[absolutezero1287]

I know that from Windows you can recover files that have been deleted from the recycle bin. I've got some freeware that does it for you. It showed me a list of these "deleted files" and it was horrendously long. How do I go about permanently deleting them?

[valis]

have you tried eraser?

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=4221

[absolutezero1287]

I just got it but i don't know how to use it. It looks like it's gonna wipe out all my information. Also, I'm running Vista so the help function isn't working.
I just want to clear out all of those semi-deleted files to get back some space on my HD. I really am a stickler for disk space.

[DoubleHelix]

Eraser will not wipe out all the data on your hard drive. It overwrites free space which is what exists when you delete files. This will also not reclaim any disk space. It only prevents you or anyone else from recovering files you deleted. If you have a hard drive space problem, you need to look at something else.

[valis]

I guess I'm confused here. My understanding was that you wanted to permanently delete certain files, yet keep the os operational, so formatting was out. Is that correct, or are you in need of freeing up disk space as double states?

[absolutezero1287]

That's pretty much right. I figured that the remnants of those undeleted files would clog up my disk, which is why I wanted them permanently deleted.

[valis]

no, when you delete something, you remove all the pointers to it. As far as your hd is concerned, that space is 'free', even if there is data on it. So as the OS thinks the hd has 'open' space, it will write to it, thereby overwriting any data that was on there. Once you remove the pointers to the data, you are effectively telling the OS that the data is gone, even though it's not. The OS doesn't really care; it will write over whatever you tell it to do.

If you aren't giving your pc away to someone, just delete it, empty the recycle bin, check the defrag status, run ATF (d/l from majorgeeks.com) once a while and you'll be fine.

Are you having a problem with disk space? Or just want to reduce clutter? If the latter, ATF is a fantastic tool to have. I have it on usb and use it daily on clients pc's at work; cleans up very large amounts of stuff that you had no idea was laying around.

v

[absolutezero1287]

I've got a similar application, CCleaner. It cleans up the disk and fixes the registry. Pretty cool. I'm gonna check out ATF anyway.

[valis]

yeah, the only reason I don't use CCcleaner is BECAUSE it mucks about in the registry.....don't like automated apps running around in there, which is why I use atf instead....but it's a 6-5 pick 'em deal....ask 100 people, you will get close to 50% either way......

[crjdriver]

CCleaner also has a secure delete option; you can have it overwrite deleted files so you cannot recover them.

BTW I use both CCleaner and ATF sometimes one will remove something the other does not. I do agree that using any "reg utility" is asking for a problem.

[absolutezero1287]

A belated thank you to you all. Case solved!