Content

• Tips
• Warnings

1 Find and download any program for low-level disk formatting on the Internet.

2 Use a low-level disk formatting program to format the local disk where the deleted (or already deleted) files are stored. To do this, create a bootable disk (or flash drive) and copy the downloaded program to it.

3 Boot your computer from a disk (or flash drive) and run the program. The desired local drive will be formatted and overwritten with zeros or random data. After that, you can recreate the local drive and store new files on it without any problem.

Tips

• Use the free DBAN program to permanently delete files from your hard drive.
• If you know how to work in DOS and you have a bootable disk, use the format X: / u command, which will format the X: disk and overwrite it with zeros.
• To remove any leftover files (data), use the FarStone TotalShredder utility.
• Use BCWipe to overwrite empty space on your hard drive.

Warnings

• For guaranteed data erasure, you need to physically destroy the hard drive. Even using the above programs and utilities, deleted data can be recovered (with the help of specialists and professional equipment).
• Recuva (piriform.com) can perform a deep scan of disks for deleted files. Remember: when you delete files, there are always some leftovers left.
• Before deleting important information, first change it, save it to a file, and then delete it.
• Government wipes, which are used by the government, are capable of permanently deleting files. However, keep in mind that you need to physically destroy your hard drive to ensure that your data is completely erased.
• If you are an inexperienced user and do not understand the above method of deleting files, it is best to contact a specialist.
• There are specialists who can restore information (part of it) even on a physically destroyed hard drive.