secure deleting

[novis1]

can secure delete delete jpegs? after attempting to delete using both highlighting and checking recurva has failed to delete some stuff again and again. do i need to go and buy something?does anyone have any ideas?what can i do?please help? i get a litle "window" that says "0 files deleted"

[Guest_Jim_*]

Go here Recuva Error Logging and do that, then post what the log file says or the log file itself.

[novis1]

Go here Recuva Error Logging and do that, then post what the log file says or the log file itself.

HOW DO YOU ACCESS THE LOG FILE? and thankyou for helping:)

[Augeas]

Let's assume you're using the latest version of Recuva and you want to overwrite a previously deleted file so that it can't be recovered.

 

Use the check box to identify the file to be deleted instead of highlighting. Then right click and choose Secure Delete Checked. If you are using highlighting to identify the file to be deleted and your cursor is not positioned over the file name when you choose Secure Delete Highlighted the file will not be deleted.

 

Also if the file has been overwritten with asnother valid file (look in info) then overwriting will not take place, but I don't think that is your problem as you describe it.

[novis1]

Let's assume you're using the latest version of Recuva and you want to overwrite a previously deleted file so that it can't be recovered.

 

Use the check box to identify the file to be deleted instead of highlighting. Then right click and choose Secure Delete Checked. If you are using highlighting to identify the file to be deleted and your cursor is not positioned over the file name when you choose Secure Delete Highlighted the file will not be deleted.

 

Also if the file has been overwritten with asnother valid file (look in info) then overwriting will not take place, but I don't think that is your problem as you describe it.

i did use the check box.and i also used highlighting.i used them both alternetly.i tryed them both again and again.to my shame there are things on the computer that i found using Recuva that i would not want my son to see(pictures,women).im wondering what i will need to do to remedy what my stupidity has caused.

[JDPower]

i did use the check box.and i also used highlighting.i used them both alternetly.i tryed them both again and again.to my shame there are things on the computer that i found using Recuva that i would not want my son to see(pictures,women).im wondering what i will need to do to remedy what my stupidity has caused.

Me and another user reported a problem with Recuva not deleting some files, see post here. Not sure what the status of that is or even if it's related.

 

EDIT: Having reread the thread and seeing you get a message stating "0 files deleted" I think this is possibly/probably unrelated.

[Augeas]

Do you actually know that the files can be seen and recovered? Do you get the pics in the preview box in Recuva? The only reasons I have that Recuva won't securely delete is if the file has been overwritten by another file or if the file is in the MFT (presumably this is not the case with your large jpgs). Does the info box in Recuva say that the file has been overwritten?

[Augeas]

Whilst you're waiting, if your pc is shared then delete the Recuva icon from your desktop, this might hinder the curious.

 

Don't use CC or any other cleaner, don't delete your temp internet files. Keep browsing and using the pc as normal, eventually files being created will overwrite your deleted but recoverable files, making them unrecoverable (although still with the same name - the name will also go in time, presuamably pushed out of the MFT). If you use a cleaner then new files will just replace those that have been cleaned and you will never get to the point of wiping out your older undesirable files.

[davey]

i did use the check box.and i also used highlighting.i used them both alternetly.i tryed them both again and again.to my shame there are things on the computer that i found using Recuva that i would not want my son to see(pictures,women).im wondering what i will need to do to remedy what my stupidity has caused.

Hello novis1,

JDPower, Augeas and other members have been doing extensive testing of the "new" feature of secure deletion in Recuva.Future versions will be deleting even the header records and file names of such files.You may be thinking that since Recuva stills shows the file as recoverable that the data has not been overwritten.Testing shows that it has been.Your case may be an exception.

If you are still concerned, I suggest you also read this thread and see JDPower"s alternative solution in Post #8 of that thread.Read the compltete thread.

http://forum.piriform.com/index.php?showto...2&hl=ERASER

Future improvements to Recuva will eliminate the need for such drastic steps.

ERASER program does initially take several hours from what I have read but this may be the only way for you to feel secure.

 

Thanks to all the members who have devoted their time and effort to test and suggest improvements to this feature in the Recuva program.

 

Best Wishes,

davey Just another member of the forum

[hazelnut]

Novis1

 

Just wanted to check something.

 

Are the jpeg files that you do not want your son to see, still able to be viewed on your computer?

 

In other words, did the jpegs go when you deleted them?

[novis1]

Do you actually know that the files can be seen and recovered? Do you get the pics in the preview box in Recuva? The only reasons I have that Recuva won't securely delete is if the file has been overwritten by another file or if the file is in the MFT (presumably this is not the case with your large jpgs). Does the info box in Recuva say that the file has been overwritten?

yes i get the pictures in the preview box.i will have to look and see if it says the file has been overwriten.

[novis1]

Novis1

 

Just wanted to check something.

 

Are the jpeg files that you do not want your son to see, still able to be viewed on your computer?

 

In other words, did the jpegs go when you deleted them?

when i run a scan with Recurva i am able to see a preview of of pictures.i have tryed to secure delete them using both highlighting and puting a check in the box -es

[novis1]

Do you actually know that the files can be seen and recovered? Do you get the pics in the preview box in Recuva? The only reasons I have that Recuva won't securely delete is if the file has been overwritten by another file or if the file is in the MFT (presumably this is not the case with your large jpgs). Does the info box in Recuva say that the file has been overwritten?

i know that the files can be seen.i dont think that they can be recovered from what i saw.what can i do? what will i have to do?

[Augeas]

i know that the files can be seen.i dont think that they can be recovered from what i saw.what can i do? what will i have to do?

Somehow I think we still don't have the full story here. In the meantime take a large file or folder, something that is at least 1/4 or 1/2 a gb, and copy and paste it on the c drive with a recognisable name such as Rubbish1, etc. Do that ten times (so you have ten copied files Rubbish1 to 10). Then run Recuva. If you can still see your unwanted files do the copying another ten times. Eventually your nemesis will be overwritten. Then just delete all your Rubbish files. Just shift/delete them so they just go.

 

Let us know how you get on.

[The Watcher]

Here goes nuttin'...

 

First, I'm new here. Second, I want to address novis1's problem of wanting to permanently erase a picture, but also permanent file deletion in general.

 

Forget multiple deletions. The only ways to destroy data is by overwriting, and physical hard drive destruction. Unless you want to remove your hard drive and toss it in a wood chipper, I would suggest overwriting, and there is software out there that can do that.

 

I haven't read any suggestions in here about novis1's picture maybe being in the pagefile/virtual memory. If it's in there, then that will be fairly easy to get rid of. In the registry you can enable "ClearPageFileAtShutdown", or you can disable, and then re-enable the virtual memory to reset it, or you can do both. The second option easier because it doesn't require searching the registry. If you're interested in doing either one, instructions are on the internet.

 

Ok, now here's a question that I have: Does defragging overwrite the space where deleted files used to be? I would think it does. I figure the defragging software sees the space where something used to be, and just sees it as open space, and then puts something in there. If that is how defragging software works, then I would think defragging would be a way to overwrite a file, and permanently erase it. BUT, then again, all software is a little different. Some programs will "wipe" the empty spaces on a hard drive.

 

So anyway, that's my contribution to the discussion. I hope I've been of some kind of help to someone.

 

Best Regards,

--The Watcher

[The Watcher]

i did use the check box.and i also used highlighting.i used them both alternetly.i tryed them both again and again.to my shame there are things on the computer that i found using Recuva that i would not want my son to see(pictures,women).im wondering what i will need to do to remedy what my stupidity has caused.

 

Here goes nuttin'...

 

Forget multiple deletions. The only ways to destroy data is by overwriting, and physical hard drive destruction. Unless you want to remove your hard drive and toss it in a wood chipper, I would suggest overwriting, and there is software out there that can do that. I don't know if it will work, but you could see if defragging your hard drive overwrites the deleted file(s). The defrag software might see your deleted files as empty space and fill it up with relocated data.

 

Also, I haven't read any suggestions in here about your picture maybe being in the pagefile/virtual memory. If it's in there, then that will be fairly easy to get rid of. In the registry you can enable "ClearPageFileAtShutdown", or you can disable, and then re-enable the virtual memory to reset it, or you can do both. The second option easier because it doesn't require searching the registry. If you're interested in doing either one, instructions are on the internet.

 

To your problem specifically -- Your goal is to keep your son from seeing a picture. If all else fails, maybe you could try putting the picture into a folder, and then password protecting it. Or, you could lock your computer in such a way that it could only be used with your permission. Or maybe... you shouldn't worry in the first place. I mean... is the picture really that bad? If it's nudity we're talking about, then you might as well forget it. It's human nature to look at that stuff, and like it or not, you'll NEVER be able to control that. If someone wants to look at nude pictures bad enough, they'll find a way to do it. Personally, I think the gruesome images in movies ("Saw"), TV shows ("C.S.I."), the news (war coverage), and real life (seeing acts of violence) are FAR worse and damaging to children than "pictures,women" will ever be. But... that's a whole other can of worms.

 

Hope that helps.

 

Best Regards,

--The Watcher

[Augeas]

Forget multiple deletions. The only ways to destroy data is by overwriting, and physical hard drive destruction.

Yep, and overwriting once only will render it unrecoverable. Forget multiple overwrites.

 

Also, I haven't read any suggestions in here about your picture maybe being in the pagefile/virtual memory.

I don't know how Recuva actually works, but from its speed I guess it reads the entries in the MFT. I don't think it extracts anything from virt memory, but I'm willing to be disabused.

 

To your problem specifically -- Your goal is to keep your son from seeing a picture.

Specifically the OP wants to prevent anyone from recovering a picture. The OP could get rid of Recuva for a start.

 

Or maybe... you shouldn't worry in the first place. I mean... is the picture really that bad?

Perhaps the OP should let us see what all the fuss is about.... OK, forget it. I think that guilt is the driver here.

 

As for defragging overwriting deleted files, it depends. A defrag will reposition moveable files as close to the read heads or MFT as possible, for speed of retrieval. If there are deleted files which are not in the area that the defragged files are repositioned then they won't be overwritten. But it's worth a try, on the grounds that they might be.

 

Rgds,.

[The Watcher]

Yep, and overwriting once only will render it unrecoverable. Forget multiple overwrites.

 

 

I don't know how Recuva actually works, but from its speed I guess it reads the entries in the MFT. I don't think it extracts anything from virt memory, but I'm willing to be disabused.

 

 

Specifically the OP wants to prevent anyone from recovering a picture. The OP could get rid of Recuva for a start.

 

 

Perhaps the OP should let us see what all the fuss is about.... OK, forget it. I think that guilt is the driver here.

 

As for defragging overwriting deleted files, it depends. A defrag will reposition moveable files as close to the read heads or MFT as possible, for speed of retrieval. If there are deleted files which are not in the area that the defragged files are repositioned then they won't be overwritten. But it's worth a try, on the grounds that they might be.

 

Rgds,.

 

Hi.

 

I brought up the virtual memory as a possible explanation as to why they could keep recovering the picture, and why deleting wasn't getting rid of it. From messing around with my computer, it seems like the data in the virtual memory plays by different rules than the data in the rest of the hard drive. I don't know how Recuva works either lol. I was just throwing it out there.

 

Yeah... I guess getting rid of Recuva would be the simplest way to prevent file recovery. I honestly never thought of that as a solution lol. D'oh!

 

Thank you for the help and the information on defragging. I've done some research on secure file deletion, and I've never come across any mention of defragging. I'm no expert, and so I've been left to wonder if defragging overwrites files or not hardware. This is actually why I'm interested in a program like Recuva. I thought running something like Recuva before and after a defrag would be a way to see it's effects on data, and see if any overwriting has occurred. It's not super important to me whether it does or not , it's just something I'm curious about.

 

Anyway, thanks for your help.

[novis1]

know[/i] that the files can be seen and recovered? Do you get the pics in the preview box in Recuva? The only reasons I have that Recuva won't securely delete is if the file has been overwritten by another file or if the file is in the MFT (presumably this is not the case with your large jpgs). Does the info box in Recuva say that the file has been overwritten?

if the file has been overwriten and it is still visable in the preview box, what else can i do?

[davey]

Have you downloaded and tried the latest version?v 01.11.257 www.recuva.com

[Augeas]

if the file has been overwriten and it is still visable in the preview box, what else can i do?

I'm beginning to think that calling in an exorcist wouldn't be a bad idea.

 

If a file has been overwritten than what you will see (in Recuva preview) is what it's been overwritten with, not the original file. Maybe what it's been overwritten with is as bad as the original file.

 

Are you taking the advice of not clearing any of your temp internet or other temp files, with CC or any means, including straightforward deletes? If so then your bad files should be overwritten by now.

 

This is probably a case of being fixed in five minutes if one of us could get our hands on your pc.

 

Or download eraser or some other disk wiper. The only one I have tried (Redactor) on a 40 gb disk took an age to run so it isn't an easy answer.

 

Rgds.

[novis1]

Have you downloaded and tried the latest version?v 01.11.257 www.recuva.com

yes

[The Watcher]

yes

 

Hey Novis1, I think I might finally have an answer for you.

 

-It's a FREE program called, "Revo Uninstaller". ( http://www.revouninstaller.com )

 

After you open up Revo Uninstaller, click on the "Tools" icon at the top. That will open up the "Optimization" box. At the bottom of Optimizations, click on "Tracks Cleaner". Now, click on the white down-arrow that's underneath "Evidence Remover". Finally, click on "Unrecoverable Delete".

 

Once you're in there, click the "Add files to be deleted" button. You can browse to find the file (in your case, the picture) that you want to delete, or if you know the location of the file, you can of course just enter that information. When you're done, just click "DELETE FOREVER", and that should take care of it.

 

If you don't know the location of the file(s), or if you want to wipe previously deleted data, you can use the Evidence Remover tool in Revo that I mentioned earlier. It's really easy to use, so I'll spare you the directions. WARNING: There is always the potential of deleting things that you want to keep with this sort of tool, SO USE WITH CAUTION.

 

-While I was writing this, something popped into my head. Maybe what you're seeing in Recuva is just the thumbnail of the picture that you want to delete, and NOT the actual picture itself. This might explain how Recuva is showing a picture that you have deleted. So, if the above steps don't help, you can try clearing Windows thumbnail cache in order to delete the file. Here's a site with the instructions:

http://www.wikihow.com/Clear-the-Thumbnail-Cache-in-Windows

 

I want to add a couple of things to their instructions though:

 

1) If you're using Windows XP, and you use Search, you'll need to check the box for "Search hidden files and folders" in the "More advanced options" drop-down menu. If you did everything right, you should find a lot of files named "Thumbs.db".

 

2) Instead of using "Select All" and "Delete" for removing the files, I would make a new folder on the Desktop, put all the files in the new folder, and then delete the folder using Revo's Unrecoverable Delete tool.

 

-Well... that's all for now. I REALLY hope this helps, and you can finally put your mind at ease. Good luck with everything!

[Augeas]

While I was writing this, something popped into my head. Maybe what you're seeing in Recuva is just the thumbnail of the picture that you want to delete, and NOT the actual picture itself. This might explain how Recuva is showing a picture that you have deleted. So, if the above steps don't help, you can try clearing Windows thumbnail cache in order to delete the file.

It may be a thumbnail, but not, I think, the thumbnail cache. As far as I can see (and test) Thumbs.db does not contain a representation of any image in a form that can be displayed. Of course it's still a good idea to get rid of these annoying helpers that Windows foists upon us, so Novis should do what you advise. Rgds.

[JDPower]

After you open up Revo Uninstaller, click on the "Tools" icon at the top. That will open up the "Optimization" box. At the bottom of Optimizations, click on "Tracks Cleaner". Now, click on the white down-arrow that's underneath "Evidence Remover". Finally, click on "Unrecoverable Delete".

 

Once you're in there, click the "Add files to be deleted" button. You can browse to find the file (in your case, the picture) that you want to delete, or if you know the location of the file, you can of course just enter that information. When you're done, just click "DELETE FOREVER", and that should take care of it.

 

If you don't know the location of the file(s), or if you want to wipe previously deleted data, you can use the Evidence Remover tool in Revo that I mentioned earlier. It's really easy to use, so I'll spare you the directions. WARNING: There is always the potential of deleting things that you want to keep with this sort of tool, SO USE WITH CAUTION.

Doesn't that just do the same as Eraser's free space wipe (which was already suggested)?