diverjer

This is after exFAT format

Yep here is NTSF format

I certainly don't understand Recuva, just tried those actions, they are not the default. I believe the 5th one is on by default. CCleaner wipe did a format at the end of running and I think that put the 24 files out there that are ignored. I think they must be system files as it found 24 files seconds after starting-- then ran a day and half wiping data 3 times. I was lucky and just happen to look at CCleaner before heading out to eat some lunch. Seen it running with a 2 minutes remaining so I watched it finish. When it finished is when I seen it do a format. I had no idea it did a format at the end of a drive wipe. I played around later and did a format using exFAt and then ran Recuva and with actions above and it had only 2 files (don't see with explore). Went back and ran format back to NTSF and ran Recuva with actions shown above and it showed the 24 files again (don't see with explore). So those files that it finds at first must be system files and it recreates them again at the end with the format. Anyway feel sure my USB drive is clean and think I know a little bit more about CCleaner wipe and Recuva as well as files created by Format. Usually with explore after a format you just see system volume after a format and can't drill down into it to see what it contains. Or if you can I haven't made the effort to try it. Thinking Recuva is showing what is in that system volume?

I can see why it is confusing. I didn't know if Options, Settings had any carryover to what I actually used which was Tools, Drive Wiper, Entire Drive, Passes and Drive letter. From what is said, I guessing that Options, Settings has no affect on the Tools, Drive Wiper, Entire Drive, Passes and Drive letter function. I did do a quick format of f: as NTSF and then ran Recuv again with box 1,2,3,5 checked and got 24 files listed. Looked like system files.

Well after a day and one half of cleaning with 3 overwrites, Revuva says found 0 files ignored 24 and there weren't anything listed to recover. Much different than before. Kind of like before Recuva ran deep scan for a few seconds and says found 24 files and then after another another 46 minutes of scanning, I get the message "Found 0 files 24 ignored in 46 minutes". Wonder what those 24 files are that it finds within a few seconds and after 46 minutes ignored? Guess that would be a question for another site.

What the heck, I started again with a 3 overwrite, just to see if any difference. Added option checked to alternate date streams and cluster tips, don't know if that has any affect on the drive wipe option or not? . Only going to take 1 day 3 hours and 39 minutes.

About 1 minute into the Recuva deep scan it displayed that it found the 3,009 files, but didn't list anything. Also, displayed that it would run for 2 hours or more. I just let it run and about 8 hours later found it was finished. Had files names displayed and a summary of 2,476 files found and 534 ignored, that adds up to the 3,009 it discovered in the first minute. File names it displayed are familiar, path is weird all f:\?\ Recuva came up with that 3,009 within seconds makes me think CCleaner didn't really wipe out the MFT, but that makes sense as the options says wipe MFT free space. I may just keep it as it was only $19.00. I got some really strong magnets that constructions sites use to pick up nails etc, thought about that. However, many say that doesn't work on this type of drive. Running CCleaner with option 3 or 7 check might run a week. Takes 10 hours with 1 overwrite and I actually ran that twice so it gotten 2 overwrites. Then it's not like I sit there and watch it run. Think you are right only way to be sure data not there, especially for an OCD person like me, is a hammer. Just for fun I might try that big magnet. It's is so strong it dangerous, you would not want your hand within a foot of magnet and a piece of metal.

Ran drive wipe on a USB drive with simple overwrite 1 pass and wipe MFT free space. Took 10 hours on this slow 256GB USB Drive. Then I ran Recuva and the quick scan found nothing in a few seconds. Then ran deep scan and it's found 3,009 files and says it will run for at least 2 more hours. How is that possible, I thought the 1 pass overwrite wrote 0's over top of the whole 256GB. Want to get data off this USB drive as it has a speed problem and PNY says to return it. Thinking I may just be out the cost and won't return the drive? Using Crystal Disk to check access time for reads and write and it is very slow. But would not want PNY to have the drive if data can be recovered.

Well still doing it, opens up 2 installs at once when clicking on update from prompt that there is an update available. Sorry I don't know what version I was updating, so maybe it has been fixed?

It's been doing this to me for a year now. I load CCleaner and it says there is an update. Then if I say update it starts another process and I get the error. It seems the process it starts will run fine? But the original process I started is also trying to update and it gets the errors. I don't see the window that it started, but can see it down on the task bar. Not real comfortable with it, last few times I removed and reinstalled myself from a download. This time I didn't, it seems to run fine and shows it is the latest version. Who knows, been doing this for what seems like a year or more.

Thanks, after reading your post I tried another file without removing from recycle bin and it still found nothing when running Recuva via the wizard. Also, doesn't find when running it without wizard (doing all C), file still in recycle bin. It does find 1400 + files which is a bit of a surprise as I ran ccleaner with delete free space and clean MFT. Now I ran the ccleaner prior to my starting this test of Recuva, I wasn't going to mention as it just confuses the thing I am testing, which is simply finding a file I just deleted.

I downloaded the free version. I wanted to test it to see if it worked. I picked a directory with some files in it and deleted them with explore, then deleted them from recycle bin. Then started Recuva and used the wizard, picked other and directed it to the directory where I deleted the files from. It didn't find anything to recover. Now I if I remember right, when deleting all you really do is remove the directory entry, which I think is the MFT. The data is really still there but since the directory shows that space free it can be used. I figured these programs like Recuva scans the data area looking for groups of clusters that are intact. Well I did several test like this and Recuva never did find anything. It did find some stuff when I told it all C:, around 1400 files. But not any of them are what I deleted. I would guess I am doing something really stupid, perhaps it is my age catching up with me? Running XP Pro SP3 all current updates on Dell Optiplex 745