deleted files

Are Deleted Emails Really Deleted?

Deleted an email and think it’s gone forever? I’ll explain what “delete” really means in webmail and desktop programs, why trash folders and database files can leave messages recoverable, how backups and even court orders can bring them back, and the inconvenient fact that the other person may still have a copy.

How Do You Delete Things from the Internet?

We say the internet is forever. We also say that once you delete something, it’s gone. Both are true, and usually at the worst possible moment. I’ll describe why deleting rarely removes every copy, why you still can’t get those copies back, and two simple habits that protect you.

I Deleted a File by Mistake. Can I Get It Back?

Sometimes, it is possible to recover a file deleted by accident. Stop using the disk, check your Recycle Bin, and perhaps pull out an undelete utility.

Where Did these Oddly-named Folders Come From, and How Do I Get Rid of Them?

Windows programs often make these oddly named files as part of their setup process. You’ll have to make sure they are not being used to delete them.

What Does It Mean When My Email Program Asks If It Should Compact My Email?

Compacting should be completely transparent. It makes files smaller and potentially makes access of email a little faster. There is one dramatic exception.