Secure erase trash

**dalton** · 09-09-2007, 02:58 AM

hi guys, what's the difference between "empty trash" and "secure empty trash", and which is better to do? ive been erasing all my trash by secure empty trash....

mods please merge this to a similar thread, just in case

thanks

**Sponsor** · 09-09-2007 02:58 AM

**maryannemoll** · 09-09-2007, 03:11 AM

Hi, dalton. With "Empty Trash," every item you send to the Trash will be stored in the Trash until you manually empty the Trash. With "Secure Empty Trash," every item you send to the Trash shall be automatically deleted instead of being temporarily stored in the Trash.

**dalton** · 09-09-2007, 03:23 AM

howdy! maryannemoll, my question is what if the file was already moved to trash?...in finder, there are two options to choose : 1. empty trash 2. secure empty trash.....clicking either will actually erased the files that has been moved to the trash..is there any difference?

**suavecito** · 09-09-2007, 03:31 AM

I'm sorry to correct you Maryanne but what i understand with Secure Empty Trash is that it totally deletes the files stored in your hardisk. What happens when you just use empty trash is that it only deletes ther directory of the file, but not physical file itself, thus the file can or probably can be recovered using some file recovery softwares. In Secure Empty Trash, it deletes the directory and the actual physical file in your hard drive, so it will be deleted forever and you wont be able to recover it since its totally deleted from your hardrive. I hope it sheds a light on this matter.

**dalton** · 09-09-2007, 03:40 AM

hi suavecito, and is it safe to always secure empty trash? does it have a negative effect on my hard drive? hmmmm....just my wild imagination

**maryannemoll** · 09-09-2007, 03:42 AM

Yep, that's more or less it, suavecito. If "Secure Empty Trash" is the setting, then every single item sent to the Trash will be deleted, and it won't be found anymore. If not, every item sent to the Trash will be stored in the Trash until they are manually deleted. Files can be restored back from the Trash manually, too, by dragging them from out of the Trash, if the setting is not on "Secure Empty Trash."

**dalton** · 09-09-2007, 03:49 AM

im confused... are you talking of "move to trash"?...from what i understand "empty trash" deletes files already in the trash...no need to maually delete it...pls enlighten me...

thanks

**suavecito** · 09-09-2007, 03:58 AM

Actually, Secure Empty Trash is also called Zeroing Out Datas, file in your computer stay there even after deletion or reformatting, it will physically stay there although you already deleted it from your system and is only recoverable using certain software and is not 100% guaranteed. It will stay there unless it has been overwritten by new files, or your hardrives been Zero Out. Now Secure Empty Trash does the same thing as Zeroing Out Datas, it would be forever gone because its actual physical file would been wiped out by doing this option.

Now to answer Dalton's question, no it doesnt have a negative effect unless you want to recover a file that's been mistakably deleted. I suggest if you have a top secret file that you want to get rid off, choose secure empty trash when deleting it.

**maryannemoll** · 09-09-2007, 04:03 AM

I was basing my replies on your original question, dalton. You were referring to "Empty Trash" and "Secure Empty Trash," not the action "Move to Trash."

**dalton** · 09-09-2007, 04:14 AM

yes but your definition of "empty trash" seems to me like the action "move to trash"....(With "Empty Trash," every item you send to the Trash will be stored in the Trash until you manually empty the Trash.)....what i know is that "empy trash" already deletes the files and nowhere to be found in the trash bin...