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User Query: Hey everyone! Recently, I was trying to sort out my system before donating it to one of my acquaintances. There were some old files and sensitive information that I want to remove completely before doing that, to make sure no one can restore them again. Deleting files and clearing data from Recycle Bin is not helpful for the permanent removal. Do you have any suggestions on how to delete file completely from computer or solutions or solutions that might work?
Whenever you delete a file from your system, only the address to the file is deleted from NTFS and FAT drives. These files remain hidden on your system unless overwritten by other files. Hence using any data recovery tool, it is then possible to recover these “deleted” files in a jiff. This poses a grave risk of data theft; hence some caution is advised when handling such sensitive data. Data such as net banking passwords, private photos, credit card details, videos, emails, and chat messages are classified as sensitive. Therefore, it becomes more important to wipe your disk clean when you decide to sell or give away your computer.
Why do you need to permanently delete data from computer?
Not deleting data permanently before disposing or handing over your computer to others can potentially harm you. Here is what highlights the importance to delete data permanently from your computer:
- Prevent identity theft: New users can access the personal files containing transaction details, passwords, intellectual property, and other information to plan identity theft.
- Keep sensitive data safe: When you securely delete or wipe off data from your computer, your sensitive information is kept safe. Attackers won’t be able to misuse it for their heinous purposes.
- Disposing/ selling devices: Clearing your system before disposing or selling it to others helps to make sure that other user isn’t able to access your data.
- Restricting data recovery: Simple deletion of files is not enough, you need to clear the data permanently, otherwise, it can easily be recovered using recovery techniques and tools.
- Better performance: Removing data permanently helps in creating storage on your system that eventually improves the performance of your desktop.
- Legal & compliance: Businesses need to comply with the rules that state the assured removal of confidential data of users.
- Unauthorized access: Deleting saved passwords to accounts (Gmail, YouTube, social media, shopping accounts, etc.) restricts the strangers from making an easy entry.
All these reasons clearly indicate the importance of wiping data permanently before disposing your system. But the main question is how to permanently remove files from computer?
How to permanently delete files from computer?
We will discuss various ways to overwrite your confidential data effectively. Following are some of the prominent ways to effectively encrypt/ scramble your confidential files beyond repair:
Method 1: Using Windows PowerShell and cipher
This method takes advantage of the inbuilt Windows feature that can be used to overwrite the deleted files.
- Launch Windows PowerShell by searching for it.
- In the command prompt enter: cipher /w:
as shown below in the snippet. 
- The tool will now attempt to overwrite all the deallocated data in the filepath
Note: Your existing data in the file location will remain intact, and only the deleted files will be overwritten.
The process to overwrite the deleted files will take some time.
Method 2: Changing the Recycle Bin’s properties
When you delete a file on your system, it gets dumped into the Recycle Bin, and from there, one can quickly restore files to their previous locations. If you would like to delete file permanently from computer, which means that files will be permanently deleted and will not go to the Recycle Bin. The detailed steps are outlined below:
- Right-click on the Recycle Bin icon.
- Choose Properties from the list.
- Next, choose the drive for which you want to delete the data permanently. Make sure to select Don’t move files to the Recycle Bin. Remove files immediately when deleted option. Click Apply > OK.
Note: This method does not guarantee the complete removal of deleted files from your system. To permanently delete data from computer or desktop, one has to overwrite them.
Method 3: Using File Explorer to delete files
Another easy solution to permanently delete data from computer is using the File Explorer within the computer. Follow the simple steps:
- Open File Explorer on your system and select the files to delete.
- Click on Home tab located at the top and click on Delete dropdown.
- Select Permanently Delete option to remove the files.
Tips to remember before selling off your system
Here are some tips that will help you sell, donate, or dispose of your desktop properly without the fear of losing your information:
- Take backup: Before you get rid of your old computer, make sure to backup the important data items to a different device, cloud storage, or external drive.
- Wipe off browser data: Don’t forget to clear all the browser data, including stored passwords, bookmarks, browser history, cookies, etc.
- Sign out: Sign out of all your connected accounts, including Microsoft, Adobe, iTunes, games, and other license-based software.
- Remove connected devices: Make sure to disconnect all the removable devices, such as USB drive, SD cards, CDs, etc.
- Secure wiping: Rather than simply deleting, perform a data reset on your computer. Remove every single data that you own from the old system and then dispose it off.
- Implement MFA: Always remember to implement multi-factor authentication on all your accounts so that no one can access them until you allow the permission.
Use a professional tool to delete data beyond recovery
If you want a more secure way to dispose of your confidential data, then look for a professional file shredder tool. Kernel File Shredder is the tool that you need. It allows you to securely delete any unwanted or confidential data stored on the drive. It comes equipped with newest and advanced data encryption algorithms such as the Zeros (1 passes), DOD 5520 (3 passes), US Army AR 380-19 (3 passes), USAF 5520 (3 passes), German VSITR (7 passes), HMG ISS Baseline (1 passes), HMG ISS Enhanced (3 passes), Russian GOST P50739 95 (2 passes), Canadian OPS-II (7 passes), Peter Gutmann (35 passes), and DOD5520 + Peter Gutmann. The user has the option to schedule a file shredding task at a predefined time. It also generates a detailed log file containing the information regarding a shredding process.
Why should you use Kernel File Shredder software?
- It saves the unauthorized access of files by shredding them completely.
- It creates log information for the shredding job.
- It allows the selective shredding by choosing only File and Folders, Recycle Bin, and Useless files, etc.
- It follows the standard shredding algorithms like DoD, US Army, German VSITR, HMG, etc.
Conclusion
Disposing sensitive information from your computer is required when you decide to sell or give away your system. A simple deletion is not sufficient, as these “deleted” files can be quickly recovered using any data recovery tool. This guide is a one stop solution for the users looking for a solution on how to totally delete files from computer. Three manual methods are described in this blog to permanently delete data from storage media or computer. However, these methods do not guarantee the permanent deletion of sensitive files. Therefore, using one of the best file eraser software such as Kernel File Shredder is a wise choice. It will help you get rid of any sensitive data files, which might create havoc if it falls into the wrong hands.
Frequently Asked Questions
A. To clear your hard drive or USB drive, you can use Shift + Delete keys together. However, to delete the files permanently, there are two ways:
1. Perform a quick device format by first deleting the file system table and then removing the root folder.
2. Run a full format on the drive, which requires you to scan the whole drive to identify any bad sectors and then write zeroes in all sectors.
A. To permanently delete iPhone photos, follow the steps carefully:
1. Go to Photos application on your iPhone.
2. Select the photos you want to delete and tap on the Trash icon.
3. Now select Delete photo to permanently remove it from your iPhone.
4. Go to the Recently Deleted folder and delete from there too.
A. You need an advanced software like Kernel File Shredder to permanently delete files from your computer.
