Robin Hickman

Hello, Again! Thanks for all the input! I don't want to wander too far "off topic" here (This is the "Recuva" forum and not the "CCleaner" forum), but here is a couple of things I've been able to learn about CCleaner's "Secure" file deletion. If I understand what I've read, CCleaner's "Secure" file deletion works by OVER-WRITING the selected files 1, 3, or 7 times (passes). From the CCleaner "Beginner's Guide": FEATURES Page : High Security: For the super cautious users we also offer secure file erasing. By overwriting the files before deleting them, making it impossible to recover the data. OPTIONS Page : Secure Deletion (Changing the option here will allow for secure file deletion) ?Normal file deletion (Faster) - Default ?Simple Overwrite (1 pass) ?DOD 5220.22-M (3 passes) ?NSA (7 passes) I don't know if ALL the files selected for "Secure Deletion" are over-written 1,3, or 7 times. Or if it's just temporary internet files and cookies, but not "log" files, settings, etc. There IS a related thread on the subject in the CCleaner forum. You can find and read it by going to: Piriform Forums ? Piriform Software ? CCleaner Discussion ? secure deletion suggestion OR: http://forum.piriform.com/index.php?showtopic=8301 I don't know if it will answer any of our questions or clear up anything in this thread or not. But at least they're discussing the subject of CCleaner's "Secure Deletion" abilities. At any rate, I REALLY appreciate you people taking the time and making the effort to help answer my questions regarding Recuva vs. CCleaner. Things are a little clearer for me but I still wondering: Can Recuva recover files that CCleaner's "Secure Deletion" methods got rid of? Maybe the only people who would really know for sure (one way or the other) are the creators, designers, coders, and makers of CCleaner and Recuva ??? But, how will WE know unless they tell us? Anyway, Thanks again, everybody. Robin Hickman

Hello, Again! Thank You WhiteShark & RRidgely for your replies. If I understand correctly, you are both in agreement that after doing a "Simple Deletion" (cleaning) with CCleaner, the Recuva shouldn't have any problems recovering any of the files that CCleaner got rid of. (Assuming, of course, that they had NOT been over-written with other - newer - files.) Also, you are in agreement that Recuva would NOT be able to recover any of the files that were "cleaned" after doing a CCleaner "Secure Deletion", especially the "NSA" mode that uses seven passes. Am I correct? I guess my concerns are fairly simple. CCleaner is one of my all-time favorite applications/programs. I use it daily, I love it, and I recommend it to everyone I know. BUT..... IF Recuva can actually recover files that were "cleaned" (over-written & deleted) by CCleaner using one of its "Secure Deletion" methods, THEN that would mean that CCleaner's "Secure Deletion" modes would be, for all practical intents and purposes, USELESS!!!. Wouldn't it? Since Piriform makes both programs, I would assume (dangerous word there!) that they would either provide some kind of warning one way or the other about the two programs "incombatibility", or strike some kind of compromise with them. The compromise (and warnings/notices) might be something along the lines of Recuva would be able to recover files after a CCleaner "Simple Deletion" (and maybe a single pass over-write), but NOT be able to recover files after a CCleaner "Secure Deletion". It would be necessary for both programs to show the same "Notice" (or warning) to users so that they would be aware of the limitations. Does that make any sense? Anyway, thanks for responding. Robin Hickman

Hello, Everybody! I just found out about Piriform's new "Recuva" (BETA) program! The very first thing that came to my mind was the question: "Would 'Recuva' be able to recover files that had been deleted by 'Crap Cleaner'???" I would think that if "CCleaner" was set for "Simple Deletion", then the answer would probably be, "Yes". But, if "CCleaner" was set for one of the three (3) "Secure Deletion" settings, then the answer would probably be "No". After all, if "Recuva" could recover the files AFTER "CCleaner" had "securely" deleted them, then "CCleaner" would be pretty useless, right? Anyway, I came here to this forum to see if there was anything/anyone here that might be able to answer my question. What do YOU think ??? Robin Hickman Eugene, Oregon U.S.A.