Forum Discussion
OliviaRodriguez
May 12, 2025Iron Contributor
What is the best file shredder for Windows 11 or Windows 10?
My laptop has a lot of important financial sheets, project files as well design prototypes. Now, I am going to donate this Windows 11 laptop to a local church. I heard a factory reset is far from eno...
- Aug 22, 2025
I was in a similar situation when I had to donate my old laptop, and I used Dr.Wiper to securely erase everything. It’s simple to use, and it permanently deletes files, making sure no one can recover anything! Definitely recommend it for peace of mind.
Check this tutorial: https://www.anywinhowtos.com/best-file-shredder
CameronFord
May 12, 2025Iron Contributor
So, you're talking about encrypting the whole drive with BitLocker and then formatting it, plus using a batch script to clear temp files regularly. These are decent methods for protecting data or cleaning up junk, but if you're specifically after the best file shredder for Windows 11/10, there are some downsides to these approaches.
Not foolproof for secure deletion:
- Encrypting the drive with BitLocker is smart for protecting data if someone steals your hardware or gets access, but once you format the drive, the encryption keys are gone, and the data is overwritten or wiped clean, right?
Well, not necessarily. If someone has the right tools and enough time, they might still recover some data from the unallocated space, especially on HDDs, because formatting doesn't always overwrite everything—sometimes it just deletes the file table, leaving the data physically intact until overwritten. - Just formatting a drive, especially quick format, doesn't securely erase data. It just removes the references to files. The underlying data might still be recoverable with advanced data recovery software unless you do a full, multi-pass overwrite, which isn't part of a standard format. What you need is a professional file shredder for Windows 11/10.