I've deleted all files from my SSD, emptied the recycle bin, and even ran the command 'cipher /w:C:', but I'm still seeing thousands of recoverable files when I scan with Disk Drill. I need to completely erase all remnants, including file names, but I can't wipe the drive entirely since it has my company's image with important programs. What are the best steps to ensure that these files are fully removed?
5 Answers
For SSDs, you could always use the TRIM feature. It's typically found in the 'Optimize Drives' section of your File Explorer's tools tab. It helps to clean up the SSD without the need to completely wipe the drive.
You could try using DiskGenius to clean up free space. Just be cautious and maybe do this on a separate OS to avoid any complications with your corporate setup.
Have you tried using the Sdelete utility? If you run it with the -c tag, it'll clean the free space for you. It's a solid option when you want to securely erase remnants.
Another thing to keep in mind is that when you empty the recycle bin, a TRIM operation occurs that takes care of a lot of clean-up. If you're concerned about immediate data security, a secure erase command will wipe everything, but it sounds like that's not ideal for your situation. Also, Disk Drill may only be picking up file table entries, not actual recoverable data.
Filling your SSD with non-sensitive data and then deleting it could help. Just remember, there are parts of the SSD that are inaccessible to users where data can still linger.
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