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Wipe free space - what will it do?


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#1 OFFLINE   derrymilk

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Posted 09 October 2009 - 07:30 AM

Hi, Have been using Ccleaner for quite a while now and love it!
...but the one feature I never used until yesterday was the wipe free space.

My query is.....will this actually wipe deleted files??
Thing is....embarrisingly :wub: I had to send my works laptop back to IT for a rebuild. Lets just say there were some files that my wife and I would be very embarrised about if they were tracable! - they were deleted and the I ran the full cleaner including "wipe free space"
Will this save any embarrisment on our part, and hopefully keep me out of trouble with the systems use policy! :(

Will the files be traceable to some IT Geek?

#2 OFFLINE   ePost

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Posted 09 October 2009 - 07:38 AM

I think that would make you and your wife safe. Well done. :D Besides: The tech staff at your job wont have the time for studying your files. They don't open the folders.

The next time you should ask before sending the PC out of the house. For obvious reasons.

#3 OFFLINE   fireryone

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Posted 09 October 2009 - 07:42 AM

1. If they are doing a rebuild they arent likley to be attempting to recover files.

2. If you remembered to check both the drive letter you wanted to wipe the free space on in "options / settings" and the check box in advanced then yes it should be wiped.
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#4 OFFLINE   derrymilk

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Posted 09 October 2009 - 07:45 AM

View Postfireryone, on Oct 9 2009, 07:42 AM, said:

1 if they are doing a rebuild they arent likley to be attempting to recover files.

If you remembered to check both the drive letter you wanted to wipe the free space on in "options / settings" and the check box in advanced then yes it should be wiped.

I didn't cos I have only now read about that elsewhere!:(

I had an external plugged in at the same time as I was backing up files!
I assume it was just the defalt setting as I never used the WFS before!
Would this have cleaned C: or theE:?? or both?

#5 OFFLINE   fireryone

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Posted 09 October 2009 - 07:50 AM

View Postderrymilk, on Oct 9 2009, 05:45 PM, said:

I didn't cos I have only now read about that elsewhere!:(

I had an external plugged in at the same time as I was backing up files!
I assume it was just the defalt setting as I never used the WFS before!
Would this have cleaned C: or theE:?? or both?

No, by default all drives are unselected in in options / advanced so it wouldn't.

But as I said above, unless they are preforming a recovery operation they aren't likely to come across the deleted files.
fireryone



There are 10 types of people in this world.
Those who understand binary, and those who don't.

#6 OFFLINE   derrymilk

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Posted 09 October 2009 - 08:14 AM

View Postfireryone, on Oct 9 2009, 07:50 AM, said:

No, by default all drives are unselected in in options / advanced so it wouldn't.

But as I said above, unless they are preforming a recovery operation they aren't likely to come across the deleted files.

Would the default have ad enough passes?
and
Would a Defrag have helped?

#7 OFFLINE   ePost

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Posted 09 October 2009 - 08:31 AM

No, a defrag would not have made any difference. What you did via CCleaner should be good enough. Don't worry. But the next time ask first. Better safe than sorry.

#8 OFFLINE   derrymilk

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Posted 09 October 2009 - 09:32 AM

View PostePost, on Oct 9 2009, 08:31 AM, said:

No, a defrag would not have made any difference. What you did via CCleaner should be good enough. Don't worry. But the next time ask first. Better safe than sorry.

Thanks for the re-assurance guys! :)