Is it true that even after permanent deletion of any file,that exists in hard..
By Blueguy999
@Blueguy999 (352)
India
August 6, 2011 4:13am CST
Is it true that even after you delete any file or program form your computer the file or that program still exists in any form in the hard drive.and any expert can retrieve that from hard drive?
I was watching a tech show they were suggesting some erasing software.I didn't know that though.
3 responses
@surfer222 (1714)
• Indonesia
6 Aug 11
Yes it's true if the space of that hard drive which contain the file is still empty, but if after you delete the file then the computer put a new file in the area that previously contain the old file then the deleted file cannot be retrived.
@Blueguy999 (352)
• India
6 Aug 11
Then how do we know that the space after deleting files permanently is empty or replaced by another files..and if so then why they were recommending that erasing program to delete any files for safety and privacy reasons?What is the use of such softwares then..if computer itself can delete any files safely.? just curious to know mate thanks.
@surfer222 (1714)
• Indonesia
6 Aug 11
i'm not a computer tech but i know that every hard drive have a partition table. if i'm not mistaken this table is the one responsible for mapping file location on the hard drive. so when you delete a file permanently the hard drive only delete file location on the partition table, not the actual 'zeros' and 'ones' of the file itself.
Some partition are better than others because when an OS is told to delete a file, they not only delete file location but also set the area of the harddrive to zeros.. i think Novell partition is one of them but i'm not really sure.
How do we know that the space is empty? well only the computer knows where the area of the hard drive that is. Data retriving program usually scan the hard drive location that is not on the partition table.
Program that offer to delete a file completely probably using the same technique which is to set data on the file location to zeros.
@Blueguy999 (352)
• India
8 Aug 11
Ok surfer but you seem to be good and got good knowledge so you are better than me.What i could get from you people that Its not easy to retrieve a deleted file but its not impossible too.. and the erasing software they were talking about on a tech show is for that purpose.I can do other things to keep my date personal like using zip folders and using admin account protected with password.Thats not the problem I just wanted to know when any file is deleted, it is possible for experts to retrieve that.
@kaylachan (71786)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
15 Aug 11
When it comes to deleting files, a ghost copy always remains. This is true for everything you do online. Including browsing the internet. Police officers and other techies like that can usually find everything on a person's computer. A reformatt may help with this, but again it's not a fool-proof method. Simply put, if you are that ashamed then you shouldn't be viewing sites you don't want coming back to "bite" you in the future. It's common sense.
Deleting files is never permeant. Though the adverage person may not know how to retreive them. That takes a lot of time and effort and someone almost quite literally tearing the computer apart in order to find what they're looking for. This goes through everything from word documents to instant message and chat conversations.
@KING23 (26)
• Philippines
15 Aug 11
It is true that you can retrieve your deleted files even your Hard disk is formatted. by the use some retrieving software like EASUS you can restore your deleted files up to 80%.
