Erasing Files

Erasing files is a multi-step process. This is so you do not accidentally erase the wrong file.

The first step is to move the file(s) to the Recycle Bin, located on the Desktop. The Recycle Bin is really just a folder. When you throw a file into the Recycle Bin, it is not erased. Files will stay there until you erase them; that is the next step.

To really get rid of a file, you must Empty the Recycle Bin. You can do this by right-clicking on the Recycle Bin and selecting "Empty Recycle Bin." When you do this, the files will be erased.

It is a good idea to erase unused or unwanted files. That will prevent your computer from becoming cluttered, and will free up space on your storage in case it gets full.

Actually, the files are not really erased. In truth, the files are still there, on the storage device. What really happened is that your computer erased its knowledge of the location of the files, and so sees that part of the storage as "empty." However, the data for the file is still there on the storage device. With special software, you could still go back and get the files.

So when do the files really get erased? that happens when the computer, by chance, saves new files in the same location that the old ones were saved at. When that is done, the old files are truly, completely, erased.

Some computers allow you to do a "super erase." This special erase action will not just erase the knowledge of the location of the files. It will actually write blank information on top of the old location of the files. In fact, some kinds of "super erase" will write over the erased location many times, just in case. This is done for security reasons, so no one can retrieve the data and steal it.

Backing Up Data

Backing up data is an excellent idea. No storage device is 100% safe, and there is always the risk that your files could be lost! Therefore, it is a good idea to back up the data somewhere.

Perhaps the best device for that today is DVD-R. If your computer has an optical "super drive," you can save backup data easily. You can buy an external DVD±R drive for about ¥12,000, and DVD-R discs, in packages of 10 or more, cost only about ¥100 each. One DVD-R disc can hold more than 4 GB of data.

CD-Rs can also be used, but since they only save about 700 MB of data each (at about ¥30 per disc), they are not as convenient. If you want a easier and faster way to back up data, you can use an external hard drive, though they are more expensive.