How do I delete a Thunderbird. zip file that was created by recuvva?
My Dell computer is over 10 years old and getting ready to be recycled. I have used Thunderbird since 2011 and the issue is a concern to an otherwise outstanding program.
The file recover program RECUVVA created a file of all deleted Thunderbird emails called Thunderbird.ZIP. I have tried several software programs to delete the file (AVG, ERASER, Glary) and none will delete the Thunderbird.ZIP file file.
The file has migrated from the Dell computer to other computers and external drives. I loaded a copy of Thunderbird.ZIP file on a small USB drive and the only way to delete this file was to overwrite the USB drive and then reformat it. I really do not want to reformat several hard drives to remove the Thunderbird.ZIP file.
Chosen solution
If you really need to delete a file use this free utility http://lockhunter.com/ Then there are a slew of programs that will "shred" the file so it cannot be recovered. Wise 360 has a free shredding utility
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How huge is the file? Does Windows give you a specific error message when you try to delete the file?
Thanks for prompt reply.
I just ran Recuva again. The file is called Thunderbird emails.zip and is 44,840KB in size. Several years of deleted Thunderbird emails.
No error message from Windows; however, when I tried (again) to overwrite with Recuva, received the message "Not overwritten - Unable to overwrite special file type."
The last time I deleted the file, I also used CCleaner wipe files, but it did not overwrite the Thunderbird emails.zip file.
Just had a thought....Where is the file? Is it in eg: 'My Documents' or 'Documents' or a folder within either of those. If it is, then move it out of those folders say onto Desktop and then try to delete.
In Thunderbird, compact all your folders to remove traces of old 'marked as deleted' emails because these are the files that are getting copied. Also, empty Junk and Trash and compact those folders as well.
Use 'File ' > 'Compact folders' or Right click on folder to see those options.
this link explains compacting...what it does and why it is important: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Thunderbird_:_Tips_:_Compacting_Folders
Modified by Toad-Hall
Everytime you run Recuva on Thunderbird files, it looks for 'marked as deleted' files in all the various folders and creates the zip file containing those 'marked as deleted' emails. So to stop getting the file, stop running recuva and compact folders in Thunderbird to remove all those unwanted 'marked as deleted' files which are using space in your Profile folders.
If you perform regular backups of your Profile and follow the information at these links, then you are less likely to run into real issues with loss of data. Please pay particular attention to the section 'routine useage' http://kb.mozillazine.org/Keep_it_working_-_Thunderbird
Profile backup info: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_backup
Recuva's page on Thunderbird email recovery has this curious statement:
Note: You cannot securely delete the ZIP file in Step 2 before you recover it. Recuva only creates the ZIP file when you choose to recover the emails.
http://www.piriform.com/docs/recuva/using-recuva/advanced-mode/recovering-deleted-emails
That might mean the file is specially protected from deletion until you take some further step in Recuva, but I didn't dig into the details.
The Recuva website is not helpful in how to delete the zip file that has been created. So far can find nothing from Thunderbird about the hidden file and how to delete and overwrite on C drive or any other drive.
In fact, Recuva recommends the file be created on another drive. This means the C drive that contains the hidden file for Thunderbird and the created zip file can be resolved by compacting Thunderbird. However, there is no guidance on how to delete the Recuva created Z file that is on another drive.
Have uninstalled Thunberbird from the Dell PC before I recyle it, but still no resolution on how to delete and overwrite Thunderbird "hidden" emails on other drives.
Does Piriform offer any support for this? Figuring out how to delete a file their tool created is something that you might not get an answer for here if no one has encountered this before.
If you want to get rid of the computer. If the Recuva file cannot be deleted until it has been used to recover, then use it to empty it. Then uninstall Recuva to stop using it. Then delete emails you do not want, empty the Deleted and Junk folder and then compact all folders. Then if you want to migrate whole profile to another pc - make a backup file of Profile.
If you uninstall Thunderbird, it will uninstall the Thunderbird Program, but it may not have removed your Thunderbird Profile containing emails etc. Make sure this has been fully deleted.
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Thunderbird
If recycling/ selling/trashing the pc, I would recommend that you get everything you require off that pc and then reformat the hardrive.
Appreciate all the helpful comments. Believe I have resolved the problem regarding migration of Thunderbird emails to external hard drives that were connected to the Dell PC that will be recycled.
Found out that Thunderbird profiles and emails were on the external hard drives and that is was Recuva was collecting.
Suggest Thunderbird improve the process for deleting and overwriting emails. The process now requires a delete of the email, empty the trashcan, and then compact the folder. These 3 steps do overwrite the email space on the C drive. Recommend an efficient separate option be added for Thunderbird to delete and overwrite an email in one step.
Chosen Solution
If you really need to delete a file use this free utility http://lockhunter.com/ Then there are a slew of programs that will "shred" the file so it cannot be recovered. Wise 360 has a free shredding utility