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General discussion

Shredding Deleted Files

by CSUjr Sep 7, 2007 1:01PM PDT

I am using Tuneup Utilities 2007.
This software has an Undelete feature.
The problem is that if sensitive files are deleted in the normal way, they then can not be shredded.
These sensitive files can be retrieved and fully restored using the Tuneup Utilities feature.
However, once restored, they still cannot be shredded (by this or any other shredding program.
I tried uninstalling the Tuneup Utilities software and installing a newer version, but the sensitive files stilled showed up.
Since these files DO exist outside of the Tuneup software in non-existent folders/files and they can not be called up in a search;
My questions are,
Where are they?
Do they now have a common extension?, i.e., .log, %###%, etc.
Can they be found in the registry or a FAT file?

the only thing that the company (Tuneup Utilities) says is that they can no longer be permanently removed from the hard drive.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

With appreciation,

Discussion is locked

3 Posts
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by caktus Sep 8, 2007 2:40AM PDT

Perhaps a coplete (not quick) format of the HDD? Or destroy the platters in the HDD. But of course either way you also loose [everything].

Charlie

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WindowWasher should handle that...
by John.Wilkinson Sep 8, 2007 7:19AM PDT

Try downloading the free trial of Webroot WindowWasher, which has the ability to securely delete files previously deleted by scanning for data on the hard drive that has been deleted and overwriting it a user-specified number of times. (See its "Free space cleaner" option.)

As to your questions:
* They linger throughout your hard drive in whatever sector they were originally located, physically speaking. There is no directory you can browse to if you wish to find them.
* No, deleted files are not reassigned a special extension.
* No, they are not listed in the registry.

In short, once a file is deleted from the Recycle Bin (or bypasses the Recycle Bin) the reference to the file Windows maintains is deleted. The file still exists on the hard drive until it is overwritten, though the course of normal use or manually for security reasons, but Windows no longer 'knows' its there. I haven't used Tuneup Utilities in a while but WindowWasher should take care of it.

Hope this helps,
John

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Thank you John
by CSUjr Sep 8, 2007 11:50AM PDT

>>>>>>> Try downloading the free trial of Webroot WindowWasher, which has the ability to securely delete files previously deleted by scanning for data on the hard drive that has been deleted and overwriting it a user-specified number of times. (See its "Free space cleaner" option.)<<<<<<<<

This worked - it removed (overwrote) my unwanted file remnents.
Thanks!

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