What happens to files deleted from the hard drive?

Answer 1

Nothing! The files are NOT deleted. They remain on there until the space is used by a different file.

File deletion is a misnomer as the file isn't deleted. What is deleted is the entry for that track and cylinder in the "file allocation table". The file allocation table tells the system "I have this available for storage". The system then writes to that area. If you "over-fill" the parameter given for that area, it asks the FAT for the next available space. It then continues to write the rest of the info to the new area. Flags are entered into the FAT saying that area is being occupied. When you have many small areas and you have a big file, it fills from the first available table entry. It then continues on to other areas and can scatter a single file over many places on the disk. This is called fragmentation. Defrag tries to move the files in a more contiguous arrangement. This is why you must "defrag the hard drive" on occasion. It lines up often used files and then the less often used thereby speeding up your system. This is a simple explanation. The actual technology is much more complex but this gives you an idea of what happens.

This is also why files can be recovered at times if they have been accidentally deleted or the hard drive has been reformatted.

It requires recovery software and a general idea of file structures.

So when you delete - you are not deleting and I can still pull old files off that you thought were gone. This is what a computer forensic expert does as well as an educated computer tech.

The only way to really delete any info on a hard drive is to low-level format and a D.O.D. wipe with a minimum of 7 passes.

Answer 2

When you install a file, there are two places that get 'updated' or 'recorded' 1. The FAT (File Allocation Table), which is kind of a Index for all the data that is present in the hard disk 2. The actual data gets recorded into the available free space in the disk The FAT gets updated with the starting point of the 'data' that you have recorded along with its size, so that the reader knows where to seek and when to stop reading. A delete will just update the FAT index as 'Free Space', but the data will still remain in your hard disk - meaning, the reader will never know where the data is. In case of Windows, when you do a delete and when it goes to recycle bin, the FAT gets updated with the fact that so much of data "belongs" to the recycle bin. But when you do a 'Shift + Delete', the FAT gets updated that the previously occupied space is now 'Free' and available for future 'write' action

Answer 3

They are NOT gone unless you go through a whole heck of a lot.
but you can;t have them back unless you go through a whole heck of a lot either. (after the recycle bin that is)
Basically if you toss something in the recycle bin and then empty it, you are telling tyhe computer "It's okay to use this space for new data" you are not telling it "Get rid of this".
That's called a wipe, and you have probably never done one.

So, if you are trying to get something back that you accidentally deleted, you might just be able to do it. as long as that is the NEXT THING THAT YOU DO.

do NOT defrag your drive if you want to attempt to retrieve files.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=tGm&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=ntfs+file+recovery+undelete&spell=1

Dig through the list above, you might find a tool that can help you.

If on the other hand you want to make sure something is good and gone you need to perform a wipe, which is basically running a few passes of random 1s and 0s over the empty space on the disk.

Answer 4

You asked for what to do if you actually delete them. There is only one answer and it will only help you if the deletion was not overwritten more than like 7 times.

Buy an electron microscope and go to school for like 8 years. This is kinda hard so I would suggest going to West Point or something and trying to land a job with the FBI. They have the equipment and the nerds required to make sense of it all.

Answer 5

They go into the recycle bin where they stay until you empty it.
In some cases emptying the recycle bin is not enough to permanently delete protected files. Certain software can bring these files back as well.

Answer 6

they are broken up into little useless temp files that your computer has in its pref etch folder or temp folder . they do nothing but take space on your hard drive. If you uninstall or download alot its best to defrag your computer once a week possibly at the end of the week.

Answer 7

well they are removed from file system but they can still be recovered try this software if you want to recover files http://www.recuva.com/

and this software if you want to erase them permanently http://portableapps.com/apps/utilities/eraser_portable

For the rest of your question earlier answerers have give you details about what happens to file that are deleted

Answer 8

first they go to the recycle bin then they just kinda disappear leaving traces on your hard drive