File Delete Absolutely

File Delete Absolutely is a lightweight and portable piece of software designed to permanently remove files from the computer, in order to prevent third parties from recovering sensitive data using specialized tools.
It comes packed with an intuitive set of options that can be easily figured out by anyone, even users with little or no previous experience in software applications.

Portability perks

Since installation is not a requirement, you can drop the program files in any part of the hard disk and just click the executable to run.
There is also the option to save File Delete Absolutely to a USB flash disk or similar storage unit, in order to run it on any PC with minimum effort and no previous installers.
What's more, the app does not create new entries in the Windows registry or hard disk, leaving no traces behind after its removal.

Plain and straightforward interface

The app's GUI is clearly outdated. It does not even support the drag-and-drop method. However, it is very simple to work with. Files can be added to the task list using either the file browser or folder view.

View log details

Batch processing is supported, meaning that you can shred multiple items at the same time to reduce overall task duration. Deletion starts with the click of a button. Output details reveal total, finished, remaining and error files, along with the start, end and total time used for each item.

Performance and conclusion

The app does not put a strain on computer performance, as it runs on low CPU and RAM. It carries out shredding jobs swiftly and does not cause Windows to hang, crash or pop up error dialogs (not in our tests, at least).
Although File Delete Absolutely clearly needs a makeover in the visual department, it offers a straightforward solution to permanently remove files beyond recovery, and it does not require previous experience.