Hey everyone, I downloaded an image on my school computer (pretty sure it’s Windows 10), and now I want it gone for good. I deleted it and even emptied the recycle bin, but I feel like it might still be recoverable.
Is there any way to delete it permanently so that even if someone uses recovery software, they can’t get it back? Preferably without downloading any extra apps since it’s a school computer. Any tips would be really helpful. Thanks in advance!
If you’ve already deleted it from the recycle bin, it’s not easily recoverable. To get it back, someone would need special software like Recuva or a professional data recovery service, and that’s unlikely unless there’s a big reason to dig for it.
If you’re worried, here’s a trick that might help (not guaranteed): Remember where the file was? Open Paint, make random doodles, save them in the same folder the file was in, then delete those. Empty the bin again. This might overwrite the old file.
But honestly, no one is likely to bother recovering it unless there’s a major reason.
@AstroCipher3
I don’t know much about computers, but I feel like if someone uses a professional recovery tool, they could find it.
Is there a way to make sure it’s gone even if they use recovery software? And what if I don’t remember where it was saved?
Is there a way to make sure it’s gone even if they use recovery software?
Not without extra software, an internet connection, or physically destroying the computer’s hard drive. Windows only lets you delete it from the recycle bin. Even recovery tools like Recuva can’t always recover files completely after that. Over time, as the computer is used, the space the file took up gets overwritten, making recovery even harder.
What if I don’t remember where it was saved?
You can still try the Paint method or create random text files and save them in any folder. The idea is to overwrite the space, but it’s not foolproof.
@AstroCipher3
What can I do if I do have an internet connection? Does extra software cost money? And what does ‘physically shredding the hard drive’ mean?
kaiserdon said:
@AstroCipher3
What can I do if I do have an internet connection? Does extra software cost money? And what does ‘physically shredding the hard drive’ mean?
You’re overthinking this. Unless you give the school a serious reason to dig into your computer, no one is going to find that file. Just use the computer normally, and over time the file will be overwritten and practically unrecoverable.
What does ‘physically shredding the hard drive’ mean?
It means opening the computer, taking out the hard drive, and destroying it. Definitely not something you’d do for a school computer.
@kaiserdon
You’re worrying about the wrong thing. Ask yourself—why would the school spend the time and money to recover this specific image? Is it even worth their effort?
Bailey said:
@kaiserdon
You’re worrying about the wrong thing. Ask yourself—why would the school spend the time and money to recover this specific image? Is it even worth their effort?
No, there’s no real reason, but I just don’t want anyone to see it—no matter what software they use. I’d feel better if I knew it couldn’t be recovered at all.
@kaiserdon
Others have already given you good answers. But really, unless you’ve done something to make them investigate this specific computer, no one will ever find it. And as the computer gets used, it becomes even less likely.
@Bailey
Okay, thanks for the advice.
@Bailey
Do you have any other tips or personal tricks?
kaiserdon said:
@Bailey
Do you have any other tips or personal tricks?
The only way to be 100% sure is to physically destroy the hard drive. Big companies like Google have special machines to shred their old drives for this reason.
kaiserdon said:
@Bailey
Do you have any other tips or personal tricks?
If you want, you can save a big file (like a Paint image) repeatedly in the same spot where the photo was saved. This might overwrite the space, but it’s still not a guarantee.
@AstroCipher3
If the image was saved in a default folder like Pictures and synced with OneDrive, it could still exist in the OneDrive recycle bin for 30 days. Check that just to be sure.
Don’t download weird stuff on school computers, kids.
Ashwin said:
Don’t download weird stuff on school computers, kids.
Ew, that’s not what happened 
Ashwin said:
Don’t download weird stuff on school computers, kids.
Ew, that’s not what happened
Yeah, sure, whatever you say. 
Once it’s deleted from the recycle bin, the operating system thinks the space is free and allows other files to overwrite it. Recovery software can sometimes find it, but the longer the PC is used, the less likely recovery becomes.
@Corwin
So you’re saying it’s impossible to fully delete it and make it unrecoverable?
kaiserdon said:
@Corwin
So you’re saying it’s impossible to fully delete it and make it unrecoverable?
Pretty much. But recovering a single image isn’t easy or likely unless someone goes out of their way.