Windows 7: Cipher Command - Overwrite Deleted Data in Windows

The Windows cipher command line tool is predominantly used to manage the encryption status of NTFS volumes. A lesser known function of this command is the ability to securely overwrite free disk space.

Files deleted on a volume are only marked for deletion and can still be recovered. By using the cipher command, the free space occupied by the deleted files are securely overwritten resulting in a more secure system in which the previously deleted files cannot be recovered.

The advantage of using the cipher command is that it ONLY overwrites free disk space - the remainder of the volume is untouched. The cipher command can be run from a booted system without the need to dismount volumes/partitions/disks, or to resort to more complex tools.

This tutorial will show you how to securely wipe or overwrite free disk space on any partition or disk using the inbuilt cipher command in Windows.