If you delete something from your computer, will it stay on the Hard Drive?

Question

If so, how do I go about deleting it.

Answer 1

Yes, it stays until it is overwritten by new data. THere are programs that will delete it, try http://www.majorgeeks.com/ they have several programs that will do it.

Answer 2

When you delete a file, the actual data stays on the drive until it is over written. The only thing delete does is remove the index pointer to that data and let the software know that that space on the drive is again available for use. To remove the data itself you need an eraser type program or shredder. Short of the you would have to do a full format of the drive. If you want to recover the data there are "undelete" programs that will do that provided the data has not already been over written.

Answer 3

Yes. All it does when you delete something is delete the information telling your computer where the file is. The data can be recovered, though the process is difficult and unreliable.

In order to truly delete the data, you will need to overwrite the file multiple times in order to cleanse the storage medium of its existence. In Mac, this can be done using the "Secure empty trash can" feature (it is just under the normal empty option, in the Finder menu). Most Linux distros should also have the feature- just poke around a little. If you are using Windows(why would you be?), you will probably need a third party app.

Answer 4

When you delete a file, the data remains stored on the hard drive but becomes inaccessabe by the operating system.This was achieved years ago by simply deleting the first letter of the filename and then the operating system could no longer see the file. To remove the file completely, you could use AEvita wipe and delete which actually writes over the data with zeros

Answer 5

Yes, the OS merely tells the filesystem that the space is available and its not erased until the filesystem overwrites that space with new files. If youwant to permanently erase a file use a utility (such as PGP Wipe) to do so. Also note that once a file has been written to a drive, it can always be recovered given enough time and $$$. If its really sensitive, destroy the drive.

Answer 6

Yes, but later it will be overwritten by other data. You can shred the data you dont want use McAfee Quick Clean to Securely delete files. Or Ask your antivirus provider if they have a shredding software.

Answer 7

Ì have a program which will overwrite the data 35 times.

Answer 8

It stays permanently on the hard drive. The only way to totally get rid of it is to get rid of your hard drive.

Answer 9

no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!