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Where do deleted files go?

When you delete a file or folder, it goes into the Recycle bin, where you have a chance to restore it.
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Where does permanently deleted files go?

When you delete a file from your computer, it moves to the Windows Recycle Bin. You empty the Recycle Bin and the file is permanently erased from the hard drive. ... Instead, the space on the disk that was occupied by the deleted data is "deallocated."
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Are permanently deleted files really deleted?

But apparently, permanently deleting all your files and other important data even in the Recycle Bin is not enough. It is not technically "deleted." Although the operating system can't find it anymore, a copy of it is still accessible through your hard drive.
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Where do deleted files go if not in Recycle Bin?

Q2: Where do deleted files go if not in Recycle Bin? If the deleted files are not in the Recycle Bin, then they might have been permanently deleted. When this happens, the space of the files will be marked as free, and other data can overwrite it.
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Does emptying Recycle Bin permanently delete?

Many people assume that files in an emptied Recycle Bin are lost forever, but this isn't the case – if you act quickly, data recovery is possible. This is because when you delete items from your machine, they're not actually permanently removed from the hard drive; Windows keeps track of the file via a pointer.
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Where Do Deleted Files Go?

How long do deleted files stay in Recycle Bin?

Anything in the Recycle Bin for more than 30 days will be permanently deleted by the system and cannot be restored. Items in the Recycle Bin count toward your record and storage limits.
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How do I completely delete something off my computer?

To permanently delete a file:

Press and hold the Shift key, then press the Delete key on your keyboard.
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How to recover deleted files?

If you put a file in your trash but decide that you still want it, you can put it back in your Drive.
  1. In the upper left, tap Menu. Trash.
  2. Next to the file you'd like to save, tap More. Restore.
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How do you permanently delete a file?

Select the file you want to permanently delete and press Shift + Delete together. Windows will ask you to confirm. Click Yes. When you delete files through keyboard shortcuts, the entire “Recycle Bin” step is skipped.
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Can police recover deleted files?

Keeping Your Data Secure

So, can police recover deleted pictures, texts, and files from a phone? The answer is yes—by using special tools, they can find data that hasn't been overwritten yet. However, by using encryption methods, you can ensure your data is kept private, even after deletion.
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Is anything ever truly deleted from a computer?

Truth of the matter is that your data is never really deleted when you delete it from your computer manually. When you delete your files, they are being sent to the Recycle Bin, where they can be recovered at any time.
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What really happens to deleted files?

When you delete a file, the operating system marks the area where that data resides on the hard drive disk (HDD) as available, and logistically removes it from the file tree structure. The magnetic data still resides on the disk, but the pathway to accessing the data has been removed from the operating system.
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Can deleted files be traced?

The answer is yes—by using special tools, they can find data that hasn't been overwritten yet. However, by using encryption methods, you can ensure your data is kept private, even after deletion.
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How do you Delete a file permanently and make it unrecoverable?

In Windows Explorer, click on the file to select and press the Shift+Delete key on your keyboard. Now, you'll see a popup asking whether you want to delete the files permanently or not. Select Yes on the popup, and the file will be permanently deleted and won't go to the recycle bin.
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Do files Delete themselves?

Storage Sense in Windows 10 is a new feature. When you enable it, Windows will automatically delete unused files when the computer is low on disk space. For instance, it can automatically delete files older than 30 or 60 days from the Recycle Bin or delete temporary files to free up some space.
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Can I recover permanently deleted?

Restore Permanently Deleted Files via Backup and Restore

If you have created a backup of all valuable files and folders on an external hard drive, you could effectively restore the lost files from the backup. Or, if you have turned on Windows Backup, you still have a chance.
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How do I find lost files?

Check the activity panel
  1. Open your Google Drive App.
  2. On the left, tap My Drive.
  3. At the top right, tap Info .
  4. Scroll down and look for your file.
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Can forensics recover deleted files?

Data recovery and forensics software can recover deleted files (on Windows/NTFS) by looking for entries in the file table that have not been overwritten. If the entries are still in place, they will show the locations where the file was stored.
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Is anything ever really deleted from your phone?

When you delete a piece of data from your device — a photo, video, text or document — it doesn't vanish. Instead, your device labels that space as available to be overwritten by new information.
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How long do deleted files stay on your computer?

You are not sure when a deleted file can be overwritten. So, there is no fixed answer to how long is too long before a deleted file is unrecoverable. You might discover that some files that were deleted years ago are still recoverable. But, some files that were deleted recently become unrecoverable.
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Can hackers access deleted files?

Deleted files are at risk

Cybercriminals and hackers can gain access to personal information stored in your computer even after you think you've deleted the files. This includes everything from financial documents to scanned images. If you think those files are gone because they've been deleted, think again.
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Can the government see your deleted photos?

Police are law enforcement agencies that have the right to ask for any data for security purposes. Many people hide their information in terms of photos or text messages from the police. However, police can effortlessly recover deleted Photos/Text/WhatsApp messages and almost everything from iPhone/Android.
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How do I permanently delete data from my hard drive?

For a working computer
  1. Click the Settings icon, then click “Change PC settings.”
  2. Click Update and Recovery, followed by “Recovery.”
  3. Under the heading “Remove everything and reinstall Windows,” click “Get started.”
  4. When prompted, select the option “Fully clean the drive.”
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How do you delete all data so that it Cannot be recovered?

Go to Settings > Security > Advanced and tap Encryption & credentials. Select Encrypt phone if the option isn't already enabled. Next, go to Settings > System > Advanced and tap Reset options. Select Erase all data (factory reset), and press Delete all data.
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How do you destroy a hard drive so it Cannot be recovered?

How to destroy a hard drive the fast way
  1. Flip the hard drive over so you can see the main circuit board. ...
  2. Use a Torx driver to unscrew the circuit board using the four Torx screws.
  3. Remove the board, break it in half, and discard it.
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