Deleting a file doesn't erase the data — it removes the file system entry that points to it. The actual bytes remain on disk until overwritten by new data. This guide explains the file system mechanics for HDD and SSD, why SSDs erase blocks faster due to TRIM, and why stopping new writes immediately after deletion is the single most important recovery step.
Key Topics Covered
File system entry vs actual data on disk
How NTFS, APFS, HFS+, and ext4 handle deletion
SSD TRIM — automatic erasure after deletion
HDD vs SSD recovery odds comparison
Why new writes after deletion hurt recovery chances