In Windows operating systems, what happens to data when a file is deleted?

In Windows operating systems, when a file is deleted, the allocation marker for that file is reset. This means that the file's reference in the file system is removed, which instructs the operating system that the space previously occupied by the file can now be reused for new data. However, the actual data remains on the disk until it is overwritten by new data. This approach is efficient as it allows users to recover files from the Recycle Bin unless they are permanently deleted.

The option concerning the Recycle Bin is relevant, as when files are deleted via the standard deletion method, they are often moved there rather than being immediately erased from the storage medium. However, "deleted" files can still be recovered from the Recycle Bin unless the user empties it or deletes files using a method that bypasses the Recycle Bin.

The choice involving random zeros and ones suggests a process akin to wiping, which is not what occurs in a standard deletion operation. Wiping a disk is a separate procedure intended to securely erase data.

The option regarding purging the entry from the $MFT (Master File Table) is more complex. While a file's entry may not be immediately purged and may remain in the $MFT metadata file until the space