and then drag and drop them into Eraser; Copy the files or folders to the clipboard and then paste them into Eraser; Select "File," then "New Task" and navigate to the files or folder.
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Select the method of deletion. Eraser has three ways of deleting data, and most users should stick with "The Gutmann Method," which is the default.
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Click "Run." A window will pop up asking you to confirm that you want to permanently delete the selected data. Click "Delete."
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Tips & Warnings
Once you overwrite the parts of your hard drive where data is stored, that data will be absolutely gone and unrecoverable.
