Does formatting mean deletion?

Formatting is not deletion. Formatting refers to an operation to initialize a disk or a partition on a disk. This operation usually causes all files in the existing disk or partition to be cleared; deletion refers to deleting files from the system directory list. .

The operating environment of this tutorial: Windows 7 system, Dell G3 computer.

Formatting refers to an operation to initialize a disk or a partition in a disk. This operation usually results in the erasure of all files in the existing disk or partition. Formatting is usually divided into low-level formatting and high-level formatting. Unless otherwise specified, formatting a hard drive usually refers to advanced formatting, while formatting a floppy disk usually includes both.

is to clear the data on the hard disk, generate boot sector information, initialize the FAT table, mark logical bad sectors, etc. Generally, when we reinstall the system, we perform advanced formatting. Formatting is to initialize the disk so that we can record data on the disk step by step.

Delete: refers to removing files from the system directory list Deleted, but in many cases, deleted files can be recovered using tool software or the "Recycle Bin" that comes with Windows. To be on the safe side, it is best for users to make a floppy disk backup of the text or other files they input. ,in case. Every file stored on the hard disk can be divided into two parts: the file header and the data area where the data is stored. The file header is used to record file name, file attributes, occupied cluster number and other information. The file header is saved in a cluster and mapped in the FAT table (file allocation table). The real data is stored in the data area. The usual deletion is actually to modify the first two codes of the file header. This modification is mapped in the FAT table, marking the file for deletion, and clearing the registration entry of the cluster number occupied by the file in the FAT table. , means freeing up space, which is why the hard disk space increases after deleting files.

It can be seen from the principle of file deletion that to completely delete data, the only way is to completely overwrite the data area where the deleted file is located. Most complete deletion tools use this principle: repeatedly write useless data to the data area of ​​the deleted file and overwrite it multiple times to achieve the purpose of completely deleting the file

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