# ⚡ Speed Delete

Delete files and folders at lightning speed.

No Recycle Bin. No waiting. Just instant results.

## 1 What Speed Delete Is Really About

Speed Delete is built for people who hate waiting.

Windows Explorer struggles when deleting:

- Large folders
- Deep directory trees
- Thousands of small files
- Developer folders like `node_modules`
- Long paths and nested builds

Speed Delete skips Explorer's overhead and deletes directly.

#### Where Speed Delete Shines

- `node_modules`, build, dist, and cache folders
- Logs and temp directories
- Large project cleanups
- Old CCTV and security camera footage
- Large backup archives you no longer need
- Accumulated download folders
- Outdated VM snapshots and disk images
- Repeated daily deletions

Security is powerful.
Speed is the reason you open the app.

## 2 Getting Started

Speed Delete is a portable, zero-footprint utility.

- No installer
- No background services
- No admin rights required (for files you own)

### Quick Start

Download `SpeedDelete.exe`
Double-click to launch instantly
Drag and drop files or folders (or click Browse)
Click DELETE
Done! ✓

For most large folders, deletions complete in seconds, depending on disk speed and file count.

## 3 Deletion Modes

### ⚡ Fast Delete (FREE) — Built for Speed

Fast Delete is optimized for maximum throughput.

It bypasses:

- Recycle Bin indexing
- Explorer confirmation chains
- Shell extensions
- "Calculating…" delays

#### What This Means

- Massive folders disappear almost instantly
- No frozen Explorer windows
- No progress bar stuck at 99%

#### Best For

- Everyday cleanup
- Development folders
- Temporary files
- High-volume deletions

💡 Good to Know
Fast Delete has zero impact on SSD health.

### 🛡️ Forensic Removal (PRO) — Speed with Security

Forensic Removal is for when deletion must also be irreversible.

It performs a multi-pass overwrite before deletion.

#### The 3-Pass Overwrite

1. Random data
2. Zeros (0x00)
3. Ones (0xFF)
4. Then delete

Forensic Removal overwrites file contents and then removes file system references. Where possible, it also reduces or obfuscates residual metadata (such as filenames and timestamps), further limiting what can be reconstructed.

Designed so data cannot be recovered using commercially available recovery tools or typical forensic methods.

💡 Pause/Stop During Forensic
To prevent data corruption, Speed Delete will finish overwriting the current file before pausing or stopping. Once overwriting begins on a file, that file's original data is destroyed—even if you stop immediately after.
⚠️ For Maximum Security
For extremely sensitive scenarios, combine Forensic Removal with full-disk encryption and proper device retirement policies.

## 4 Pause & Stop Controls (PRO)

PRO users have full control over the deletion process.

⚡ FREE vs PRO
FREE version runs at maximum speed with real-time progress tracking. PRO adds control without any slowdown—pause, resume, and stop safely whenever you need.

### ⏸ Pause

Temporarily halt deletion at any time. The process freezes instantly.

- Already deleted files remain deleted
- Remaining files are untouched
- Resume to continue from exactly where you paused
- Resume is instant—no restart, no rebuild

### ⏹ Stop

Cancel the deletion entirely. Remaining files are saved.

- Deleted: Files already removed are gone (cannot recover)
- Remaining: Files not yet processed are saved

⚠️ Forensic Mode Behavior

During Forensic Removal, pause and stop will wait for the current file to finish its secure overwrite before halting. This prevents data corruption.

Important: Once a file starts being overwritten—even 0.01%—the original data is destroyed. Large files (videos, archives) cannot be recovered once forensic overwriting begins, even if you stop immediately.

💡 Use at Your Own Risk
Speed Delete permanently destroys data. Always verify the path before deleting. There is no undo. The software assumes no liability for accidental deletions.

## 4 Why Speed Delete Is Faster Than Explorer

Windows Explorer is designed to be safe and generic.
Speed Delete is designed to be fast and intentional.

### ⌨️ Speed Delete vs Shift+Delete

`Shift+Delete` skips the Recycle Bin but still routes through Explorer and the standard delete pipeline, which triggers UI updates, shell extensions, and background indexing.

Speed Delete uses a streamlined deletion path to minimize Explorer overhead and shell notifications — which is why it feels faster and avoids "frozen" Explorer windows.

### Speed Advantages

- Direct filesystem calls
- No Explorer UI overhead
- No shell extensions blocking progress
- Smart queue consolidation
- Long-path aware deletion

### 🚀 Beyond the 260-Character Limit

Explorer often fails on deeply nested paths due to Windows' traditional MAX_PATH limit.

Speed Delete uses long-path aware APIs, allowing it to delete folders Explorer cannot even open.

### Storage Performance

Storage Type | Performance | What to Expect
--- | --- | ---
NVMe SSD | ⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡ | Near-instant, even for very large folders
SATA SSD | ⚡⚡⚡⚡ | Extremely fast and responsive
HDD 7200rpm | ⚡⚡⚡ | Strong performance for large files
HDD 5400rpm | ⚡⚡ | Noticeably faster than Explorer
USB 3.x | ⚡⚡⚡ | Excellent external performance
USB 2.0 | ⚡⚡ | Still outperforms Explorer
Network | ⚡⚡ | Depends on connection speed

Even on older drives, Speed Delete consistently outperforms Windows Explorer by avoiding UI and Recycle Bin overhead.

## 6 Smart Queueing (PRO)

Speed Delete doesn't blindly delete every selection.

If you select:

- A folder
- And files inside that same folder

Speed Delete automatically consolidates them into one operation.

#### Why This Matters

- Fewer filesystem checks
- No redundant deletes
- Faster completion
- Cleaner history logs

💡 Why Multi-Select is PRO
It's not just more convenient — it's smarter and faster.

## 7 FREE vs PRO

Feature | FREE | PRO
--- | --- | ---
Lightning-fast delete engine | ✓ | ✓
Single item delete | ✓ | ✓
Drag & drop (single item) | ✓ | ✓
Progress tracking | ✓ | ✓
Pause, Resume & Stop Safely | — | ✓
Multi-file selection | — | ✓
Multi-folder selection | — | ✓
Unlimited queue | — | ✓
Smart consolidation | — | ✓
Full deletion history | — | ✓
Search & filters | — | ✓
Export history (CSV/JSON) | — | ✓
Forensic Removal | 1 use | Unlimited

### Pricing

$5
3-Year License
$7
Lifetime License

One-time payment. No subscriptions. No background services.

## 8 Speed Tips (Power Users)

- Deleting a parent folder is faster than deleting thousands of child files
- SSDs deliver the fastest results in Fast Delete mode
- Network drives are limited by connection speed
- Forensic mode prioritizes certainty over raw speed

⚠️ Best Practice
If you're unsure about a path, test on a small non-critical folder first.
There is no undo.

### 🏢 Note for IT Administrators

Speed Delete is a single, portable executable. It does not install services, drivers, or COM components, and it does not rely on DLL registration or scheduled tasks.

In most environments it can be deployed under AppLocker or EDR policies like any other signed, user-mode utility.

No admin rights required for files the user owns. No background processes. No network calls during deletion.

### Licensing Has Zero Impact on Speed

Activation happens once. After activation:

- No background license checks
- No performance impact
- Fully offline operation supported

Speed Delete never pauses a deletion to "phone home".

## 9 Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my CPU usage high during deletion?
Speed Delete is multi-threaded. It uses your CPU fully to delete as fast as your hardware allows. This is normal and indicates maximum throughput.
Is my SSD wearing out?
Fast Delete: No extra wear.
Forensic Removal: Writes more data by design. Use only when security matters.
I'm getting "Access Denied" or "File in Use"
Windows locks files opened by other programs. Close the program using the file and try again. You can also try running Speed Delete as Administrator.
Can I recover deleted files?
Fast Delete: Possibly, with recovery software (until disk space is overwritten).
Forensic Removal: No. The data is destroyed beyond recovery.
Can I use my license on multiple computers?
Yes, your license works on 2 devices. Need more or a transfer? Contact support.
What happens if I pause or stop mid-deletion? (PRO)
Pause: Deletion halts instantly. Resume to continue, or Stop to cancel.
Stop: Remaining files are saved immediately. Already deleted files cannot be recovered.
Pause/Resume/Stop Safely is a PRO feature. FREE users see real-time progress at maximum speed.
Can I stop Forensic Removal on a large file?
Yes, but Speed Delete will finish overwriting the current file first. Once overwriting begins on any file—even 0.01%—the original data is destroyed. A 5TB video that's 1% overwritten is unrecoverable.
What if I see "Transfer Required"?
This appears after hardware changes or Windows reinstalls. Click Transfer in the app or contact support for a reset.

### What Speed Delete Cannot Do

- Bypass Windows permissions
- Delete files you don't have rights to
- Override corporate security policies
- Unlock files actively in use

Speed Delete is powerful, not reckless.

## 🎯 Final Reminder

Speed Delete exists for one reason:

To delete files faster than Windows ever intended.

Security is optional.
Speed is the promise.

⚠️ Disclaimer

Speed Delete permanently destroys data. You are solely responsible for verifying what you delete. The software is provided "as is" without warranty. The developers assume no liability for data loss, accidental deletions, or damages resulting from use. Always double-check paths before confirming. Use at your own risk.