how to delete "deleted files"

[edong]

After installing a video editor (Aiseesoft), I set the output destination to a folder in a second partition which is 'D:\Videos.' That folder had plenty of video files. Big mistake. All the files in that folder disappeared.

Using Recuva recovery software, I was able to recover a few files. The others won't play though. Now whenever I do the Search command, the deleted files are listed in the folder 'H/Videos' which seems a virtual drive. From that H drive, I was able to play the files but the files are truncated(cut short). I can even copy them to D:\ Videos and play but they are not complete. No big problem because I have a backup of them but in different and edited format.

My problem is how to permanently delete the deleted files from that H drive. Deleting them from the Search Results only gave a message "nothing to do" and "deleting from archive" which continues endlessly. Not sure if they still occupy hard drive space physically.

Using XP SP3. Thanks.

[ranchhand]

deleted files are listed in the folder 'H/Videos' which seems a virtual drive

I'm not sure how you are set up but as I understand it you have one, single hard drive with two (2) partitions, C and D. Correct me if I am wrong. Now you suddenly have H appearing; in one sentence you call it a folder, in a different sentence you call it a "drive" which means it is a partition. In explore is it listed as a separate partition (even if it is virtual, it still acts as a physical partition)? If you answer is "yes", what happens when you right click once on it in Explore?

[jman98]

Probably not the answer you're looking for but this does work. If you have Unix/Linux skills, you can install the free Cygwin package (http://www.cygwin.org) and open a Bash shell and use good old "rm" to get rid of your files. Anything deleted by "rm" is gone and won't show up in a Recycle Bin.

[nic2k4]

Install Ccleaner, you get new right click menu options to wipe a drive's free space and secure erase the recycle bin.

[gregorySV]

Install Ccleaner, you get new right click menu options to wipe a drive's free space and secure erase the recycle bin.

It's the advanced tool that allows to solve related problems without any hassles. I use it very often.

[peleust]

You can actually search for free File Shredder software. I know there are tons of them around online.

[jollyjohn]

http://www.fileshredder.org/

[Dv8ted2]

I like to use directory snoop. You get 25 free uses.
http://www.briggsoft.com/dsnoop.htm

[ranchhand]

I love these hit & run posters. We try to help them and they don't even bother to reply.

[peleust]

He actually is a member since 2005, I checked his profile. Maybe he just missed this, what I would like to think. But for me, file shredders online(frreeware) are my top choices for this task.