Software to Delete Files

TexasBandit · Jun 6, 2022

When I was running Windows 10, I had some software that completely deleted files from all locations. Now, I am on Windows 11 and would like to use it, but I can't remember the name. Can someone please provide some good deleted software?

Thanks

idgat · Jun 6, 2022

Need a bit more context ... "all locations"? ... "completely"?

While running Windows? Whole disk (secure) wipe?

OldMainframeGuy · Jun 6, 2022

BleachBit? It doesn't exactly fit your description but it does delete files.

FreeBooter · Jun 6, 2022

Maybe this is the software you are looking for.

Eraser – Secure Erase Files from Hard Drives

eraser.heidi.ie

imanlien2020 · Jun 6, 2022

But I personally wouldnt use a file deletion app if your using any SSDs. so not a good idea. But that is only my opinion. I let windows delete my files and occasionally will delete them manually, but using the windows Recycle bin.
However if you choose to there is CCleaner, or Eraser as FreeBooter mentioned. There are many other decent deletion softwares out there but those 2 are to me the most common.

glasskuter · Jun 7, 2022

TexasBandit said:
Can someone please provide some good deleted software?

I may be interpreting your request incorrectly, but if you are referring to an uninstaller that will delete a program and clean all the traces it leaves behind, it might have been Revo Uninstaller Free or Iobituninstaller.

Fabler2 · Jun 7, 2022

.... or Geek Uninstaller.

TexasBandit · Jun 7, 2022

Thanks for all the replies folks. Revo is the one I had. But since I do have an SSD, do you think it is better to just let Windows do the uninstall as Imanlien2020 suggested?

Ghot · Jun 7, 2022

TexasBandit said:
Thanks for all the replies folks. Revo is the one I had. But since I do have an SSD, do you think it is better to just let Windows do the uninstall as Imanlien2020 suggested?

No. You can use REVO on an SSD, no problem.
That comment about SSDs was referring to a "file shredder". Different thing entirely.

SSDs have a limit to the number of "writes". A file shredder deletes a file than overwrites it with 1s or 0s.
So every time you shred a file it uses up yet another write.
Every now and then is fine... but doing it all the time will shorten the life of the SSD.

Bree · Jun 7, 2022

TexasBandit said:
Thanks for all the replies folks. Revo is the one I had. But since I do have an SSD, do you think it is better to just let Windows do the uninstall as I@manlien2020 suggested?

As Ghot says, Revo is safe to use on an SSD, it's file shredders that aren't.

Revo uses the standard uninstaller first, then can search for and tidy up any remnants that the uninstaller left behind.

Revo Uninstaller acts as both a replacement and a supplement to the built-in functionality in Windows by first running the built-in uninstaller for the program, and then scanning for leftover data afterwards, making it your best choice when it comes to completely remove stubborn programs, temporary files, and other unnecessary program data that is left behind after the standard uninstall process.

Revo Uninstaller Free

Download Revo Uninstaller Free helps you to uninstall software and remove unwanted programs easily. Remove all uninstall leftovers and traces

www.revouninstaller.com

Mark Phelps · Jun 7, 2022

I don't know about the Iobit app, but I have been using Revo for some time and always found it to work well.

It gives you the option to use the built-in (Windows?) uninstaller first but then, provides an alternative that, in my experience, always finds more files and does a better job.

TexasBandit · Jun 7, 2022

Thanks again for the replies.

imanlien2020 · Jun 8, 2022

Ghot said:
No. You can use REVO on an SSD, no problem.
That comment about SSDs was referring to a "file shredder". Different thing entirely.

SSDs have a limit to the number of "writes". A file shredder deletes a file than overwrites it with 1s or 0s.
So every time you shred a file it uses up yet another write.
Every now and then is fine... but doing it all the time will shorten the life of the SSD.

that was what i meant to say. But continuously deleting files shortens the SSDs life. But see the problem with just common DELETE versus Shredding so its unrecoverable are 2 different aspects of what someone needs. If you want to destroy evidence then simply deleting a file is useless, you would have to shred it and overwrite it a few if not many times over. but yes you summed it up perfectly thanks.

TexasBandit · Jun 8, 2022

Thank you for the reply imanlien2020. I may never really need it, but it is nice to have in case I do.

crancat · Jun 8, 2022

IMHO Bulk Crap is the best I ever used

Bulk Crap Uninstaller - Remove large amounts of unwanted applications

Bulk Crap Uninstaller (BCUninstaller, BCU) is a free, open source program manager. It excels at removing large amounts of applications with minimal user input.

www.bcuninstaller.com

john errington · Jun 9, 2022

TexasBandit said:
completely deleted files from all locations

It depends how securely you want to do the deletion. Formatting the drive will delete files from all locations.
Shift-del will delete files or folders without using the recycle bin.
There are several windows strategies for deleting locked files or folders, but I'd just do that from a linux live boot.
For "perfect security" take the drive out and destroy it.

crancat · Jun 9, 2022

I'm still not getting the real aim of this topic (wipe, delete, shred or uninstall) revo has also other features as wipe, same as ccleaner
however, worth to mention all of these piece of software are ALL very useful, thanks