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 results in the erasure of all files in the existing disk or partition. Deletion refers to deleting the file from the system directory list, but it actually modifies the first two codes of the file header. This modification is mapped in the FAT table and marks the file for deletion; after the file is deleted, it can be deleted in "Recycle" Station".

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

Formatting is not deletion.

Introduction to formatting

Formatting refers to an operation of initializing a disk or a partition in a disk , this operation usually results in the erasure of all files on 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 introduction

Delete: refers to deleting files from the system directory list, but in many cases, using tool software or Windows The "Recycle Bin" that comes with the download can recover deleted files. 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, just 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, and the file is marked for deletion, and the cluster number occupied by the file is recorded in the FAT table. Clearing the registration items in means freeing up space, which is why 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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