• Question: Where do deleted files go in computers? Do they stay or go?

    Asked by anon-193530 to Jamal, iainstaniland, Heidi, Emma, Carl on 14 Nov 2018.
    • Photo: Emma Crawford

      Emma Crawford answered on 14 Nov 2018:

      When you first delete a file on a computer, it is moved to the computer’s Recycle Bin, Trash, or something similar depending on your operating system.
      When a computer deletes a file or the Recycle Bin is emptied, it is removing the reference to the file on the hard drive. Once the file header, or reference, is removed, the computer can no longer see the file. The space the file took up is no longer reserved for that file, and any new file can be stored in that location.
      This means the file is no longer readable by the computer. However, the file is still on the hard drive, at least until another file or part of another file is saved to the same location. Because the file is technically there, it may be able to be recovered using data recovery software, designed to rebuild the file header and allow the computer to see the file again. This software only works if no other file or data has been saved over the top of the deleted file.

    • Photo: Heidi Gardner

      Heidi Gardner answered on 14 Nov 2018:

      Interesting question.. I only knew so far as the recycle bin and then after that I thought maybe it would be completely deleted once the recycle bin had been emptied – but after doing some further research it turns out I’m wrong! Basically, the file is always on the computer’s hard disk, it’s just that once it’s been ‘deleted’ you are no longer able to get to that file without software that can recover it.

    • Photo: Iain Staniland

      Iain Staniland answered on 15 Nov 2018:

      I presume they go where all the odd socks that disappear in the washing machine live!

      Otherwise it is probably just the fact the files are not actually removed but the bit that your computer uses to find the data is forgotten. Although the information will eventually be overwritten if you keep using your computer as new files are created in the same space.
      So if you throw out an old computer it is best to either remove the hard drive or use software to wipe it completely clean especially if you have personal data on it.

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