You may or may not be aware that when you drag items to the trash on your computer, they are not permanently deleted. Just watch an episode of your favorite CSI show and you’ll see that it’s possible to recover files that haven’t been deleted properly. And while I’m sure you’re not guilty of any CSI-type crimes (or are you?), I’m sure you want to figure out how to permanently delete your files and keep your private stuff private; after all, everyone has to have Some mysteries!

Why Emptying Your Recycle Bin Doesn’t Permanently Delete Your Files

When you tell your computer to empty its recycle bin, your operating system just deletes the records you have of the files you want to delete. However, the files still remain in the hard drive’s memory.

Here’s an analogy: if you think of your files as books in a library, and you decide you no longer have a use for a certain book. Emptying the trash is equivalent to deleting the entry in the card catalog of the library. The book is still there, but not easily found by everyday visitors. But if someone really wanted to find it and had an idea where to look, it’s quite possible that they would since it’s still physically there.

What does it mean to permanently delete a file

To permanently delete a file, you must not only delete its registry, but also overwrite the physical part of the hard drive where it is located. A low-level format is equivalent to replacing your private file with random bits (1 and 0). Continuing the library analogy, you need to remove the book, shred it, light it on fire, and possibly replace it with a different book.

An easy way to delete permanently?

According to Microsoft, there is a keyboard shortcut in Windows to, in quotes, “permanently delete files”. To do this, select your file and press SHIFT+DELETE. Convinced? Neither do I. What they are really explaining is a shortcut of having to move the item to the trash and then empty the trash.

take one more step

This is the poor man’s version of permanent deletion. Delete your files, empty your recycle bin, and run Disk Defragmenter located in the Start menu under Accessories/System Tools. What this will do is optimize your hard drive by rearranging (most) of your files, and by doing so you will most likely overwrite the files you want permanently deleted. Pretty!

do it right and do it better

While performing a defrag will probably work, it’s not really a viable solution. Waiting for disk defragmentation is not something you would do every time you wanted to do a permanent delete. The defragmentation process is too long. The correct way to permanently and quickly delete files is to use a program specifically designed for that purpose. You’re also in luck because most Windows operating systems have a command line tool called CIPHER to do the trick!

Here’s how to use CIPHER:

1. After closing all windows, open a command window.

2. Type the following: cipher /w: drive letter: folder name where drive letter and folder name correspond to the drive, a location where your deleted file used to live.

3. Sit back and enjoy your freedom and privacy while your file is truly permanently removed!

Here’s an example:

I have an image that I want to permanently delete that is stored on my computer at the following location:

C:�images�scandaloso_image.jpg

After deleting this image and emptying the recycle bin, I would type the following (at a command prompt) to make sure I can still run for senator (as long as I don’t get caught in the airport bathroom):

C:>encrypt /w:C:�images

Then I can move on to my life of privacy and surf without worry!

Could you do it better!

Although I am comfortable working with the command prompt, you may not be. Don’t worry, there are plenty of other graphics-based software tools out there that do true permanent file deletion, not to mention much less tedious to use. The review at freedback.org/Reviews/Software/Permanently-Delete-Files.html gives a good overview of some of the most popular graph-based file deletion software available.