[How to Delete Using Recuva]

It's all down to the vagaries of the English language!

 

1) CC treats all files the same. All files have an entry in the MFT, the majority of the files will have the file data on the disk outside of the MFT zone which the MFT entry points to, and some small files will reside completely in the MFT. CC doesn't know the difference and just cleans what you've asked it to do, no matter where the files are. It's not possible to tell CC to clean or not clean the MFT only.

 

2) When a file is deleted its entry in the MFT is not removed but flagged as being deleted. These deleted entries are reused when new files are created. If you don't delete any files, either by not using CC or other software or simply not deleting them, then eventually all the deleted entries will be overwritten, so any embarrassing name will in time go. (Then you can clean up!)

 

5) I have never known CC to not rename or not overwrite a securely deleted file. CC will overwrite the file data of the current live version, there may well be older copies left over from edits, defrags, etc, as well as all the things that Windows does. I would not put too much importance on Recuva's guess at the state of the file, it's only software after all.

 

Just scanning with Recuva will not alter the state of the files. Whether you should secure delete them or not is up to you. Personally I don't bother except for a very few really important files (financial stuff and the like). I don't think that anyone is interested in the other 20,000 or so files. It's not worth getting paranoid, I doubt if I am of any interest to the rest of the world.

 

PS All this is only my guess how CC and Recuva works, probably the Piriform developers are sniggering up their sleeves.

 

Well, I am sure if your observations or advice are incorrect Piriform will set me right! Many thanks. My main object is to understand how the systems work. It confirms my view that while cleaners and recovery systems are fine for personal users and can protect against casual snoopers they are unlikely to protect data from someone with sophisticated equipment.

[How to Delete Using Recuva]

1) CC will (if the option is chosen) overwrite files in the MFT and anywhere else, and rename them to ZZZ.ZZZ. This is because it can do the overwriting and renaming before deleting. Recuva cannot overwrite or rename already deleted files which are resident in the MFT because it is unable to modify deleted MFT entries. The files in the MFT are deleted from a normal Explorer point of view just as other deleted files are, but are never actually 'deleted' from the disk. Deleted files in the MFT can be recovered, overwritten or not.

 

2) Yes, in the majority of cases. If you have a file right at the furthest extension of the MFT, and there are plenty of available slots before that, then it may be some time before it it overwritten, if ever. If you have a particularly nasty file you want to be overwritten, just don't cleanup until it goes.

 

3) Small files can fit into the MFT in their entirety. The MFT does not separate file header info from data, so if it can fit into the MFT entry then it will (can't remember tech MFT details at the mo). Larger files will use sectors on the disk outside of the MFT zone.

 

4) No. If a file entry in the MFT is flagged as deleted it will be handled as deleted, i.e. ignored. Another cookie or whatever will be created, maybe even in the same MFT slot!

 

5) Yes and No. CC will, as mentioned in 1), rename, overwrite and delete any file, just as anyone can. Recuva can overwrite any non-MFT files, but it can't rename them because it can't modify the MFT entry. The actual data overwrite option is identical, that is zeroes or whatever option you chose.

 

Thank you for going to the trouble of answering all my questions. A few points I don't quite understand.

Re 1. "CC will (if the option is chosen) overwrite files in the MFT". Do you mean that I can somehow ask CC specifically to delete and overwrite files in the MFT. Or is is the case that such files are automatically deleted by CC if I clean the appropriate drive?

Re 2. "..just don't use cleanup until it goes". I am not sure what this means.

Re 5. This raises two questions that have been on my mind.

a) I use CC to delete and overwrite temporary internet files on my C drive in 3 pass mode. Sometimes I then use Recuva to check how the deletion went. Frequently I find that files that I thought were deleted and overwritten are marked "excellent" or "good" for recovery. And in many cases the name of the file is readable (ie it is not obscured by zeros or zzzzs) Does this suggest that CC is not doing a comprehensive job of overwriting, (although the deleted file will often subsequently be overwritten by normal computer use)? Or am I missing some important instruction to CCleaner?

when I use Recuva like this (ie to check files deleted by CC) is it necessary, or a good idea, to use the Recuva delete function afterwards? I would imagine not since the mere fact of scanning my drive and bringing up the files should not alter their deleted status. But maybe you could confirm this.

[How to Delete Using Recuva]

From the pinned "Tips and Hints" topic:

 

What types of files can't Recuva securely delete?

There are 2 types, Files that are resident in the MFT and files of zero size. Resident files are very small files (typically a few hundred bytes) that are so small Windows stores them directly in the MFT. Zero byte files are exactly that, they have no size and therefore have nothing to delete.

 

 

None of the files is of zero size. The types of file that are in the MFT and cannot be deleted vary. The majority appear to contain icons and are small, a few hundred bytes, but some are cookies.

My questions are

1) are the files in the MFT actually deleted from my hard disc by Recuva or CCleaner, even though the message says "not deleted"? The difference between these and other files on the hard disc being that they are not overwritten by Recuva or CCleaner? And therefore easily revoverable?

2) even if these files are not overwritten by Recuva or CCleaner will they eventually be overwritten in the normal course of use of the computer?

3) can you tell me why some files are written to the MFT and others not. Is it random? Or are there some criteria which determine why this happens to certain files?

4) if cookies are resident in the MFT do they continue to operate as cookies after deletion with Recuva or CCleaner

5) is the delete operation of Recuva essentially the same as CCleaner?

[How to Delete Using Recuva]

First select in Options > General which kind of deletion you want to perfom (1, 3, 7 or 35 passes).

Then, after the scan, highlight or select the files, right click the log and select 'Secure Delete Highlighted' or 'Secure Delete Checked'

 

 

 

Thanks. I did as you suggested (using the 3 passes deletion mode) and Recuva deleted a number of files, but hundreds remain with the message "Not deleted. File resident in MFT". I would like to know what this means and if these files are or should be deleted?

[How to Delete Using Recuva]

So, I have opened Recuva, scanned my drive, obtained a list of files on the drive (including those deleted by CCleaner). Now, what steps should I take to delete these files using Recuva?

[Does Simple Overwrite 1 Pass Work?]

I recently downloaded Recuva to amongst other things check on the operation of CCleaner. As a test I deleted a range of files and cookies using the "simple overwrite 1pass" setting in CCleaner. When I checked with Recuva I found that a large number of the files and cookies, I would say 80%, were classified as either "excellent" or "good" and no overwrite clusters were found. Does this mean that these files were not overwritten?

[Duration of Deleted Files]

1) No. It means that the space occupied by all older files have been overwritten by later (2007) files. It's just chance, or should I say the way the file mgmt software works. I also have two files from the original install showing, they must be somewhere way off the beaten track. If you use CCleaner regularly then files will go through the process of being overwritten frequently.

 

2) No. If there is a particular deleted file I want scrubbing I don't use CC for a while, and eventually it gets overwritten, then I run CC. Apparently the facility to delete 'deleted' files is being developed.

 

Rgds.

 

I don't quite understand your answer to 2 above when you say that you "don't use CC for a while and eventually it (the file) gets overwritten". Is there a link between use or non use of CC and overwriting on the hard disc?

[Duration of Deleted Files]

I recently installed Recuva in order partly to recover some files and partly to check on the operation of CCleaner. I have two Questions.

1.When I scan my hard disc I find that apart from two files from earlier years all files listed are given a 2007 date. Does this mean that files from previous years are completely deleted and unavailable for recovery?

2. For already deleted files with an "excellent" or "poor" designation that I want to get rid of is there an easy way to eliminate/overwrite them using Recuva or CCleaner

[How to Clear Cookies]

Yes, indeed. That's about the first thing I changed when I got this laptop. And I just ran into another issue, as well. Trying to add either files or folders under Options/Exclude. I can add files and/or folders OK, but as soon as I click off of that option page and then back again, it's wiped clean. Since there is no 'Set' or 'Store' on that page, I am assuming entries should keep until they are deleted by the user. Using Vista/Business. Can someone else with Vista please confirm this behavior ?

 

I have solved the problem by going back to an earlier version of CCleaner.

[How to Clear Cookies]

Looks like you'll have to be added to the list here Aeneas

 

http://forum.piriform.com/index.php?showtopic=11688

 

It's obvious that MrG the developer is aware of this problem know so keep watching as they say

1. Thanks. It looks like a more general problem if other people are experiencing the same difficulties.

2.You might want to be aware that there may be a related problem in connection with temporary internet files. I have also found that the cleaner will not identify and clean these files and that I have to use the windows facility under Internet Options. This is not a great chore but unfortunately it does raise questions about the reliability of the Beta version. We know that Beta is not doing the job on cookies and temporary internet files because Windows Internet Options allows us to check it out. But we don't know if it is working properly or not on other programmes, for example index.dat files.

3. One additional issue that your developer might like to know. When I delete cookies using Windows they are removed from the "Cookies to Delete" list in CCleaner. This is what one would expect. However if, using Windows, I delete a cookie in the "Cookies to Keep" window the cookie is not removed from that window. In other words CCleaner thinks it is keeping a cookie that I have already deleted.

[How to Clear Cookies]

There is no need to go into the options and select the cookies to delete, the process of analyse and run cleaner will do this.

This is really just an area where you move items from the "cookies to delete" side to the "cookies to keep" side so that you don't have to log onto forums you go, to such as this one, as you have told CCleaner you want to keep the cookie.

 

When you say you are selecting the cookies and then moving them over via the arrow to the delete side, this must mean they were in the "cookies to keep" area in the first place?

Correct. I have used the arrows in Options to create two panels. One with about 50 "cookies to keep" and the other with 100 or more "cookies to delete". My problem is I can't delete the cookies in the delete panel. When I run analyse and the cleaner, as described in my last message, the programme deletes my 15 or so most recent cookies but the 100 plus cookies are still showing in the delete panel. ( I presume that when the cleaner works it removes the deleted cookies from the list of cookies in the delete panel). I have also checked using Windows, Tools, Internet Options, Setting facility and find that the cookies in the delete column are still there.

You have been very patient, but I hope I have described the problem clearly enough.

[How to Clear Cookies]

All you have to do to delete cookies that are listed in the cookies to delete section is to open CCleaner, and you will see the big paint brush is selected, just press the analyse button and then the run cleaner button.

Thanks. That is what I thought I should do and I have already attempted it. But when I click on the analyse button what comes up is a list of cookies for sites that I have just visited, not the cookies in the "Cookies to Delete" panel.

To be clear here are the steps I have taken

1. Open CCleaner and click on "Options"

2. Select cookies to be deleted and use arrow to move them to "Cookies to Delete" panel

3. Return to main menu and select paint brush

4. Select "Windows", "Internet Explorer" and "Cookies"; I have ensured that there is a green tick in the IE and Cookies boxes

5. Click on "Analyse". What happens then is that recently visited sites are shown under the heading "Details of Files to be Deleted". There is nothing at all about the cookies I have selected in "Options". If I click on "Cleaner" I loose the cookies relating to the recently visited sites.

6. When I return to "Options" and "Cookies" the list of cookies in the "Cookies to Delete" panel is unchanged.

I guess there is still a step somewhere I am missing?

[How to Clear Cookies]

Hello Aeneas and welcome to the forum

 

Are you using the beta version or the 1.41 version?

 

XP or vista?

 

Have you actually used CCleaner yet and it hasn't deleted your cookies, is that what you mean?

 

By the way, you could have a read here, most things apply the same but I'm sure there will be a new one when the beta version comes out of beta.

http://www.internetrotsyourbrain.com/ccleanerbeginnersguide/

 

I am using the latest Beta version of CCleaner and my system is Windows XP. I can delete cookies using the Tools facility in Windows but thought I would try CCleaners method to see if it was easier. I clicked on "Cookies "under "Options" and selected the cookies I wished to delete by moving them to the delete panel. However, having selected the cookies I don't know what to do to actually delete them. Is there another operation eg another button or panel that I must click on once I have selected the cookies I want to get rid of?

[How to Clear Cookies]

This is my first time using CCleaner. I have selected the cookies I wish to remove using the "Options" tool but what to I do to actually delete the ones I have selected?