Emptying recycle bin


Lawnmower74

Well-known member
Local time
11:09 PM
Posts
14
OS
Win11pro
If I change recycle bin properties from custom size to dont move files to recycle bin where do they go are they completely removed from PC or do they go into some hidden folder
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win11pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Latitude 7290
If I change recycle bin properties from custom size to dont move files to recycle bin where do they go are they completely removed from PC or do they go into some hidden folder
Without the recycle bin the files are permanently deleted, so having the bin is a way to prevent accidental deletion of important files
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 (RP channel)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    MSI
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D 8-core
    Motherboard
    MEG X870E Godlike
    Memory
    64GB Corsair Titanium 6000/CL30
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI Suprim X 3080 Ti
    Sound Card
    Soundblaster AE-5 Plus
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS TUF Gaming VG289Q
    Screen Resolution
    3840x2160
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 990 Pro 2TB
    Samsung 980 Pro 2TB
    Samsung 970 Evo Plus 1TB
    Samsung 870 Evo 4TB
    Samsung T7 Touch 1TB
    PSU
    Seasonic PX-2200
    Case
    Bequiet! Dark Base Pro 901
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15S
    Keyboard
    Logitech G915 X (wired)
    Mouse
    Logitech G903 with PowerPlay charger
    Internet Speed
    900Mb/sec
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
are they completely removed from PC
As @BrianInEngland says they are permanently deleted and should be treated as such.

The only caveat I would add is that the files are still recoverable after deletion (using software designed for such purposes) providing that no other data has overwritten the disk clusters used by the deleted files after the files were deleted.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP EliteDesk 705 G5
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 5 Pro 3400GE
    Memory
    8GB DDR4 SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated AMD Radeon Vega 11
    Hard Drives
    256 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    DELL Inspiron 15-3576
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-8250U
    Memory
    8 GB DDR4 - 2400 SODIMM
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel UHD Graphics 620
    Hard Drives
    256GB SK Hynix SC311 SATA SSD
As @BrianInEngland says they are permanently deleted and should be treated as such.

The only caveat I would add is that the files are still recoverable after deletion (using software designed for such purposes) providing that no other data has overwritten the disk clusters used by the deleted files after the files were deleted.
That's not always the case. I have had files that were accidentally deleted and were unrecoverable. My recovery programs were already installed and my trying to undelete them was the very first thing I did.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Canary Channel
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    PowerSpec B746
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-10700K
    Motherboard
    ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4/ax
    Memory
    16GB (8GB PC4-19200 DDR4 SDRAM x2)
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 TI
    Sound Card
    Realtek Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SAM0A87 Samsung SAM0D32
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    NVMe WDC WDS100T2B0C-00PXH0 1TB
    Samsung SSD 860 EVO 1TB
    PSU
    750 Watts (62.5A)
    Case
    PowerSpec/Lian Li ATX 205
    Keyboard
    Logitech K270
    Mouse
    Logitech M185
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge and Firefox
    Antivirus
    ESET Internet Security
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Canary Channel
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    PowerSpec G156
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-8400 CPU @ 2.80GHz
    Motherboard
    AsusTeK Prime B360M-S
    Memory
    16 MB DDR 4-2666
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Speptre HDMI 75Hz
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 970 EVO 500GB NVMe
    Mouse
    Logitek M185
    Keyboard
    Logitek K270
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge and Edge Canary
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
That's not always the case.
Perhaps I should have said 'may be recoverable" instead of "are still recoverable". Another caveat. :-)
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP EliteDesk 705 G5
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 5 Pro 3400GE
    Memory
    8GB DDR4 SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated AMD Radeon Vega 11
    Hard Drives
    256 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    DELL Inspiron 15-3576
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-8250U
    Memory
    8 GB DDR4 - 2400 SODIMM
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel UHD Graphics 620
    Hard Drives
    256GB SK Hynix SC311 SATA SSD
But fact is, that deleted files stay on your 'disk' (either HDD or SSD) until they are overwritten. Even if you yourself did not manage to retreive them by some program, they (indeed) may still exist on the drive. That is not bad as long as you are using that drive, but if ever you are disposing the device (or in case of portable devices they are stolen or lost), someone else who has the right software could under circumstances reach data that you would not like they can see.

That's why I always destruct my drives mechanically before I dispose them. Hard drives I take apart and put some deep scratches on the disk surfaces. SSD-pcbs are crushed between a vice...

And data on portable devices should always be encoded in some way!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.4751
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Build by vendor to my specs
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 5700G
    Motherboard
    MSI PRO B550M-P Gen3
    Memory
    Kingston FURY Beast 2x16GB DIMM DDR4 2666 CL16
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI GeForce GT 730 2GB LP V1
    Sound Card
    Creative Sound Blaster Audigy FX
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung S24E450F 24"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    1. SSD Crucial P5 Plus 500GB PCIe M.2
    2. SSD-SATA Crucial MX500-2TB
    PSU
    Corsair CV650W
    Case
    Cooler Master Silencio S400
    Cooling
    Cooler Master Hyper H412R with Be Quiet Pure Wings 2 PWM BL038 fan
    Keyboard
    Cherry Stream (wired, scissor keys)
    Mouse
    Asus WT465 (wireless)
    Internet Speed
    70 Mbps down / 80 Mbps up
    Browser
    Firefox 130.0
    Antivirus
    F-secure via Internet provider
    Other Info
    Router: FRITZBox 7490
    Oracle VirtualBox 7 for testing software on Win 10 or 11
That's why I always destruct my drives mechanically before I dispose them.
Yes, that's what I do. A big hammer and chisel works.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP EliteDesk 705 G5
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 5 Pro 3400GE
    Memory
    8GB DDR4 SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated AMD Radeon Vega 11
    Hard Drives
    256 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    DELL Inspiron 15-3576
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-8250U
    Memory
    8 GB DDR4 - 2400 SODIMM
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel UHD Graphics 620
    Hard Drives
    256GB SK Hynix SC311 SATA SSD
But fact is, that deleted files stay on your 'disk' (either HDD or SSD) until they are overwritten. Even if you yourself did not manage to retreive them by some program, they (indeed) may still exist on the drive. That is not bad as long as you are using that drive, but if ever you are disposing the device (or in case of portable devices they are stolen or lost), someone else who has the right software could under circumstances reach data that you would not like they can see.

That's why I always destruct my drives mechanically before I dispose them. Hard drives I take apart and put some deep scratches on the disk surfaces. SSD-pcbs are crushed between a vice...

And data on portable devices should always be encoded in some way!
I'm not that paranoid, if I'm selling a used SSD I just run the Samsung secure erase or similar before removal
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 (RP channel)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    MSI
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D 8-core
    Motherboard
    MEG X870E Godlike
    Memory
    64GB Corsair Titanium 6000/CL30
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI Suprim X 3080 Ti
    Sound Card
    Soundblaster AE-5 Plus
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS TUF Gaming VG289Q
    Screen Resolution
    3840x2160
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 990 Pro 2TB
    Samsung 980 Pro 2TB
    Samsung 970 Evo Plus 1TB
    Samsung 870 Evo 4TB
    Samsung T7 Touch 1TB
    PSU
    Seasonic PX-2200
    Case
    Bequiet! Dark Base Pro 901
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15S
    Keyboard
    Logitech G915 X (wired)
    Mouse
    Logitech G903 with PowerPlay charger
    Internet Speed
    900Mb/sec
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
Yes, that's what I do. A big hammer and chisel works.
Or a big ass magnet if you fancy spicing things up! Ofc only work for HD not ssds etc
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    10700k@5.2
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Gaming X Z490
    Memory
    Viper Steelseries 32gb@ 3600mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte 2070 Super 8GB, +200 core + 600 memory
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS 4k HDR, Two 1080p Benq and Samsung
    Screen Resolution
    3840x2160/2560x1440/1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Adata XPG SX8200 PRO 1tb
    Samsung EVO 870 500GB
    PSU
    Corsair RX 650
    Case
    NZXT h510
    Cooling
    CM HYPER 212 RGB
    Keyboard
    Razer Ornata Chroma
    Mouse
    Steelseries Rival 710
I'm not that paranoid
I never sell old drives, as for me they are not worth the trouble posting an advertisement. I often just store them for 'just in case that'.
I don't erase them either, because it simply takes too much time. I just write a note on it what's on it for possible future use.

But at the time I decide to clean my storage room, they are old, often very old and their capacity not anymore usable. Example: SSD drive 128 GByte, used in a PC from 2013 until 2020. Not worth the trouble selling it. Could erase it, but that demands to put the drive into a working PC and connect it to the motherboard. Why would I do that, if I just can crush the PCB in a vice? I am sure it is not paranoid do that, because I know where they are disassembled often if recycled and I don't trust those places! Better safe then sorry.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.4751
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Build by vendor to my specs
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 5700G
    Motherboard
    MSI PRO B550M-P Gen3
    Memory
    Kingston FURY Beast 2x16GB DIMM DDR4 2666 CL16
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI GeForce GT 730 2GB LP V1
    Sound Card
    Creative Sound Blaster Audigy FX
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung S24E450F 24"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    1. SSD Crucial P5 Plus 500GB PCIe M.2
    2. SSD-SATA Crucial MX500-2TB
    PSU
    Corsair CV650W
    Case
    Cooler Master Silencio S400
    Cooling
    Cooler Master Hyper H412R with Be Quiet Pure Wings 2 PWM BL038 fan
    Keyboard
    Cherry Stream (wired, scissor keys)
    Mouse
    Asus WT465 (wireless)
    Internet Speed
    70 Mbps down / 80 Mbps up
    Browser
    Firefox 130.0
    Antivirus
    F-secure via Internet provider
    Other Info
    Router: FRITZBox 7490
    Oracle VirtualBox 7 for testing software on Win 10 or 11
I never sell old drives, as for me they are not worth the trouble posting an advertisement. I often just store them for 'just in case that'.
I don't erase them either, because it simply takes too much time. I just write a note on it what's on it for possible future use.

But at the time I decide to clean my storage room, they are old, often very old and their capacity not anymore usable. Example: SSD drive 128 GByte, used in a PC from 2013 until 2020. Not worth the trouble selling it. Could erase it, but that demands to put the drive into a working PC and connect it to the motherboard. Why would I do that, if I just can crush the PCB in a vice? I am sure it is not paranoid do that, because I know where they are disassembled often if recycled and I don't trust those places! Better safe then sorry.
100% agree, im in one of those lucky camps where, you could steal everything from my pc right now, and i wouldnt really lose much other than some game installs and stuff lol! Guess i aint got important shiz like some people on they're pcs! Guess i aint important enough haha!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    10700k@5.2
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Gaming X Z490
    Memory
    Viper Steelseries 32gb@ 3600mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte 2070 Super 8GB, +200 core + 600 memory
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS 4k HDR, Two 1080p Benq and Samsung
    Screen Resolution
    3840x2160/2560x1440/1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Adata XPG SX8200 PRO 1tb
    Samsung EVO 870 500GB
    PSU
    Corsair RX 650
    Case
    NZXT h510
    Cooling
    CM HYPER 212 RGB
    Keyboard
    Razer Ornata Chroma
    Mouse
    Steelseries Rival 710
I have seen reportages where old PCs were taken apart in 'recyling' centres somewhere in the 'third world' (don't want to mention the country here). There they put the drives that they took out in a working PC and read all available data out. Especially e-mails were interesting as well as name lists / family overviews. With those data they started chats, emails or telephonecalls to family members to tell them stories about (for example) children having troubles abroad and needing money. They really were proud about the results they had, not even trying to hide themselves behind faded faces or something like that. Why should they, they are almost uncatchable in those countries!

That did confirm the need for erasing your data (which I already did before) on computers you don't use anymore and bring to the recycling station, even if that data does not seem to contain very important facts!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.4751
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Build by vendor to my specs
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 5700G
    Motherboard
    MSI PRO B550M-P Gen3
    Memory
    Kingston FURY Beast 2x16GB DIMM DDR4 2666 CL16
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI GeForce GT 730 2GB LP V1
    Sound Card
    Creative Sound Blaster Audigy FX
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung S24E450F 24"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    1. SSD Crucial P5 Plus 500GB PCIe M.2
    2. SSD-SATA Crucial MX500-2TB
    PSU
    Corsair CV650W
    Case
    Cooler Master Silencio S400
    Cooling
    Cooler Master Hyper H412R with Be Quiet Pure Wings 2 PWM BL038 fan
    Keyboard
    Cherry Stream (wired, scissor keys)
    Mouse
    Asus WT465 (wireless)
    Internet Speed
    70 Mbps down / 80 Mbps up
    Browser
    Firefox 130.0
    Antivirus
    F-secure via Internet provider
    Other Info
    Router: FRITZBox 7490
    Oracle VirtualBox 7 for testing software on Win 10 or 11
I have seen reportages where old PCs were taken apart in 'recyling' centres somewhere in the 'third world' (don't want to mention the country here). There they put the drives that they took out in a working PC and read all available data out. Especially e-mails were interesting as well as name lists / family overviews. With those data they started chats, emails or telephonecalls to family members to tell them stories about (for example) children having troubles abroad and needing money. They really were proud about the results they had, not even trying to hide themselves behind faded faces or something like that. Why should they, they are almost uncatchable in those countries!

That did confirm the need for erasing your data (which I already did before) on computers you don't use anymore and bring to the recycling station, even if that data does not seem to contain very important facts!
ive never threw away any parts of pc's before, i did however smash a laptop into about 83823494 pieces, the hard drive was a good few of those pieces, then it got tossed right in the bin
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    10700k@5.2
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Gaming X Z490
    Memory
    Viper Steelseries 32gb@ 3600mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte 2070 Super 8GB, +200 core + 600 memory
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS 4k HDR, Two 1080p Benq and Samsung
    Screen Resolution
    3840x2160/2560x1440/1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Adata XPG SX8200 PRO 1tb
    Samsung EVO 870 500GB
    PSU
    Corsair RX 650
    Case
    NZXT h510
    Cooling
    CM HYPER 212 RGB
    Keyboard
    Razer Ornata Chroma
    Mouse
    Steelseries Rival 710
about 83823494 pieces
83823494 is a precise number? It seems like you counted the pieces so the 'about' doesn't seem to fit? Just joking.
:-)
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP EliteDesk 705 G5
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 5 Pro 3400GE
    Memory
    8GB DDR4 SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated AMD Radeon Vega 11
    Hard Drives
    256 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    DELL Inspiron 15-3576
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-8250U
    Memory
    8 GB DDR4 - 2400 SODIMM
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel UHD Graphics 620
    Hard Drives
    256GB SK Hynix SC311 SATA SSD
83823494 is a precise number? It seems like you counted the pieces so the 'about' doesn't seem to fit? Just joking.
:-)
Its about as i may have lost a couple when counting em all out D: Weirder thing is...it took me 8382349 to count out how many i had!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    10700k@5.2
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Gaming X Z490
    Memory
    Viper Steelseries 32gb@ 3600mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte 2070 Super 8GB, +200 core + 600 memory
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS 4k HDR, Two 1080p Benq and Samsung
    Screen Resolution
    3840x2160/2560x1440/1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Adata XPG SX8200 PRO 1tb
    Samsung EVO 870 500GB
    PSU
    Corsair RX 650
    Case
    NZXT h510
    Cooling
    CM HYPER 212 RGB
    Keyboard
    Razer Ornata Chroma
    Mouse
    Steelseries Rival 710

Latest Support Threads

Back
Top Bottom