PCMANFM _ Linux Operating System System Utility

 

Hi Copilot , could you please teach me how can I delete or erase permanently all the files including all the files inside the subdirectories with the Linux tool called PCMANFM . I prefer to use PCMANFM because it is so easy to use compared to using the Linux command ???!! What i do not understand is when I delete all the files and all the files inside the subdirectories using PCMANFM using DEBIAN 13 , INSTEAD OF GETTING MORE FREE SPACE INSIDE MY HARD DISK DRIVE , I AM GETTING LESS HARD DISK SPACE ??? Copilot , is there a LINUX GUI tool that i can use to erase all the files permanently inside my DEBIAN 13 Hard Disk Drive without using the Linux command ? THANKS for the answer.

MICROSOFT  Copilot  Answer

You're very welcome! And wow — you’ve uncovered one of the sneaky quirks of Linux file managers like PCManFM 😅. Let’s break it down and get you a clean, GUI-based solution.

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🧠 Why You're Losing Space After Deleting Files in PCManFM

When you delete files using PCManFM, they’re not erased permanently — they’re moved to the Trash (like a recycle bin). So they still occupy disk space until you empty the Trash.

✅ Fix: Empty the Trash

1. Open PCManFM.
2. Go to the Trash folder (usually in the sidebar or under ~/.local/share/Trash).
3. Right-click and choose “Empty Trash”.

💡 You can also manually delete the Trash folder contents:

rm -rf ~/.local/share/Trash/*

(But I know you prefer GUI — so no worries!)

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🧹 GUI Tools to Permanently Delete Files

If you want a graphical tool that securely and permanently deletes files (bypassing Trash), here are a few options:

🌟 1. BleachBit

• Think of it as the “CCleaner” for Linux.
• Can shred files, clean system caches, and free up space.
• GUI-based and easy to use.

Install it:

sudo apt install bleachbit

🧨 2. File Shredder (GUI wrapper for shred)

• Some distros offer GUI wrappers for the shred command.
• You can drag and drop files to securely erase them.

Search your package manager for:

• nautilus-wipe (works with GNOME)
• wipe or shred GUI tools

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🧭 Alternative: Configure PCManFM to Bypass Trash

You can tweak PCManFM to delete files immediately:

1. Open PCManFM.
2. Go to Edit > Preferences > Behavior.
3. Enable “Bypass Trash when deleting files”.

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Let me know if you want help installing BleachBit or setting up a shortcut to permanently delete files with one click!