Frequently Asked Questions
• How can I wipe files?
• How can I wipe folders?
• How can I wipe free space?
• When I wipe files, I always get an error message "Could not open file "C:\$DeleteFilesPermanently1.TMP", open error 5"?
• When I wipe free space, I always get an error message "Could not create temporary file". What's the problem?
• 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 can I view wiping scheme?
• How can I create wiping scheme?
• How can I modify wiping scheme?
• How can I uninstall 'Delete Files Permanently'?
• What wiping standards are built-in to 'Delete Files Permanently' by default?
How can I wipe files?
To wipe files:
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 Tips:
1. If you use Windows Vista, we recommend you run Delete Files Permanently as administrator so you have permissions to delete all necessary files, wipe Free Space and Recycle Bin.
If you use Windows XP/2003/2000/ME, make sure you have administrative privileges.
2. If you use anti-virus scanner that checks saved to disk files, it could slow files wiping, wiping Free Space and Recycle Bin as anti-virus scanner checks files after each overwriting/verification pass.
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Double-click on Delete Files Permanently desktop icon
Click 'Tools' button in the toolbar.
Select 'Delete permanently' item.
Select preferred wipe standard from the drop-down list.
If you don't remember how this wipe standard (wipe scheme) will destruct your file, you can use 'View scheme' button to view all passes.
 Note: The higher the level of wiping (the more number of passes), 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 file you want to wipe - click 'Add file(s)' button, select necessary files and click 'Open' button.
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Note:
 To simplify your work you may create list of files and folders you want to wipe at once.
To select several files, press Shift or Ctrl and select files.
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Click on 'Delete Permanently' button to immediately and permanently wipe selected file(s) and folder(s).
Attention: Deleted files cannot be recovered.
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While file wipe you can follow the progress of wiping files in progress bar.
Note: If 'Create Log file' option in program Settings is on, you can easily view Log file that shows what file(s) were deleted.
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How can I permanently wipe folders?
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Tips:
1. If you use Windows Vista, we recommend you run Delete Files Permanently as administrator so you have permissions to delete all necessary files, wipe Free Space and Recycle Bin.
If you use Windows XP/2003/2000/ME, make sure you have administrative privileges.
2. If you use anti-virus scanner that checks saved to disk files, it could slow files wiping, wiping Free Space and Recycle Bin as anti-virus scanner checks files after each overwriting/verification pass.
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Double-click on Delete Files Permanently desktop icon
Click 'Tools' button  in the toolbar.
Select 'Delete permanently' item.
Select preferred wiping scheme (wipe standard) from the drop-down list.
If you don't remeber how this wiping scheme (wipe standard) will destruct your file, you can use 'View scheme' button to view all passes.
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Note: The higher the level of wiping (the more number of passes), 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 folder you want to wipe permanently - click 'Add folder' button, select folder and click 'Open' button.
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Note:
To simplify your work you may create list of files and folders you want to wipe at once.
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Click on 'Delete Permanently' button to immediately and permanently wipe selected folder(s) and file(s).
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 Attention: Deleted files cannot be recovered.
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While file wipe you can follow the progress of wiping files in progress bar.
Total number of files - number of files selected for permanent delete
Number of deleted files - how many files have already been deleted
Total files size - total size of files selected for permanent delete
Deleted files size - total size of deleted files
Current file - file that is currently being deleted
Selected wiping scheme : current pass number
Shows current action (overwriting, verification)
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Note: If 'Create Log file' option in program Settings is on, you can easily view Log file that shows what file(s) were deleted.
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How can I wipe free space?
When you wipe files using 'Delete' button, it doesn't really wipe files from your PC, 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. Of course it protects your information from accidental deleting. But in this case any unauthorized person may find, recover and use it maliciously.
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 you run Delete Files Permanently as administrator so you have permissions to delete all necessary files, wipe Free Space and Recycle Bin.
If you use Windows XP/2003/2000/ME, make sure you have administrative privileges.
2. If you use anti-virus scanner that checks saved to disk files, it could slow files wiping, wiping Free Space and Recycle Bin as anti-virus scanner checks files after each overwriting/verification pass.
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Double-click on Delete Files Permanently desktop icon
Click 'Tools' button in the toolbar.
Select 'Wipe Free Space' item.
Select preferred wiping scheme from the drop-down list.
If you don't remember how this wiping scheme (wipe standard) will destruct your files, you can use 'View scheme' button to view all passes.
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Note: The higher the level of wiping (the more number of passes), 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 on.
Click on 'Wipe Free Space' button.
While wiping free space you can follow the progress of wiping in progress bar.
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When I wipe files, I always get an error message "Could not open file "C:\$DeleteFilesPermanently1.TMP", open error 5". What's the problem?
Most likely 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 program toolbar, not just close the main window.
2. Right-click on Delete Files Permanently desktop icon.
3. Select '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 Delete Files Permanently desktop icon.
3. Select 'Properties'
4. Open 'Shortcut' tab and click '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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When I wipe free space, I always get an error message "Could not create temporary file". What's the problem?
Most likely 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 program toolbar, not just close the main window.
2. Right-click on Delete Files Permanently desktop icon.
3. Select '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 Delete Files Permanently desktop icon.
3. Select 'Properties'
4. Open 'Shortcut' tab and click '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 anti-virus scanner that checks saved to disk files, it could slow files wiping, wiping Free Space and Recycle Bin as 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 temporary turn anti-virus scanner off
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How can I permanently delete 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 your PC, you need to permanently delete files from the Recycle Bin. Using Delete Files Permanently you can permanently delete files from Recycle Bin with one click.
To empty and wipe Recycle Bin:
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Tips: If you use Windows Vista, we recommend you run Delete Files Permanently as administrator so you have permissions to delete all necessary files, wipe Free Space and Recycle Bin.
If you use Windows XP/2003/2000/ME, make sure you have administrative privileges.
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Double-click on Delete Files Permanently desktop icon
Click 'Tools' button in the toolbar.
Select 'Empty and Wipe Recycle Bin' item.
Select preferred wiping scheme from the drop-down list.
If you don't remember how this wiping scheme will destruct your files, you can use 'View scheme' button to view all passes.
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Note: The higher the level of wiping (the more number of passes), 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 Recycle Bin.
Click on 'Empty and Wipe Recycle Bin' button.
You can follow the progress of wiping in progress bar.
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How can I view wiping scheme?
Click 'Tools' button in the toolbar.
Select 'Delete permanently' item.
Select wiping scheme you want to view from the drop-down list and click 'View scheme' button.
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How can I create wiping scheme?
To add wiping scheme:
Double-click on Delete Files Permanently desktop icon
Click the Tools button in the toolbar.
Select 'Wiping scheme' item.
Click 'Add' button.
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Note: You can easily create your own wiping scheme based on built-in wiping schemes. As built-in wiping schemes can't be deleted or modified, you should duplicate the required wiping scheme first using 'Duplicate' button, then click 'Modify' button and make necessary changes.
 Learn how to modify wiping scheme...
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- Enter wiping scheme's name
- to add new overwrite pass just click 'Add' button in 'Pass' area
In 'Add/modify pass' window:
• select Byte pattern - select what symbol you want to use for data overwriting:
- 'Generate random value' button - if you want to use random bytes for wiping data on this pass
- 'Use complement value' - to use complement to the previous pass value
- Or you can enter any symbol you want to be used in overwriting the data
• select 'Number of byte patterns' - set how many byte patterns you want to use for the wiping pass. You can use up to 5 byte patterns
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Note: you can't use 'Use complement value' for the first pass as there is no previous value
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Tips:
For your convenience you can enter symbol in different formats:
- in binary format
- in symbol format
- in hexadecimal format
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- Verification:
• without verification - overwrite data without verification
• last step - overwrite data and verify last step (pass) only
• verify all steps - Delete Files Permanently overwrites data and verifies each step (pass) if the data was written correctly to disk
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Note: If you select 'Last step' or 'All steps' verification, you should select program actions if verification is failed:
- ask about necessary action if verification failed
- skip current pass
- delete file any way
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Click 'OK'.
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How can I modify wiping scheme?
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Note: Built-in wiping schemes can't be modified or deleted
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Click 'Tools' button in the toolbar.
Select 'Wiping scheme' item.
Select wiping scheme you want to modify and click 'Modify' button.
Make necessary changes. You can change:
- number of passes (using 'Add' or 'Delete' pass buttons);
- change byte patterns and number of byte patterns for each pass;
- select verification mode
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Note: If you select 'Last step' or 'All steps' verification, you should select program actions if verification is failed:
- ask about necessary action if verification failed
- skip current pass
- delete file any way
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- modify existing passes (what symbol is used for data overwriting);
For more convenience you view the symbol used while this pass in different formats:
- in binary format;
- in symbol format;
- in hexadecimal format;
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How can I uninstall 'Delete Files Permanently'
Exit the program - click 'Exit' button in program toolbar or select 'Exit' from the program tray menu.
Choose Start | Programs | DeleteFilesPermanently | Uninstall DeleteFilesPermanently or run the 'Add/Remove Programs utility from Windows Control Panel, select DeleteFilesPermanently string in the list of installed programs and press the Add/Remove button.
Follow the on-screen instructions.
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What wiping standards are built-in to 'Delete Files Permanently' by default?
- Fast (1 pass)
The fastest wiping scheme. Your data is overwritten with zeroes.
- British HMG IS5 (Baseline) (1 pass)
Your data is overwritten with zeroes with verification.
- Russian GOST P50739-95 (2 passes)
GOST P50739-95 wiping scheme calls for a single pass of zeroes followed by a single pass of random byte.
- British HMG IS5 (Enhanced) (3 passes)
British HMG IS5 (Enhanced) is a three pass overwriting algorithm: first pass - with zeroes, second pass - with ones and the last pass with random bytes (last pass is verified).
- US Army AR380-19 (3 passes)
AR380-19 is data wiping scheme specified and published by the U.S. Army. AR380-19 is three pass overwriting algorithm: first pass - with random bytes, second and third passes with certain bytes and with its compliment (with last pass verification) .
- US Department of Defense DoD 5220.22-M (3 passes)
DoD 5220.22-M is three pass overwriting algorithm: first pass - with zeroes, second pass - with ones and the last pass with random bytes. With all passes verification.
- the US Department of Defense DoD 5220.22-M (E) (3 passes)
DoD 5220.22-M (E) is three pass overwriting algorithm: first pass - with certain bytes, second pass - with its complement and the last pass - with random bytes.
- NAVSO P-5239-26 (RLL)
NAVSO P-5239-26 (RLL) is three pass overwriting algorithm with last pass verification.
- NAVSO P-5239-26 (MFM)
NAVSO P-5239-26 (MFM) is three pass overwriting algorithm with last pass verification.
- the US Department of Defense DoD 5220.22-M(ECE) (7 passes)
DoD 5220.22-M(ECE) is seven pass overwriting algorithm: first and second passes - with certain bytes and with its compliment, then two passes with random character, then two passes with character and its complement and the last pass - with random character.
- Canadian RCMP TSSIT OPS-II (7 passes)
RCMP TSSIT OPS-II is seven pass overwriting algorithm with three alternating patterns of zeroes and ones and the last pass - with random character (with last pass verification).
- German VSITR (7 passes)
The German standard calls for each sector to be overwritten with three alternating patterns of zeroes and ones and in the last pass with character.
- Bruce Schneier (7 passes)
The Bruce Schneier wiping algorithm has seven passes: first pass - with ones, the second pass - with zeroes and then five times with random characters.
- Peter Gutmann (35 passes)
Peter Gutmann wiping algorithm has 35 passes.
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