Tiger: data recovery after Secure Empty Trash?

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Level 1

8 points

Tiger: data recovery after Secure Empty Trash?

About a week ago, I somehow managed to delete an entire folder full of documents (I think it happened when I angrily clicked one file and it was not showing as selected and I repeatedly pressed Apple key + Del).

In any case, I always use Secure Empty Trash and from what I understand, this makes it impossible to retrieve deleted files, even with third-party recovery software.

I'm bracing myself for the worst, but I figured I'd ask you all before giving up entirely.

Macbook Pro, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Nov 27, 2008 8:28 PM

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Answer 1

Limnos

Level 10

428,159 points

Jan 23, 2011 9:18 AM in response to phytoalexa

Even if you hadn't used secure erase the likelihood of recovering the files is uncertain at best. Once you empty the trash the space used by those files is fair game for other files. The less free space you have on your drive and the more you use your computer in the meantime the less the chance that the files are still there. Now that you've used secure erase, all that Niel describes applies.

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Answer 2

Niel

Level 10

741,881 points

Jan 23, 2011 9:18 AM in response to phytoalexa

The files have been repeatedly overwritten. If they can be recovered, it would require specialized tools and methods such as those used by professional data recovery companies or the CIA.

(38273)

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Answer 3

phytoalexa Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 23, 2011 9:18 AM in response to phytoalexa

I thought just as much.

Oh, well.

Thanks for responding so quickly.

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Answer 4

Limnos

Level 10

428,159 points

Jan 23, 2011 9:18 AM in response to phytoalexa

Sure. Sorry there wasn't a better answer to the problem.

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