Proper steps to secure deletion?

[kazoo]

Hi!

 

I have some questions regarding the proper steps in secure file deletion as I'm getting a tad confused. I'm on Win7 64-bit, partitioned drive (C:, D:).

 

I started off using Eraser and was placing files/dirs in the Recycle Bin and using the shell option > Eraser, but when I used Recuva to verify the deletion I was finding the random names still in D:\$Recycle.Bin.

 

So I figured Eraser wasn't doing the job and used CCleaner with Wipe Free Space and Wipe MFT Free Space selected. Now, when I run Recuva, I'm seeing ZZZ file names and directories. I tried to Secure Overwrite these items in Recuva, but I receive the error, "File is Resident in the MFT."

 

I'm a bit baffled as to what the procedure is to a secure deletion and why I can't get rid of those ZZZ files now.

 

- Should I move files to the Recycle Bin to secure delete them or should I just delete the files from it's current location?

- What is the main difference between using Eraser and CCleaner and what scenarios garner when should I use one over the other?

- Should I be using Wipe Free Space?

- Does Wipe Free Space return usable/writable space or is it gone forever, meaning I actually lose space in the end - unless I format?

- Does Secure Deletion return usable/writable space or is it gone forever, meaning I actually lose space in the end - unless I format?

- Is there anyway to get rid of those ZZZ files?

- I only have one hard drive, so what if I needed to wipe the entire drive and start over - I assume I'd need another hard drive first?

 

I'm sure I'll have more newbie questions...

 

Thanks for any help you can give me!

 

[Aethec]

-It doesn't matter.

-I don't know how Eraser works, but I assume it must be doing the same thing : filling the blank spaces with zeroes.

-No, unless you have *very* sensitive data. Wiping the entire drive because a dozen of files must be securely deleted is rather pointless.

-It returns it.

-Same thing. "Secure deletion" means "fill the file's content with zeroes".

-I don't know. But anyway, they can't be recovered.

-You don't need to, but the answer to this question is yes.

 

However, don't forget two things :

-Secure Deletion with more than one pass is pointless, unless you use very old (>15 years) drives.

-Wipe Free Space is useful only if you mistakenly deleted a file instead of securely deleting it. However, unless that file is really important, you shouldn't have to worry about that.

 

[Aethyr]

I started off using Eraser and was placing files/dirs in the Recycle Bin and using the shell option > Eraser, but when I used Recuva to verify the deletion I was finding the random names still in D:\$Recycle.Bin.

 

So I figured Eraser wasn't doing the job and used CCleaner with Wipe Free Space and Wipe MFT Free Space selected. Now, when I run Recuva, I'm seeing ZZZ file names and directories.

 

Actually, Eraser was doing its job. All Recuva could find was what Eraser had overwritten your files with. If your files were still recoverable in the original form, that would be a cause for concern.

 

There is no way a file can be un-written. It can only be overwritten, so, when Eraser has finished working, there is just random (= nonsense) data where the file used to be.