Permenantly deleted?

[Deano]

this may seem like a dumb question, but i got told that when you delete an item, then empty the recycle bin, that file is still stored somewhere on your pc...


is this true, and if it is, does that mean you could retrieve these files, even though you've "deleted" them?

[Armo]

the way it works is:

in the FAT ( file allocation table which tells the computer where on the drive files are ) when you delete files from the comptuer all it does is take out the entries for the files you delete. the data is technicly still there as long as another file dosnt over write the physical location of the data which was deleted.

[Sledgehammer70]

It is still on the Hard Drive, But you average Joe will not be able to retrieve it. It not a simple task but in some rare cases the data can be retrieved... The only real way to get it back would be to spend a few thousand bucks and have the pros do it for you... not very cost effective in most cases.

[airbornflght]

no, it is pretty easy to get the data back, there are quite a few programs that will do it, they may cost $50-$200 or more, but they work, the data is still there, and has a chance of recovery until it has been written over 4 times I think, I have a file shredder that deletes it out of the file table, and writes the actuall data over 7 times with random data.

[Sledgehammer70]

I have found those programs to corrupt files most of the time... but you are more than willing to try it :)

[airbornflght]

I have had pretty good luck with them, it is hit an miss really, it depends if the data has been written over and if so, how many times.

[Deano]

There is a piece of software called "window cleaner" i think, and i think that does as you said, overwrites the data over and over again. If i remember rightly, it was free on one of the disc's you get with XP magazine, but from last year. So, are you absolutely positive that these pieces of software cost you $50-$200?

[Hawk]

This is a free program that will do what you want for cleaning left overs on your HD. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,943259,00.asp
The site gives you a full explanation of what it does.
I use it all the time and haven't had any problems with it.

[airbornflght]

no, I was saying the programs for data recovery, but there are also free data recovery programs also, there are free programs for almost any application, it is just normally the free program may not have as many features, or maybe not as polished ui, and sometimes, the free programs may not be designed for the casual user, and are meant for the power users that want a lot of control.

[Deano]

no, I was saying the programs for data recovery, but there are also free data recovery programs also, there are free programs for almost any application, it is just normally the free program may not have as many features, or maybe not as polished ui, and sometimes, the free programs may not be designed for the casual user, and are meant for the power users that want a lot of control.

Oh right, thanks for all your help. I always thought there was software taht could do this, but i never thought of getting it.

[WuGgaRoO]

couldn't you just quick format the whole comp like 4 times to get rid of everything?

[airbornflght]

I dont think so, because afaik, a quick format just deletes the MFT, leaving all of the data there.