Emptied the Recycle Bin but know the files could still be recovered? Prevent Restore fills the free space of a chosen disk with random data, including internal drives and external storage such as flash drives, to make old data harder to recover.
How does the free-space wipe work?
Deleting a file in Windows usually removes its directory entry without immediately clearing the contents from the disk. Prevent Restore fills free space with new data, replacing content left behind by deleted files. It also removes deleted records from the Master File Table (MFT), which tracks file information on Windows volumes.
The operation applies to already-deleted data across the selected drive; it does not target a particular existing file.
Drive coverage and overwrite cycles
Both built-in disks and plug-in drives such as USB sticks can be wiped. It supports more than one overwrite cycle, so the free-space operation can be repeated on the same target. Additional cycles take more time to complete.
- Choose the disk whose deleted data needs to be cleared.
- Run the free-space wipe; repeating the overwrite adds another cycle.
Protecting data before a drive changes hands
A free-space wipe is relevant before passing an external drive or computer to someone else, since previously deleted files may otherwise remain recoverable. The process works on the drive’s available space, so it is intended for data that has already been deleted—not for securely erasing a currently stored file by itself.
Pros
- Overwrites free space with random data
- Can process internal and external drives
- Removes records of deleted files from the MFT
- Supports multiple overwrite cycles
Does Prevent Restore erase files that are still on the drive?
No. It overwrites free space to clear remnants of files that have already been deleted.
Can it wipe an external flash drive?
Yes. It supports external drives, including flash drives.
What does an additional overwrite cycle do?
It repeats the free-space overwrite process on the selected drive.