Disk will have the same amount of space after free space delete

Discussion in 'backup, imaging & disk mgmt' started by david banner, Mar 4, 2017.

  1. david banner

    david banner Registered Member

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2007
    Posts:
    725
    I want to delete free space on a hard disk and the Paragon GUI says the disk will have the same amount of space after the delete as before. Is that right. Is it because free space is not counted as used space. By free I mean deleted stuff that is deleted by recycle bin and so not really deleted
     
  2. TheRollbackFrog

    TheRollbackFrog Imaging Specialist

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2011
    Posts:
    4,915
    Location:
    The Pond - USA
    David, if the "deleted" stuff you're trying to free up is in the RecycleBin, it can be freed up simply by <right-click>ing your Trash Can and selecting "Empty Recycle Bin"... this will free up any space being held by previously deleted files. At this point, FREE Space is really FREE Space.
     
  3. Minimalist

    Minimalist Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2014
    Posts:
    14,881
    Location:
    Slovenia, EU
    If you are talking about overwriting free space - after overwrite amount of free space will be the same as before.
     
  4. david banner

    david banner Registered Member

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2007
    Posts:
    725
    Minimalist. Yes that is it. Thought so. Thanks
    TheRollbackFrog See my reply to Minimalist .Thanks
     
  5. TairikuOkami

    TairikuOkami Registered Member

    Joined:
    Oct 10, 2005
    Posts:
    3,417
    Location:
    Slovakia
    A simple defrag will do the same, it consolidates free space, so it is also good for privacy, since it will be zeroed.

    Better to run outside of OS though, I boot Windows USB and run CMD from there:

    defrag c: /d /u
     
  6. FanJ

    FanJ Updates Team

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2002
    Posts:
    4,632
    I don't want to hijack the thread but please allow me:
    Isn't there a difference, once the recycle bin has been emptied, between HDD's and SSD's (with TRIM) with respect to overwriting and with respect to defrag?
    I thought overwriting and defrag on a SSD was not recommended cq. needed.
    Or am I now wrong?
     
  7. Minimalist

    Minimalist Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2014
    Posts:
    14,881
    Location:
    Slovenia, EU
    If you have TRIM enabled and working you shouldn't have to overwrite deleted data. I also wouldn't advise you to defrag SSD.
     
  8. Minimalist

    Minimalist Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2014
    Posts:
    14,881
    Location:
    Slovenia, EU
    Wouldn't defrag overwrite previous data only by chance (while moving data to consolidate it)? There could still be deleted data that could be restored from sectors that were not affected by defrager.
     
  9. FanJ

    FanJ Updates Team

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2002
    Posts:
    4,632
    Thanks Minimalist.
     
  10. david banner

    david banner Registered Member

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2007
    Posts:
    725
  11. Minimalist

    Minimalist Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2014
    Posts:
    14,881
    Location:
    Slovenia, EU
    You're welcome.
     
  12. Minimalist

    Minimalist Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2014
    Posts:
    14,881
    Location:
    Slovenia, EU
    Hard to tell from article if those artifacts are really collected from pagefile and hybernation file.
    You can disable hibernation if not needed and set pagefile to be deleted upon system shutdown: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/314834/how-to-clear-the-windows-paging-file-at-shutdown
    You can also use SBIE for browsing and set container on RamDisk.
     
  13. guest

    guest Guest

    You have also the option to encrypt the pagefile:
     
  14. whitestar_999

    whitestar_999 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2010
    Posts:
    156
    If someone is that much knowledgeable that he is using no pagelile/encrypted pagefile/running SBIE in ramdisk then he must also know that it is better to use a live linux system & even then there are ways to investigate depending on how much resources govt is willing to put into the investigation.

    On internet there is no such thing as 100% anonymity/deletion,from hardware at home to servers abroad there is always something.
     
  15. david banner

    david banner Registered Member

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2007
    Posts:
    725
    Is slack space the same as free space? Paragon seems to wipe free space but not slack space
     
  16. TheRollbackFrog

    TheRollbackFrog Imaging Specialist

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2011
    Posts:
    4,915
    Location:
    The Pond - USA
    FREE SPACE usually refers to all disk "clusters" (not blocks) that are currently not allocated for any FileSystem use.

    SLACK SPACE is the space in a disk cluster between the end of the real used content of the cluster and the actual cluster end itself. If the file content ends before the actual end of the allocated cluster, from there to the end of the cluster is SLACK SPACE (it's great for Forensic Analysis).
     
    Last edited: Mar 5, 2017
  17. TheRollbackFrog

    TheRollbackFrog Imaging Specialist

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2011
    Posts:
    4,915
    Location:
    The Pond - USA
    Jetico's BCWIPE does handle Slack Space, I believe... if that's important to you.
     
  18. TheRollbackFrog

    TheRollbackFrog Imaging Specialist

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2011
    Posts:
    4,915
    Location:
    The Pond - USA
    ...but remember, if you start running these Slack Space cleaners, it's almost the same as running defragment processes on your FileSystems... if you run a disk imaging System, it will most likely create massive (well, maybe not massive but, for sure, substantial) changes to your Differential & Incremental images.
     
    Last edited: Mar 5, 2017
  19. david banner

    david banner Registered Member

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2007
    Posts:
    725
    Thanks Rollback. i ran recuva looking for a file i accidently deleted and found 500 files. It seems good housekeeping to get rid of these permanently even though they are not particularly private
     
  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.