How to Prevent Recovering Previously Deleted Files & Folders

Wipe the data on your hard drive to prevent it being retrieved.

The delete function in Windows does not physically erase the data on your hard drive. Instead, it only makes the hard drive "forget" that data is present. It is possible to retrieve that data with software in a very short amount of time. Software sure as Eraser, BCWipe or Secure Erase (see Resources) will allow you to securely erase the data in your Recycle Bin or wipe the "empty" space on your hard drive to make sure no data retrieval is possible.

Instructions

Eraser

1. Go to the Eraser site and click on "Downloads."

2. Download the most recent version of the software and save it on your hard drive.

3. Double-click on the file you just downloaded.

4. Click "Next" and choose where to install Eraser. Click "Next" and then "Finish."

5. Right-click on the "Recycle Bin" each time you delete something from your computer and select 7 or 35 passes to securely wipe the data.

Active KillDisk

1. Go to the Active KillDisk website and click "Download" on the bottom of the page. Save the file on your desktop.

2. Double-click on the Active KillDisk icon on your desktop. Click "Next" and accept the license agreement. Choose where to install the software and click "Next." Leave everything selected and press "Next" twice to install KillDisk. Deselect "Run DOS boot disk" and click "Finish."

3. Go to the "Start" menu, then go to 'Active@ KillDisk free suite." Select "Active@ KillDisk for Windows" and launch it.

4. Let the program scan your hard drive. Select the hard drive you want to render data retrieval impossible on and press "F9."

5. Let Active KillDisk wipe the data.

BCWipe

1. Go to the BCWipe site and download the software.

2. Double-click on the downloaded file.

3. Choose your language and click "Next." Accept the license agreement and press "Next" three times to install BCWipe with the default options.

4. Choose "License, embedded in the Setup program, if you want to test the program for 21 days. Choose "External License" and enter your license if you purchased the program. Click "Finish" twice.

5. Go to the "Start" menu and click on "My Computer." Right-click on the hard drive you want to wipe the free space of and select "Wipe free space with BCWipe." Click "Empty" if you wish to empty the Recycle Bin and wipe those files as well.

6. Choose the wiping scheme you wish to use, the default being the standard D.o.D (Department of Defense) wiping scheme. Press "OK" to start wiping.

Tips & Warnings

• The free version of KillDisk will only use one pass. Make sure to run it two or three times to make it harder for the data to be released. The more passes done, the more secure the wiping is, but the more time it will take to complete.

• Only download the stable version as beta or nightly builds could have undocumented defects.

• Your system will slow down during the wiping process.

• Make sure you really want the data wiped as you won't be able to get it back even with a professional service.

References

• The Free Country: Free Secure (Destructive) File and Disk Deletion Tools

Resources

• Active KillDisk: Hard Drive Eraser
• Eraser: Eraser Downloads
• Jetico: BCWipe