Your computer is old, and you want to sell it to get a new one. Your computer, on the other hand, is clogged with bank account information, scanned copies of your driver’s licence, birth certificate, and other personal information. Even if you’shift deleted’ the files, you know the data is still on your hard drive; it’s only hidden from the operating system.

How Do I Delete Files Permanently So They Cannot Be Recovered?

But don’t worry, since everything has a solution. This article will walk you through many practical techniques for permanently deleting files such that they cannot be retrieved (available on Windows).

Can the Recycle Bin Delete Files Permanently and Make Them Unrecoverable?

When you remove a file in Windows, it transfers it to a different hard drive sector and hides it from the operating system. Even after emptying the Recycle Bin, data recovery is still possible if no new data is written on the exact sectors where the deleted files live.

However, if certain sectors of the hard disc are overwritten with fresh data, the chances of retrieving erased contents are slim to none. However, certain data recovery tools, such as Terminator software, may rebuild files that have been erased.

As a result, most computer users desire to know how to delete data permanently so that they cannot be restored. This process is straightforward. Follow this article to learn how to permanently remove files on a PC or laptop while preserving your data, whether you’re getting rid of a computer, external hard drive, or USB stick.

Get Reliable File Shredder Software to Delete Files Permanently so They Can’t Be Restored

To remove files from your PC or laptop without recovery, you must wipe and delete it. Data that has been irrevocably destroyed cannot be retrieved in this manner. Although Windows does not contain a built-in programme for checking and cleaning your hard drive for deleted files, there is plenty of third-party software available for this purpose.

Terminator software offers a «File Shredder» feature in Windows 11/10/8/7 that completely erases all disc data. It can help you remove all of the data and partitions on your hard drive by using solutions that meet the DoD 5220.22-M Wiping Standard.

Many basic and complex hard disc management functions are supported by Terminator software, including:

1. Shred a single or more files at once.
2. Shred a folder or many directories at once.
3. Allows for the deletion of extraordinarily big files and directories in Windows or on external storage devices.
4. Support for permanently erasing all sorts of files and directories.
5. Compatibility with all sorts of storage devices.

You Might Also Like These Extras:

1. Wipe Disc — Erase and wipe the hard disc, SSDs, and external storage devices securely.
2. Wipe Partition — Erase data on vacant space in a partition or clean partition content.

When you use this programme, your data is permanently destroyed and cannot be recovered in most instances.

Using Terminator software, permanently delete files that cannot be recovered. BitWiper

Terminator software is a strong programme that can erase sensitive data permanently. It is difficult to recover lost files using this programme, which does this by overwriting deleted files on specified hard disc sectors. You may answer your «how to permanently delete files so they can’t be recovered» problem by downloading this programme and following the simple steps.

Step 1: Run Terminator software and select the «File Shredder» option.
Step 2: Click «Add Files» to choose the files to shred, or drag files, documents, photos, audio files, and so on into the centre area.
Step 3: Re-select the files to be shredded and click «Shred» to confirm.
Step 4: The programme will shred all of the specified files immediately. When it’s finished, press the «Done» button.

Bonus Tip: How to Keep Important Files from Being Erased

Remember that once the wipe operation is done, no data recovery programme will be able to restore the files. If you set the number of times you wipe the hard drive to 10, no data recovery software will ever be able to recover the data.

Also, if you continue to use the hard disc or storage device after data loss, overwrite the old with fresh data. Files that have been erased are theoretically impossible to recover. To secure your data, you can take the following two precautions:

1. Make a backup of important files to another place ahead of time.

You may wish to permanently erase files so that they cannot be retrieved from your old computer, yet you may require them on your new computer. Making a backup file to another location in preparation is one of the greatest ways to preserve your documents, images, videos, custom configurations, and Windows 10 data from being permanently erased.

2. Use caution while deciding which files to permanently delete and shred using Terminator software.

After you pick your files, they will show in the list. If you change your mind or learn that certain files were selected by mistake, you may delete them from the list using the remove option. Your data will be wiped and shredded many times in Slow Mode, rendering them unrecoverable. When you click the Delete option, a warning window displays telling you that the lost files cannot be recovered using software or other ways. Click OK to confirm.

Terminator software is a professional tool meant to shred your files and prevent you from the headache of having your data stolen. However, as previously said, your papers will be unrecoverable, and your data will be erased and unrecoverable. It’s also hard to tell which file names were utilised. To be secure, it is best to carefully pick your files when using this software.

Conclusion

Nobody wants hackers and snoopers to have access to their personal information. Although Windows’ built-in encryption should render your deleted data unrecoverable, following the additional methods we’ve described to permanently delete files so they can’t be retrieved will provide you with total piece of mind.

To prevent someone from retrieving any of your data, utilise a disk-wiping programme such as Terminator. It will delete everything on your hard disc, including your operating system and all of your files, and overwrite them with useless data. It is advantageous when disposing of a computer since it assures that all of your personal information is erased.

References

Cory Doctorow (cory@eff.org), June 17, 2004
«Schneier on Security;» A Judge’s Son Builds a Reputation of Cryptic Fame
Government Communications Security Bureau
National Industrial Security Program
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Communications Security Establishment