When you delete files off of your computer where do they go???

Answer 1

They stay on your computer and can be retrieved by a professional.

Answer 2

Well Recycle Bin first. But if you delete it out of the Recycle Bin, it doesn't actually go anywhere. The computer deletes its record of having the data, but the data is still there, just the space it's using up is marked as ok to write over. So until the computer happens to want to put something new there, the original data is still around, but it might be gone any day. If you are concerned about actually deleting things, look for software like KillDisk http://www.killdisk.com/

More explanation here:
http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,22920-order,1-page,1-c,alldownloads/description.html

I only mention killdisk cos I've tried it before, not cos I know that it's better or worse than anything else.

Answer 3

They don't really "go" anywhere. Your computer just labels them as open space that can be overwritten. That's why even if you "delete" things off of your computer, someone clever enough can come along and retrieve the data that hasn't been overwritten, which is where computer forensics comes from, and why you should always use a utility to completely wipe your computer before you sell it or throw it away.

Answer 4

The file system of your computer is just an indexing system. What is indexed is marked as used space. What is not, is marked as free space. When you delete a file, you're just deleting the index of that file, marking the space as free. In fact, files stay in your computer until some other file overwrites them.

Answer 5

they go no where.
they still on your disk until you save another data that write in the same blocks.
operating system has some kind of "path" for every data. if you delete it it will go to recycle bin, and if u delete it from recyle bin, the operating system will delete the "path" so it will looked like dissapear.
the file remain in your disk until u write other data on its place.

Answer 6

They go to a magical farm with other deleted files where they can roam the gig-byte fields and frolic in the amber waves of RAM.

Answer 7

To be honest nothing really ever leaves your computer. At first it will just be in the lil trash can thing. You can delete everything from there but unless you have one of those cds that wipes everything off nothing really is ever gone. A professional can find it.

Answer 8

the recycle bin. and even after u empty your recycle bin, the bits of information will be stored in a safe place in your hard drive unable to be retrieved. unless you have modern forensic tools which can read those bits of information.

so if you're a hacker or something. either fry hard drive with an electromagnet or remove it and throw it away.

Answer 9

they go and live on Steve's farm where they can roam freely

EDIT: damn, got beat to the punch by family guy. his answer is way better than mine

Answer 10

They may still be in your Rubbish Bin