Deleted Objects

[Dan]

Hey folks,
I know this sounds strange but hear me out.

I have recently deleted a large amount of data from my PC. Before deleting, my used space was 45% used from 72 GB. However, after deleting, it is still at 45% (55% available).
So, obviously, when you delete stuff, it doesn't actually get deleted but is stored elsewhere on the harddrive.

Does anyone know where I can get to these items and completely remove them from my PC?
I don't want to use a file shredder nor do I want to reformat.

If anyone knows it would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Dan

 

[influct]

without stating the obvious, check the recycle bin

 

[Dan]

without stating the obvious, check the recycle bin

I forgot to mention that I have also deleted the objects from the recycle bin, did disc cleanup and also disc defragment.

 

[Decker]

Do you have any apps that 'protect' deleted data so you can recover it later?

 

[Dan]

Do you have any apps that 'protect' deleted data so you can recover it later?

Nope. None at all.

 

[Adam]

Do you have system restore turned on? It tends to hog a bit of space depending on the size of the Hard Drive.

 

[Dan]

Do you have system restore turned on? It tends to hog a bit of space depending on the size of the Hard Drive.

No it's not turned on.
Basically, I know there is a hidden location on the HD where deleted items go.

I once had a code you place in start>>run that brings up a page with all of these items in so they can be removed. But I can't for the life of me find that code again.

 

[m6747]

what about temp folders? and prefetch?

 

[TSO]

I am assuming you powered all the way down, then back up? If so, and it's still the same, try a disk defrag.

 

[Dan]

I am assuming you powered all the way down, then back up? If so, and it's still the same, try a disk defrag.

Yep tried it all.

 

[influct]

No it's not turned on.
Basically, I know there is a hidden location on the HD where deleted items go.

I once had a code you place in start>>run that brings up a page with all of these items in so they can be removed. But I can't for the life of me find that code again.

this scares me.

 

[Dan]

this scares me.

What scares you?

 

[Yellowmc]

You need to use software to write over the data. Don't know of any free software that does it though.

 

[Kratt]

your partition is toast.
do a chkdsk /f

 

[Dan]

your partition is toast.
do a chkdsk /f

What? "chkdisk /f" like, huh?

 

[Decker]

It's a DOS level command, it tells the command interpreter to check the drive/partition and fix any faults it finds.
And as for 'having' to overwrite the data, that'll do nothing.

Might seem a bit silly but when you say a large amount of data - is that because you counted a good few Gb of data or just a lot of files (that may have all been small) - and is the disk compressed?

 

[influct]

What scares you?

if i delete something - i generally like it to stay gone.

 

[Decker]

if i delete something - i generally like it to stay gone.

Think that's the point of the post :lol:

 

[Dan]

LOL

That's why I posted this. I want it to stay gone too but it is obviously not gone.

 

[themoose]

Type chkdsk /f in run prompt, let it do it's thing then reboot.