Delete Files Permanently FAQ
• How do I permnanently delete files from my computer?
• How do I delete files through the 'Delete Files Permanently' main window?
• How do I delete folders through the 'Delete Files Permanently' main window?
• How do I delete files and folders through the Windows Explorer context menu (right-click menu)?
• How do I permanently delete previously deleted files?
• How do I wipe free space?
• Why do I get a message about low free space while using the 'Wipe free space' option?
• How long will it take to wipe a hard drive
• When I wipe free spave, I get an error message "Couldn't create a temporary file"?
• I use Delete Files Permanently to delete files and wipe free space but the process is too slow. How can I speed up the process?
• How can I wipe Recycle Bin content?
How do I permnanently delete files from my computer?
If you delete files and empty the Recycle Bin using Windows options (not using Delete Files Permanently),
to permanently delete files from your computer you should use the 'Empty and Wipe Recycle Bin' option and then the 'Wipe Free Space' option.
If you delete files using Delete Files Permanently, you shouldn't worry - all your files are permanently deleted.
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How do I delete files through the 'Delete Files Permanently' main window?
To delete files:
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 Tips:
1. If you use Windows Vista, we recommend that you run Delete Files Permanently as administrator so you have permissions to delete all necessary files, wipe free space and the Recycle Bin.
If you use Windows XP/2003/2000/ME, make sure you have administrative privileges.
2. If you use an anti-virus scanner that checks saved to disk files, it could slow files deleting, wiping Free Space and the Recycle Bin as the anti-virus scanner checks files after each overwriting/verification pass.
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Double-click on the Delete Files Permanently desktop icon
Click the 'Tools' button in the toolbar.
Select 'Delete permanently'.
Select the wiping scheme from the drop-down list.
 Note: The more passes a wiping scheme has, the more time the process takes. Unless special security is desired, the single-pass, double-pass or triple-pass wiping methods are sufficient to prevent data recovering.
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To select the file(s) you want to delete, click the 'Add file(s)' button, select the file(s) and click the 'Open' button.
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Note:
 To simplify your work, you may create a list of files and folders you want to delete.
To select several files, press Shift or Ctrl and select files.
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Click the 'Delete Permanently' button to permanently delete selected file(s) and folder(s).
Attention: Deleted files cannot be recovered.
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How do I delete folders through the 'Delete Files Permanently' main window?
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Tips:
1. If you use Windows Vista, we recommend that you run Delete Files Permanently as administrator so you have permissions to delete all necessary files, wipe free space and the Recycle Bin.
If you use Windows XP/2003/2000/ME, make sure you have administrative privileges.
2. If you use an anti-virus scanner that checks saved to disk files, it could slow files deleting, wiping Free Space and the Recycle Bin as the anti-virus scanner checks files after each overwriting/verification pass.
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Double-click on the Delete Files Permanently desktop icon
Click the 'Tools' button in the toolbar.
Select 'Delete permanently'.
Select the wiping scheme from the drop-down list.
Note: The more passes a wiping scheme has, the more time the process takes. Unless special security is desired, the single-pass, double-pass or triple-pass wiping methods are sufficient to prevent data recovering.
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To select the folder(s) you want to delete, click the 'Add folder(s)' button, select the folder(s) and click the 'Open' button.
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Note:
To simplify your work, you may create a list of files and folders you want to delete.
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Click the 'Delete Permanently' button to permanently delete selected file(s) and folder(s).
Attention: Deleted files cannot be recovered.
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How do I delete files and folders through the Windows Explorer context menu (right-click menu)?
Using Delete Files Permanently you can easily delete files and folders by right-clicking on them in Windows Explorer and selecting 'Delete Permanently' in the popup context menu.
To delete files and folders:
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Tips:
1. If you use Windows Vista, we recommend that you run Delete Files Permanently as administrator so you have permissions to delete all necessary files, wipe free space and the Recycle Bin.
If you use Windows XP/2003/2000/ME, make sure you have administrative privileges.
2. If you use an anti-virus scanner that checks saved to disk files, it could slow files deleting, wiping Free Space and the Recycle Bin as the anti-virus scanner checks files after each overwriting/verification pass.
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Open Windows Explorer
Select the files and folders you want to delete
Right-click on selected files and folders and select 'Delete Permanently' in the popup context menu
Select the wiping scheme from the drop-down list.
Note: The more passes a wiping scheme has, the more time the process takes. Unless special security is desired, the single-pass, double-pass or triple-pass wiping methods are sufficient to prevent data recovering.
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Click the 'Delete Permanently' button to permanently delete selected file(s) and folder(s).
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 Attention: Deleted files cannot be recovered.
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How do I permanently delete previously 'deleted' files?
When you delete files using the standard 'Delete' option, Windows does not erase the content of these files from the disk - it only deletes 'references' to these files from files system tables. The content of all deleted files remain on the disk and can be easily restored using a recovery utility.
Even if you emptied the Recycle Bin or formatted your hard drive, deleted files are not completely deleted from your computer.
The 'Wipe Free Space' option allows you to permanently delete previously 'deleted' files.
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How can I wipe free space?
When you delete files using the 'Delete' button, it doesn't really delete files from your computer, removable disks, USB-flash drives, memory sticks, flash memory cards, picture cards, etc. This operation just removes the reference to the file but file still exists.
To protect your privacy you should wipe free space to ensure that previously 'deleted' files cannot be recovered.
To wipe free disk space:
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Tips:
1. If you use Windows Vista, we recommend that you run Delete Files Permanently as administrator so you have permissions to delete all necessary files, wipe free space and the Recycle Bin.
If you use Windows XP/2003/2000/ME, make sure you have administrative privileges.
2. If you use an anti-virus scanner that checks saved to disk files, it could slow files deleting, wiping Free Space and the Recycle Bin as the anti-virus scanner checks files after each overwriting/verification pass.
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Double-click on the Delete Files Permanently desktop icon
Click the 'Tools' button  in the toolbar.
Select 'Wipe Free Space'.
Select the wiping scheme from the drop-down list.
Note: The more passes a wiping scheme has, the more time the process takes. Unless special security is desired, the single-pass, double-pass or triple-pass wiping methods are sufficient to prevent data recovering.
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Select where you want to wipe free space.
Click the 'Wipe Free Space' button.
While wiping free space you can follow the progress of wiping in the progress bar.
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Why do I get a message about low free space while using the 'Wipe free space' option?
While using the 'Wipe Free Space' option all your free space is 'in use' and is being overwritten according to
the selected wiping scheme so you can get a message about low free space.
After 'Wipe Free Space' is finished or canceled, all your free space will be available again.
It is better not to work on the computer while wiping free space.
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How long will it take to wipe a hard drive
Wiping Free Space takes some time depending on the free space size, selected wiping scheme and your computer
recources.
The more passes a wiping scheme has, the more time the process takes. For example it will be about 4 times faster to use the 'Fast' wiping scheme that has only one pass without verification than wiping free space with 'US Army AR380-19' that has three passes and last step verification.
You can start wiping with the selected scheme to evaluate the appropriate time for wiping. To change a wiping scheme, you should cancel current wiping process at first
Unless special security is desired, the single-pass, double-pass or triple-pass wiping methods are sufficient to prevent data recovering.
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When I wipe free space, I always get an error message "Couldn't create a temporary file"
This error message means that you don't have administrative privileges to create/delete files.
If you use Windows Vista, you should run Delete Files Permanently as administrator so you have permissions to delete all necessary files.
How to run Delete Files Permanently as administrator:
1. Exit Delete Files Permanently.
Click 'Exit' in the program toolbar, not just close the main window.
2. Right-click on the Delete Files Permanently desktop icon.
3. Select the 'Run as Administrator' option
How to set Delete Files Permanently to always run as administrator:
1. Exit Delete Files Permanently.
Click 'Exit' in program toolbar, not just close the main window.
2. Right-click on the Delete Files Permanently desktop icon.
3. Select 'Properties'
4. Open the 'Shortcut' tab and click the 'Advanced' button.
5. Put the check mark for 'Run as administrator'.
6. Click 'OK' and then 'Apply'.
If you use Windows XP/2003/2000/ME, make sure you have administrative privileges.
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I use Delete Files Permanently to delete files and wipe free space but the process is too slow. How can I speed up the process?
If you use an anti-virus scanner that checks saved to disk files, it could slow deleting files, wiping Free Space and Recycle Bin as the anti-virus scanner checks files after each overwriting/verification pass.
If you want to speed up permanent deleting files and wiping free space, we recommend you to temporary turn off the anti-virus scanner
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How can I permanently delete the Recycle Bin content?
When you delete files from your computer, they are temporarily stored in the Recycle Bin so you may easily restore the files to their original location if necessary. To permanently delete files from yourcomputer, you need to permanently delete files from the Recycle Bin. Using Delete Files Permanently you can permanently delete files from the Recycle Bin with one click.
To empty and wipe the Recycle Bin:
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Tips: 1. If you use Windows Vista, we recommend that you run Delete Files Permanently as administrator so you have permissions to delete all necessary files, wipe free space and the Recycle Bin.
If you use Windows XP/2003/2000/ME, make sure you have administrative privileges.
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Double-click on the Delete Files Permanently desktop icon
Click the 'Tools' button in the toolbar.
Select 'Empty and Wipe Recycle Bin'.
Select the wiping scheme from the drop-down list.
Note: The more passes a wiping scheme has, the more time the process takes. Unless special security is desired, the single-pass, double-pass or triple-pass wiping methods are sufficient to prevent data recovering.
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Select where you want to empty and wipe the Recycle Bin.
Click the 'Empty and Wipe Recycle Bin' button.
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Frequently Asked Questions
• Delete Temporary Internet Files in Internet Explorer 7.0
• Select Tools.
• Select Internet Options.
• Open the General tab.
• Under Browsing history click the Delete button.
• Click the Delete files button and then click Yes.
• Click Close and then click OK.
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