Browse - Computer Tips - How can I securely wipe the deleted files on my Windows PC?

Date: 2015mar13
OS: Windows
Keywords: Windows, wipe, freespace

Q.  How can I securely wipe the deleted files on my Windows PC?

A.  There is a now a command-line utility that can do that.

cipher /w:X

where X is a drive letter.

It needs to be run as Administrator.
It takes a long time but ever other alternative does too.
Make sure you empty the Recycle Bin before running it.

Cipher's help (cipher /?) says its for NTFS but /w works on FAT32.

CIPHER.EXE is included in XP Professional but not Home Edition.
You can also use BleachBit or CCleaner.