I want to shred files

Just about any of these programs will do a suitable job.

Heck if you want just format, install windows and download huge files till the HD is full. If you are really paranoid just repeat that a few times.

Seriously though, it's not rocketscience. It's just writing nonsense data to the HD.

I haven't used that particular utility but it claims to do what is necessary. The only way to be absolutely sure the files will never be recovered to to over-write the entire disk several times. Norton Utilities used to have a program called "wipdisk" that did the exact same thing - that's what the Federal Government specified for use before they disposed of used PCs.

ok warning nothing will totally erase files to the point where ppl like the FBI cant get then......10lb magnent and a blow torch is the best bet for that lol, but if you reformat about 7 times your HD will be pretty clean, clean enough for what you wanna do it for anyway. Feds use software designed for the purpose fishin they paid alot for it too.

Depends on the format. A repeated format won't help if it's just removing the index.

Wipedisk will work just fine. Just about any of these utilities do.

i keep assuming ppl know these things lmao i should stop doing that and explain more fully.

There are a gazillion "File Shredders" out there, Kev ... lots of 'em are free.
Yahoo! Search: File Shredders. Basically, what a good one does is overwrite the subject file a number of times, rendering it progressively more difficult to recover. Just deleteing a file or folder does nothing but remove its address from the directory; the info is still there untill that portion of the disc is re-used. While not a one-click-fix, a similar effect can be had by repeatedly replacing the data in a file or folder with equivalent-or-greater-sized data, deleting that, and redoing it several times, then finally deleting the file or folder. Most security software is at best able only to keep honest folks honest and make things challenging for dedicated hackers. If your machine came with a manufacturer's Restore Disk, just use that ... it should reformat the drive, re-partition it, and install a virgin OS and just the OEM drivers that came with the machine, return the machine and drive to "New-Out-of-the-Box" configuration. Of course, if you've added drives or cards, you'll have to reload the appropriate drivers and associated software for them, too.

You'd be surprised how limited the FBI's ability is to do stuff like this. There are easier and less expensive ways to get enough data that they don't even have to try this kind of stuff more than a few times a year.

actually I have a friend in the FBI ive seen the software its not limited for recovering data from a HD even if it was the NSA would cover it for them

You're starting to display a bit of paranoia there safecracker!

I've been through the FBI data forensics course, been in there lab several dozen times and worked with them pretty closely while I was in the AF and when I was working for the Secret Service doing credit card and bank fraud investigations.

There are plenty of easier ways to get the data.

yes but sometimes with comp hackers they will take there comps and do data extraction because they think it was them who commited fraud and such......i aint got things to hide...but i didnt work with FBI much at Ft. Benning altho my wifes uncle is a state trooper and has worked with them.

Hey guys lets keep this at my level, I couldn't care less how expert the FBI or Scotland yard is, this is just about me not wanting the guy who lives a couple of hundred yards away from noseying into my affairs thats all.

I'll be back shortly with another question. Thanks each.

O.K. Here goes:

this prog gives me a list of files that I can either delete or leave alone, problem is I dont know what they are, so I dont know where to go from here.

chaos.cfg
control.dll
Express.exe
FileDlg.ocx
help.chm
ichaos.dll
init.dll
language.dll
mkf.dat
uninst.exe
uninst.log
utilities.dll

Since these names mean nothing to me, I really need this to be spelled out slow and clear.

I got a suspicion you're lookin' in the Chaos folder ... don't go deletin' any of those ... see if you can find and open a "Readme" or "Help" file in there somewhere ... learn what ya got there before you go dumpin' anything. And make sure the program has an "Undo" function

Hi Timber,

your'e right the files listed above are from the "chaos prog" looking at the help file it says this:


To permanently delete a file using the CHAOS, follow these steps:

1. Select the files/folders that you want to wipe in the left window.

2. Drag them into the Container.

3. Press the "Delete" button to erase the files permanently

However I wouldn't dare proceed touching any of the above, because as I say I have no idea what they are. Thats the prob.

ichaos.dll.....ya i believe your right tim

OK, kev ... I assume all you really wanna get rid of is your personal stuff. Prolly most of that is gonna be in "My Documents", "My Pictures", or that sort of "User Folder" in which you've saved documents and spreadsheets and the like. You'll want to empty your "Favorites" folder, and the contents of your e-mail client, your profile, and your address books and calendars.

(on my machines, there's a whole slew of "New Folder 1, New Folder 2, New Folder 3 .... New Folder 21 , and a bunch named "Save This" or "Imprtant" or "Do Not Delete" ... I have no idea what's in most of 'em )

Hmmmm .... its been nearly 24 hours since we've heard from kev. I'd say either he accomplished his task to his satisfaction, or he crippled his computer ... wonder which?

I want to shred files
Norton worked fine for me when I wanted to get rid of some personal stuff.

Hi Timber,

Answer to your question is neither as yet, I'm not gonna proceed until I know I'm on solid ground.