Delete files securely and permanently: SevenErase
Emptying the recycle bin only removes the reference. The data stays on the drive and can be recovered with freely available tools. SevenErase overwrites files, folders and free disk space before removing them, so deleted data cannot be recovered, for example before selling or passing on a PC.
- Files and folders overwritten with random data before deletion
- Wipe free disk space, so previously deleted remnants disappear too
- No installation, no sign-up, no data transfer
- Remove metadata from photos, Office documents and PDFs before you share them
- Deletion report as PDF as proof of what was deleted and when, for example for data protection, with a SevenShield or SevenErase license
- Compare folders by size and date, free of charge. With a license you can also synchronize or mirror them, for example for USB sticks
Windows may show a security notice on first launch because SevenErase is still new. Click “More info” and then “Run anyway” to start it.
- System
- Windows 10 / 11, 64-bit
- Size
- approx. 195 MB, a single .exe
- Requirements
- none, .NET is included
- Language
- German interface
- Price
- deleting and folder comparison are free, no ads. Deletion report as well as synchronizing and mirroring with a license
On SSDs and USB drives, the storage controller distributes writes on its own. Individual old copies therefore cannot be reached in every case. For complete security, store sensitive data encrypted from the start.
That is exactly what SevenShield is for: what was never stored in plain text does not need to be wiped thoroughly later.
SevenErase quick guide
- LaunchDouble-click SevenErase.exe. No installation is needed.
- SelectDrag files or folders into the list, or add them with the buttons on the right.
- ConfigureOne pass (“Durchgänge”: 1) is enough for modern drives. Optionally tick “Danach Freiraum wipen” (wipe free space afterwards).
- DeleteClick “Sicher löschen” (delete securely). Progress is shown in the log at the bottom.
“Freiraum wipen” tab: overwrites the free space of a drive, so files that were deleted normally in the past can no longer be recovered either.
“Papierkorb leeren + Freiraum wipen”: empties the recycle bin and wipes free space in one step, for example before passing on a PC.
Deletion report (PDF): after deleting, SevenErase asks whether to save a report. It lists the deleted files and folders, passes, time and result, and carries a checksum. The “Deletion report (PDF)” button saves it later as well. It documents the process but is not a certification.
Right-click menu: the switch at the bottom left adds “Sicher löschen” directly to the File Explorer context menu.
“Metadaten” tab (metadata): removes hidden details such as author, company or editing data from photos, Word, Excel and PowerPoint files and PDFs. “Anzeigen / Bearbeiten” (view / edit) shows a file’s details.
“Vergleichen” tab (compare): compares two folders by size and modification date and shows what exists on one side only or is newer. Optionally with a content check and a file type filter, for example *.pdf. Comparing is free. With a license, “B auf Stand von A” (bring B up to A, and the other way round) aligns a folder: Update copies missing and newer files and deletes nothing, Mirror makes the target identical to the source. Before it starts you get a summary and a check of the free disk space. Intended for USB sticks and data folders, not for system drives or running databases.
One window only: if SevenErase is already open, starting it again (including via right-click) brings the existing window to the front and adds the selected files to its list.
Frequently asked questions about secure deletion
What really happens when you delete files on Windows, and what to watch out for.
Why are deleted files not really gone?
When you delete normally and empty the recycle bin, Windows only removes the reference to the file. The actual data stays on the drive until it is eventually overwritten. Until then, it can be recovered with freely available recovery tools.
How do I permanently delete files before selling my PC?
Delete the files with SevenErase and then wipe the free disk space so that previously deleted remnants disappear too. If you are passing on the whole PC, the Windows feature “Reset this PC” with the option to clean the drive is also useful.
Is one overwrite pass enough?
For modern hard drives, yes. Multiple passes date back to very old drives. One pass with random data is enough to make the data unrecoverable by software.
Does secure deletion also work on SSDs and USB sticks?
Only to a limited extent. The storage controller distributes writes on its own, so individual old copies cannot always be reached. For sensitive data on SSDs, it is safer to store it encrypted from the start, for example with SevenShield.
What do metadata in documents and photos reveal?
Office files and PDFs often store details such as the author, company name, editing times or earlier file names without you noticing, and photos also store camera data and sometimes the location. The “Metadaten” tab in SevenErase removes these details before you share a file.
Is SevenErase really free?
Yes, for deleting files and folders and wiping free disk space: free, with no ads, no sign-up and no installation. Only the deletion report as a PDF (with export for quality management systems) requires a SevenShield or SevenErase license. SevenErase does not transfer any data.
How do I get a licence for the deletion report?
Send an email to support@sevenshield.de. The SevenErase licence costs €29, one-time (as a small business under § 19 UStG, no VAT is shown). You receive the invoice and a licence file (.lic) by email and load the file in the program. The licence is valid for one computer. The SevenShield licence, which also covers SevenErase, will be available from 18 January 2027.
How can I compare and synchronize two folders or USB sticks?
Open the “Vergleichen” (compare) tab in SevenErase, choose both folders and click compare. The program shows which files exist on one side only or are newer, by size and modification date, optionally with a content check and a file type filter. Comparing is free. With a license you can bring one folder up to the state of the other (update) or mirror it exactly, for example to keep several USB sticks identical. Before mirroring, SevenErase shows a summary and checks the free disk space.
Even safer: never store in plain text
SevenShield encrypts sensitive folders right where they are stored, including file names. What was never on the drive unencrypted does not have to be laboriously deleted later.