Tools for thoroughly deleting files

[[deXter]]

Jeremy, I dont think there is such a utility because its not needed. Because there is no such software that can reverse the changes made to a file without monitoring what changes were made to it.

I mean that when you are deleting entries from the registry, you aren't actually deleting stuff, you are just modifying the physical files located on your drive. You still have your same old SAM, SYSTEM, SECURITY etc files, only now, they are modified. No software can undo that.

So rest assured, when you are deleting stuff from the registry, it remains deleted for good.

(PS: just so that you should know, it IS possible to manually erase parts of the registry. All one would need to do is access the registry files (SAM..etc) directly (and not thru any reg editor), decrypt the hives, search for the necessary keys and keep overwriting them. This of course cannot be done under XP, so one would have to make a tool similar to CHNTPW..)

[Jeremy]

Uhm, or I could create a reg file that removes entries or entire sections of the reg and import it, therefore effectively removing whatever part of the reg is specified in the reg file.

ETE2005 wasn't "erasing" them, it was just removing them. I have already made my own custom reg file and switched from ETE2005 to Eraser 5.7

[spiritpyre]

I've always used Eraser and that works good. The only thing I don't like (because I never use its scheduling tasks feature) are its autorun entry and its "New File" item so I just get rid of those like so:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

;----- Remove Entries from the "New" Context Menu
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.ers\ShellNew]; Eraser Task Files

;----- Remove Autorun Entries: 
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
"Eraser"=-

Thanks for the tips but will any of these work for a file that will not let you delete? "Access denied".

Not sure if this helps but one thing that sometimes works in xp (usually if explorer.exe is not letting you delete something) is to open Task Manager (Ctrl+Alt+Del or Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and kill any related programs (ie. - if problems deleting avi kill WMP, etc.) and kill explorer.exe. then run cmd.exe and use this:

cd {targetdir}
del /s /q /f {target file}

:OR

cd {parentdir}
rmdir {targetdir} /s /q

edit: oh and to restart explorer.exe when you're done i guess ("%windir%\explorer")

this approach is pretty limited but at the same time it can beat installing extra stuff to take care of a simple problem. dunno if that helps

[Jeremy]

If you want to securely delete the file, but its locked, then you can use Unlocker first to unlock the file; then you can wipe it with any of the above programs.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Niiiice!

[Jeremy]

Btw, anyone know of an efficient means of clearing the index.dat files? I've read it cannot be done within Windows, only safe mode?

[Yzöwl]

Thanks for the tips but will any of these work for a file that will not let you delete? "Access denied".

Internet-optimizer - I contacted the company twice - received the same auto response each time - to use the Add/Remove feature. I did but their optimizer.exe file remains and I cannot delete it. They offer no additional support - no phone, nothing.

Please advise.

Thank you - Jane

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No they wont, because that prog is one of the best known pieces of spyware in circulation today. Do a quick Google for

• "Internet Optimizer" spyware
  

and you'll see what I mean.

[Guest ccollomb]

Btw, anyone know of an efficient means of clearing the index.dat files? I've read it cannot be done within Windows, only safe mode?

I have added functionality to the latest version 1.6.3 of Unlocker for that. You can download it on my website: http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/

The lastest version of Unlocker allows to delete index.dat files without rebooting.

I think it is unique since I have not found another program capable of deleting index.dat files without rebooting.

Hope it helps,

Cedrick