A method for execution by a computing device of a dispersed storage network includes dispersed storage error encoding a data segment to produce a set of encoded data slices. Storage of more than a write threshold number of encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices in a set of storage units is facilitated. A plurality of favorably stored encoded data slices is identified. A number of stored encoded data slices for deletion is determined, and the number of stored encoded data slices for deletion is selected from the plurality of favorably stored encoded data slices. Deletion of the selected number of stored encoded data slices for deletion is facilitated.