NationStates Jolt Archive

Just a simple question about trashed/deleted files, items and programs. Does anyone know how long it takes for deleted files to become too corrupted to be recovered?

Thanks!

Just a simple question about trashed/deleted files, items and programs. Does anyone know how long it takes for deleted files to become too corrupted to be recovered?

Thanks!

I don't think deleted files just become corrupted. They become unrecoverable when they are written over (e.g. if you defragment).

I don't think deleted files just become corrupted. They become unrecoverable when they are written over (e.g. if you defragment).

Could you elaborate? I have no clue what defragment means.

You hiding something Bolol!? Something you don't want the police to see!? Think I am going to have to make a few phonecalls, now where is that Department of Homeland Security number. . . :D

Just a simple question about trashed/deleted files, items and programs. Does anyone know how long it takes for deleted files to become too corrupted to be recovered?

Thanks!
The last standard I read was that a file must be over written 3 or 4 times to be considered compleatly unrecoverable. This is the NSA standard though so it's probably tougher than what you really need.

How quickly are you going to write something over them? They're not actually erased: what the computer actually does is delete its own references to them. It's like you have a filing cabinet, in which go the files, and a Rolodex with which to reference the files. When you delete stuff out of the tray all that happens is that you remove and destroy the Rolodex card; the file is still there in the cabinet. However, unlike reality (because no analogies ever 100% successfully work for computers), the filing cabinet has a limited amount of space, so later on the computer may take the paper on which the first file was written, Tipp-Ex over it and write again. At that point it's definitely gone, unless the police are investigating or something, in which case you may need to do multiple rewrites of that kind, and it's impossible to do manually.

If you're really desperate to get rid of something, porn in relation to a techno-savvy and suspicious girlfriend or somesuch, I recommend deleting it and filling your hard drive up with something, then getting rid of that and filling it up again. Pirated movies are good for the purpose, if you can get them quick enough.

Could you elaborate? I have no clue what defragment means.

It something you do on Windows file systems to reorder all the stored data (to improve efficiency).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defragmentation

You hiding something Bolol!? Something you don't want the police to see!? Think I am going to have to make a few phonecalls, now where is that Department of Homeland Security number. . . :D

No...I lost a Power Point project, and I'm trying to get that back. I'd like to know how long it takes before I shouldn't bother anymore.

http://www.recovermyfiles.com/

Best of luck, mate.

No...I lost a Power Point project, and I'm trying to get that back. I'd like to know how long it takes before I shouldn't bother anymore.

oh, well that isn't fun! Sorry, I am of no help in this area. Terribly computer ignorant.

How quickly are you going to write something over them? They're not actually erased: what the computer actually does is delete its own references to them. It's like you have a filing cabinet, in which go the files, and a Rolodex with which to reference the files. When you delete stuff out of the tray all that happens is that you remove and destroy the Rolodex card; the file is still there in the cabinet. However, unlike reality (because no analogies ever 100% successfully work for computers), the filing cabinet has a limited amount of space, so later on the computer may take the paper on which the first file was written, Tipp-Ex over it and write again. At that point it's definitely gone, unless the police are investigating or something, in which case you may need to do multiple rewrites of that kind, and it's impossible to do manually.

Yeah, it's amazing the technology those guys have been developing recovery-wise! It's like a...smart-pill for computers...or something...

Yeah...Discovery channel...

If you're really desperate to get rid of something, porn in relation to a techno-savvy and suspicious girlfriend or somesuch, I recommend deleting it and filling your hard drive up with something, then getting rid of that and filling it up again. Pirated movies are good for the purpose, if you can get them quick enough.

Why does everyone think I'm hiding something? I'm still figuring out the file-recovery software, and my logic is at what point should I give up and start over.

Thankfully however, I now know that there is no real time limit...so...back to work!

No...I lost a Power Point project, and I'm trying to get that back. I'd like to know how long it takes before I shouldn't bother anymore.Ah, that's easy! Microsoft Office apps autosave their files every 10 minutes if you have the preference turned on, and they're saved to a backup folder usually placed in the trash after you quit. If you haven't emptied your trash, they're probably there.

If you've emptied your trash or the autosave wasn't on, then it's lost forever. Or it may be in a folder called 'Microsoft Office' -> 'Backup Files'. Take a look around your hard drive.

~Czardas, Supreme Ruler of the Universe

Ah, that's easy! Microsoft Office apps autosave their files every 10 minutes if you have the preference turned on, and they're saved to a backup folder usually placed in the trash after you quit. If you haven't emptied your trash, they're probably there.

If you've emptied your trash or the autosave wasn't on, then it's lost forever. Or it may be in a folder called 'Microsoft Office' -> 'Backup Files'. Take a look around your hard drive.

~Czardas, Supreme Ruler of the Universe

Problem is, I use a Mac so it might be different.

But...I'll rummage around. I might also have a second copy somewhere.

EDIT: WEE! Found it! In bold letters, "RECOVERED"! I'm happy again, now I'm not screwed! Thanks guys!

Problem is, I use a Mac so it might be different.

But...I'll rummage around. I might also have a second copy somewhere.

EDIT: WEE! Found it! In bold letters, "RECOVERED"! I'm happy again, now I'm not screwed! Thanks guys!I use a Mac too, and that's what works for me... :)

EDIT: You recovered it! Yay!!! :D :D

~Czardas, Supreme Ruler of the Universe

Yeah. It's a project on our old friend, Chairman Mao Zedong, and how completely fucked-in-the-head he is.