- #36
omigosh
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If you really want to be sure... replace the hard drive in it
That alone would of course not preserve any content; if it were done along with a correct backup and restore, it would be sufficient but not necessary.omigosh said:If you really want to be sure... replace the hard drive in it
It's not for SSDs.harborsparrow said:It turns out, Microsoft finally built in a utility for overwriting and clearing free space. And I've tried it and it seemed to work well. I learned about it from this article:
https://www.howtogeek.com/137108/how-securely-overwrite-free-space-in-windows/
The command is:
cipher /w:C:\
where C is the letter of the drive you want to securely overwrite the free space on.
Use a command prompt window with Administrative privileges.
Don't run anything else while it's going on. Expect it to take hours, possibly run it overnight.
To permanently erase files from your laptop, you can use a file shredder program or manually overwrite the files multiple times. This ensures that the data is completely removed and cannot be recovered.
No, deleting files from the recycle bin only removes the file's reference from the system, but the data is still present on your hard drive. It is important to use a file shredder program or overwrite the files to completely erase them.
You can use data recovery software to check if the files are still recoverable. If the software is unable to find the files, it means they have been successfully erased.
It is not necessary to erase old files from your laptop, but it is recommended for privacy and security reasons. Old files may contain sensitive information that can be accessed by others if not properly erased.
The frequency of erasing old files from your laptop depends on your usage and the type of files you have. If you regularly use your laptop for sensitive information, it is recommended to erase old files at least once a month.