Securely deleting files

POWERRR!!

POWERRR!!

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 18, 2005
Messages
594
Location
Cambridge, MA
Alright. I just got an RMA for my laptop, but before shipping it off for service, I would like to make sure that none of my deleted files are recoverable. I would be red in the face if someone unearths my bestiality pr0n collection!

I know there are utilities that do this, but which one? I haven't tried any of them! I would like to hear suggestions from people who have!
 
I use Eraser.

Just a thought: maybe just remove your hard drive from the laptop. Do they need it to troubleshoot and/or fix your laptop?
 
You should be safe just nuking the partitions. I doubt someone is going to go through the effort of restoring your data to look at it. If you are paranoid do a complete format (write 0s to the disk), it is highly unlikely someone at the repair place will go to the lengths required to overcome that.
 
Take the disc out - its the only safe thing to do I am afraid - but then I am sure that you are not sending your machine to the security services of a country so really just do the reformat and you'll be OK - well probably will be OK.

Normal porn they won't mind, its the more 'exotic' and er well illegal stuff may get you in trouble any way.
 
Do a low-level format of it. That should do the trick. That also cleans out all the damaged sectors flagged by the system.
 
Do a low-level format of it. That should do the trick. That also cleans out all the damaged sectors flagged by the system.
Click to expand...
Technically, it's still possible to recover from a low-level format if someone wants to get at your data badly enough.

If you want to wipe the partitions completely, TBU CopyWipe will do the trick. You can make as many passes as you want. 7 or more will make things completely unrecoverable.
 
why download pr0n in the first place? It's available all over the intarwebs in streaming mode :p
 
Or you could do the Marine Corps file deletion technique. (It's actually in one of their field manuals.)

1. Dig a hole.
2. Insert drive (or failed laptop.)
3. Pull pin on frag grenade, throw into hole.
4. Run away.
5. When you hear the explosion, your data is gone beyond recovery.

:lol:
 
epp_b said:
I use Eraser.

Just a thought: maybe just remove your hard drive from the laptop. Do they need it to troubleshoot and/or fix your laptop?
Click to expand...

Thanks! This is exactly the kind of software I was looking for! You're right. It would've been a lot easier to remove the hard drive, but it was instructed in the RMA to include everything, even accessories!
 
I was about to say fill the damn thing up with horse p0rn before sending it off so they don't see any sensitive data, then re-read and realized the 'sensitive' data was your horse p0rn. =)
 
One tip: If you have a choice between writing zeros to the disc or writing random rubbish data, choose the latter as it is more secure. Writing 0s is like erasing pencil, and writing random rubbish is like spraying ink all over the page.
 
I second epp_b's suggestion for using Eraser. I also use this and it does the job just fine.
 
I use a small program called....Restoration.(Uploaded by me)
What I MAINLY use it for is to recover accidently deleted files. But it has a small side feature which allows you delete the deleted files also ;)
I havent personnaly used this feature but im assuming it will work.

Its small so give it a try. Its better than other bloated recover crap I used before.
 
POWERRR!! said:
Alright. I just got an RMA for my laptop, but before shipping it off for service, I would like to make sure that none of my deleted files are recoverable. I would be red in the face if someone unearths my bestiality pr0n collection!

I know there are utilities that do this, but which one? I haven't tried any of them! I would like to hear suggestions from people who have!
Click to expand...

And now that your issue is resolved, you wouldn't mind expaining us WHY you have a bestiality porn collection in the first place?:p!:blink:
 
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