Permanently Delete Files so They Can't Be Recovered [2022 New Guide]
- How Do I Permanently Delete Files So They Cannot Be Recovered?
- Can Recycle Bin Permanently Delete Files and Make Them Unrecoverable?
- #1. Download Reliable File Shredder Software to Permanently Delete Files so They Can't Be Restored
- #2. How to Permanently Delete Files so They Can't Be Recovered with Qiling BitWiper
- Bonus Tip: How to Protect Essential Files from Being Erased
How Do I Permanently Delete Files So They Cannot Be Recovered?
Your PC is old, and now you want to sell it and get a new one for yourself. But your computer is cluttered with bank account information scanned copies of your driver's license, birth certificate, and other personal information. You know the data is still on your hard disc, even though you 'shift erased' the files; it's only hidden from the operating system.
But there's no need to be concerned; everything has a solution. This article will go through various practical methods for you to permanently delete files so they can't be recovered (available on Windows).
Can Recycle Bin Permanently Delete Files and Make Them Unrecoverable?
When Windows deletes a file, it moves it to a specific hard drive sector and hides it from the operating system. Even after emptying the Recycle Bin, there is still a chance of data recovery if no new data is written on those specific sectors where the deleted files exist.
If specific sectors of the hard disc are overwritten with new data, however, the odds of recovering deleted files are little to none. But specific data recovery software such as Deep Data Recovery can recreate files after being overwritten.
As a result, most computer users want to know how to permanently delete files so they can't be recovered. This procedure is simple to carry out. Whether you're getting rid of a computer, external hard drive, or USB stick, follow this article to discover how to permanently delete files on a PC or laptop and preserve your data.
#1. Download Reliable File Shredder Software to Permanently Delete Files so They Can't Be Restored
You must wipe and erase your computer to eliminate files from your PC or laptop without recovery. In this way, data that has been irreversibly erased can no longer be recovered. Although Windows doesn't include a built-in program for scanning and wiping your hard disc for deleted items, for this purpose, much third-party software is available.
In Windows 11/10/8/7, Qiling BitWiper has a "File Shredder" tool that permanently erases all disc data. With solutions that satisfy the DoD 5220.22-M Wiping Standard, it can assist you in altogether removing all of the data and partitions on your hard disc.
Qiling BitWiper supports many basic and advanced hard disc management functions, including:
- 1. Shred single or multiple files at the same time.
- 2. Shred folder or multiple folders at the same time.
- 3. Support erasing extremely large files and folders in Windows or external storage devices.
- 4. Support to erase all types of files folders with success permanently.
- 5. Support all types of storage devices.
Bonus Features You May Like:
- 1. Wipe Disk - securely erase and wipe the hard drive, SSDs, external storage devices.
- 2. Wipe Partition - Clean partition content or erase data on free space in a partition.
Using this software, your data is irreversibly erased and cannot be restored in most cases.
#2. How to Permanently Delete Files so They Can't Be Recovered with Qiling BitWiper
Qiling BitWiper is a powerful tool that can permanently delete sensitive files. It is impossible to retrieve files that have been deleted with this program, and the tool accomplishes this by overwriting the deleted files on specific hard drive sectors. You can download this tool and follow the simple steps to resolve your "how to permanently delete files so they can't be recovered" issue.
Step 1. Launch Qiling disk master and click "File Shredder".
Step 2. Select the files you need to shred, or you can drag files, documents, images, music files, etc., into the center area.
Step 3. Click "Proceed" to confirm.
Step 4. The program will immediately shred all the selected files.
Bonus Tip: How to Protect Essential Files from Being Erased
Remember any data recovery software will not recover the files once the wipe procedure is completed. If the number of times to wipe the hard disc is set to 10, no data recovery solution will ever be able to retrieve the data.
Also, if you continue to use the hard disc or storage device after data loss, write new data over the old. It is technically impossible to retrieve files that have been overwritten. So to protect your data, you can follow these two preventive measures:
1. Create a backup of essential files to another location in advance.
You may want to permanently delete files so they can't be recovered from your old PC, but you may need them on your new PC. One of the best ways to protect your documents, photos, movies, custom configurations, and Windows 10 files against being permanently deleted is to create a backup file to another location in advance.
2. Be careful while selecting files to permanently delete and shred with Qiling BitWiper.
Once you select your files, your selected files will appear in the list. If you change your mind or discover that some files were chosen accidentally, you can use the remove option to remove them from the list. Your files will be erased and shredded more times and totally in Slow Mode, making them unrecoverable. A warning popup appears when you click the Delete button, informing you that the deleted files cannot be restored using software or other methods. To confirm, click OK.
Qiling BitWiper is a professional tool specifically designed to shred your files and save you from the hassle of your data being stolen. But as mentioned earlier, your documents will be unrecoverable, and your data will be destroyed and cannot be recovered. It's also impossible to determine what file names were used. So to be on the safe side, it is better to select your files while using this software carefully.
Conclusion
Nobody wants snoopers and hackers to have access to their personal information. Although the built-in encryption on Windows should make your erased data unrecoverable, using the other ways we've listed to permanently delete files so they can't be recovered will offer you complete peace of mind.
You can use a disk-wiping tool like Qiling BitWiper to indeed prevent someone from recovering any of your data. It will wipe your hard drive clean, including your operating system and all of your files, overwriting them with meaningless data. It is beneficial when getting rid of a computer because it ensures that all of your personal information is deleted.
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