Software to Delete Files


TexasBandit

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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
 

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

While running Windows? Whole disk (secure) wipe?
 

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

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Windows 11 Professional 25H2
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Digital Storm VELOX
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Intel Core i9 11900K
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ASUS PRIME Z590-P
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Realtek onboard
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VELOX
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Logitech
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Kensington trackball
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Firefox, Chrome
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Windows Defender, Malwarebytes

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Windows 11AMD Ryzen 7 5700GMicron Technology DDR4-3200 16GBNVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
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Windows 11
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HP Pavilion
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AMD Ryzen 7 5700G
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Erica6
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Micron Technology DDR4-3200 16GB
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NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
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Realtek ALC671
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SAMSUNG MZVLQ1T0HALB-000H1
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.
 

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Windows 11 Pro Version 23H2(OS Build 22631.4890)12-Core AMD Ryzen 9 5900X, 4950 MHz (49.5 x 100)4 - G Skill Trident Z Neo F4-3600C16-16GTZNCPCI Express 4.0 x16: PowerColor RX 6800
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Windows 11 Pro Version 23H2(OS Build 22631.4890)
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AMD
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12-Core AMD Ryzen 9 5900X, 4950 MHz (49.5 x 100)
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Gigabyte X570 Aorus Master
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4 - G Skill Trident Z Neo F4-3600C16-16GTZNC
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PCI Express 4.0 x16: PowerColor RX 6800
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Realtek ALC1220 @ AMD K19.2 - High Definition Audio Controller
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2 - 27 inch Westinghouse
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1920 x 1080
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2 SSD - 2 TB each
1 SSD - 4TB
1 HDD - 2TB
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logitech
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logitech
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1 GB
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Firefox
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Eset Endpoint Security
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.
 

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    Dell Optiplex 7080
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    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
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    DELL 0J37VM
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    #1 Edge #2 Firefox
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    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26200.9445AMD Ryzen 7 6800U32 gbintegrated
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    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26200.9445
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    Beelink Mini PC SER5
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    AMD Ryzen 7 6800U
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    32 gb
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    integrated
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    integrated
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    Benq 27
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    1TB Crucial nvme
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    Logitech wired
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    still too embarrassed to tell
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  • System 3 is non compliant Dell 9020 i7-4770/24gb ram Win11 PRO 26200.9445
.... or Geek Uninstaller.
 

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    ASUS Vivobook
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    AMD Ryzen™ 7 7730U
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    24GB Dual-Channel DDR4 @ 1596MHz (22-22-22-52)
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    45 Watts
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    Lenovo Bluetooth.
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    500 Mbps
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    Edge
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    Windows 11AMD Ryzen 7 5800H / 3.2 GHz32 GB DDR4 SDRAM 3200 MHzNVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6 GB GDDR6 SDRAM
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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?
 

My Computer My Computer

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Windows 11 Proi7-1195G716GB DDR4 512GB SSDIris Xe
OS
Windows 11 Pro
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
HP
CPU
i7-1195G7
Memory
16GB DDR4 512GB SSD
Graphics Card(s)
Iris Xe
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.
 

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    Win 11 Home ♦♦♦26300.9445 ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦26H2
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    Windows XP Pro 32bit w/SP3
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    AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ (OC'd @ 3.2Ghz)
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    WD 36GB 10,000rpm Raptor SATA
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    ZALMAN 9500A 92mm CPU Cooler
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    Logitech Classic Keybooard 200
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    Symantec (Norton)
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    Still assembled, still runs. Haven't turned it on for 15 years?
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.
 

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    UPDATE - 11 April 2026: due to lid hinges starting to break up this laptop has been retired from active duty. The OS with all software and files has been migrated to my System Seven in 'Other systems' to carry on as my general purpose 'main machine'.

    I've now clean installed 25H2 and used Garlin's scripts to update Secure Boot to CA 2023 and revoke the PCA 2011 certificates. It's new role is to test secure boot issues.

    Info for 2021-2026:
    fully 'Windows 11 ready' laptop. Windows 10 C: partition migrated from my old unsupported 'main machine' then upgraded to 11. A test migration ran Insider builds for 2 months. When 11 was released on 5th October 2021 it was re-imaged back to 10 and was offered the upgrade in Windows Update on 20th October. Windows Update offered the 22H2 Feature Update on 20th September 2022. It got the 23H2 Feature Update on 4th November 2023 through Windows Update, 24H2 on 3rd October 2024 through Windows Update by setting the Target Release Version for 24H2, and 25H2 on 30th September 2025 through Windows Update by setting the Target Release Version for 25H2.
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    Dell Latitude E4310
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    Intel® Core™ i5-520M
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    0T6M8G
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    unsupported machine: Legacy bios, MBR, TPM 1.2, upgraded from W10 to W11 using W10/W11 hybrid install media workaround.

    In-place upgrade to 22H2 using ISO and a workaround.
    Feature Update to 23H2 by manually installing the Enablement Package.
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    Upgraded to 25H2 by Enablement Package.

    Also running Insider Experimental 263xx and 29xxx builds and Windows 10 as native boot .vhdx.
  • My SYSTEM THREE is a Dell Latitude 5410, i7-10610U, 32GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro.

    My SYSTEM FOUR was a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e (1st gen) type 20DA, Celeron N2930, 8GB RAM, 256GB ssd. Unsupported device. This has now been sold. It has been replaced by my System Eight.

    My SYSTEM FIVE is a Dell Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Pentium Silver N5030, 8GB RAM, 1TB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro, plus Insider Beta, Experimental 263xx and 29xxx builds (and a few others) as a native boot .vhdx.

    My SYSTEM SIX is a Dell Latitude 5550, Core Ultra 7 165H, 64GB RAM, 1TB NVMe SSD, supported device, Windows 11 Pro, Hyper-V host machine. Updated to 25H2 on 30th September 2025.

    My SYSTEM SEVEN is a Lenovo Thinkpad T580, 1920x1080 touchscreen, Intel Core i7-8650U, 16GB RAM, 512GB NVMe SSD + 2nd 512GB NVMe SSD, a supported device for Windows 11. This is my current general purpose 'main machine'. The installed Windows 11 Home from my System One has been migrated to this machine. As its new home has an existing digital licence for Pro I've been able to upgrade the migrated OS from Home to Pro.

    My SYSTEM EIGHT is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e (5th gen) type 20LN, Celeron N4120, 8GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, a supported device for Windows 11. Currently running Windows 11 Pro, plus Insider Beta, Experimental 263xx and 29xxx builds as native boot vhdx.
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.
 

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Windows 11Ryzen 5600X16GBEVGA GT 710
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
Custom built
CPU
Ryzen 5600X
Motherboard
ASRock Steel Legend
Memory
16GB
Graphics Card(s)
EVGA GT 710
Sound Card
None
Monitor(s) Displays
23",24", 19" - flat panels
Screen Resolution
1920x1200
Hard Drives
None - only M.2 SATA and NVMe drives
PSU
750W
Case
Antec
Cooling
stock Wraith cooler
Keyboard
Corsair gaming
Mouse
Logitech M720
Internet Speed
1Gb
Thanks again for the replies.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11 Proi7-1195G716GB DDR4 512GB SSDIris Xe
OS
Windows 11 Pro
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
HP
CPU
i7-1195G7
Memory
16GB DDR4 512GB SSD
Graphics Card(s)
Iris Xe
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.
 

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Windows 11 Pro Version 23H2(OS Build 22631.4890)12-Core AMD Ryzen 9 5900X, 4950 MHz (49.5 x 100)4 - G Skill Trident Z Neo F4-3600C16-16GTZNCPCI Express 4.0 x16: PowerColor RX 6800
OS
Windows 11 Pro Version 23H2(OS Build 22631.4890)
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
AMD
CPU
12-Core AMD Ryzen 9 5900X, 4950 MHz (49.5 x 100)
Motherboard
Gigabyte X570 Aorus Master
Memory
4 - G Skill Trident Z Neo F4-3600C16-16GTZNC
Graphics Card(s)
PCI Express 4.0 x16: PowerColor RX 6800
Sound Card
Realtek ALC1220 @ AMD K19.2 - High Definition Audio Controller
Monitor(s) Displays
2 - 27 inch Westinghouse
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080
Hard Drives
2 SSD - 2 TB each
1 SSD - 4TB
1 HDD - 2TB
Keyboard
logitech
Mouse
logitech
Internet Speed
1 GB
Browser
Firefox
Antivirus
Eset Endpoint Security
Thank you for the reply imanlien2020. I may never really need it, but it is nice to have in case I do.
 

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Windows 11 Proi7-1195G716GB DDR4 512GB SSDIris Xe
OS
Windows 11 Pro
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
HP
CPU
i7-1195G7
Memory
16GB DDR4 512GB SSD
Graphics Card(s)
Iris Xe
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.
 

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windows 11RYZEN 5 3600 4.2GHzCorsair Vengeance LP 24000C16 3000MHz Dual Ch...GeForce GTX1050
OS
windows 11
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
home built
CPU
RYZEN 5 3600 4.2GHz
Motherboard
MSI B450 TOMAHAWK MAX
Memory
Corsair Vengeance LP 24000C16 3000MHz Dual Channel Kit
Graphics Card(s)
GeForce GTX1050
Monitor(s) Displays
1
Screen Resolution
1920/1080
Hard Drives
970 EVO Plus 250GB M.2 2280 PCI NVME
BarraCuda (ST2000DM008) 3.5 inch
PSU
500W 80 Plus Bronze Power Supply
Cooling
air cooled
Keyboard
cherry
Internet Speed
35d/8u
Browser
firefox, brave, edge
Antivirus
avast
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
 

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Windows 11
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Windows 11
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