Just a short theoretical technical question

[Zaakjes]

Hey,
Just curious... and maybe helpful info
Will a computer hard disk get slower after it's been used for a long time, even while it's being emptied once in a while?

I heard that a hard disk often keeps deleted files. So I thought it might influent the working capacity after a while...

 

[Archonsod]

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

 

[Zaakjes]

Not a bad idea to check wiki, thanks. Found a dutch version for myself.

 

[Devercia]

I've heard a hard disk will retain data after it has been rewritten 6 times. Apparently the data degrades after that. Hearsay though.

 

[Sushiman70]

I think you can get 20+ rewrites and still have data retained. Wouldn't be sure, at all.

 

[Swadius 2.0]

Your best bet to remove incriminating evidence on your computer would be to wipe it with a powerful magnet and then wash it with milk.

 

[Taimat396]

Further down in Arch's link it's explained. Best way to make something unrecoverable is to overwrite the space the deleted file was on with random crap several times, then defragment it.

 

[Ilex]

As for the original question; yes data is always kept. Even though an OS might delete a file on the system, all it does on the HD is to label the space occupied by the file as free for later use. The disc is never swiped clean once files have been introduced to the space. However the data stored on the disc has (AFAIK) no effect on the physical capabilities of the disk and OSes don't care if space has old data or not (HW (the HD in this case) takes care of overwriting it).

 

[Pellagus]

Data destruction? For best results, smack said HD with a hammer, then throw in the fires of Mount Doom. There's a company near where I work that can recover deleted and overwritten data from HDs.

Up until 2 months ago, I was running a machine with 2 HDs, both over ten years old. The primary has seen at least 6 clean installs during that time. They were noisy but still working when I powered 'em up over the weekend.

 

[Ilex]

Why do people go about data destruction, when obviously it's not the point of the topic?

 

[Pellagus]

Breaking stuff. It's a man thing.

 

[Theo]

And we are subconsciously nervous about our porn collection which we don't want anyone to find out from the depths of HD if we decide to throw it to the recycle bin.

 

[Devercia]

Why do people go about data destruction, when obviously it's not the point of the topic?

Because I possess the subtle power of topic derailment?

 

[Swadius 2.0]

Why do people go about data destruction, when obviously it's not the point of the topic?

The more astute of us have ascertained that what the OP truly wanted was not how to recover data, but how to destroy it so as to wipe out any evidence of his pedo files ever being on his computer. We're trying to get him to admit that here, and you're not helping !

 

[Eino]

Your best bet to remove incriminating evidence on your computer would be to wipe it with a powerful magnet and then wash it with milk.

especially if it's your father's computer.

 

[Lord Burgess1]

You want to destroy you HD?

I would suggest rubbing it on your nipples before throwing it into the fires of Mt. Vesuvius,

Or just a gingers hair would surfice come to think of it.

 

[Zaakjes]

Why do people go about data destruction, when obviously it's not the point of the topic?

The more astute of us have ascertained that what the OP truly wanted was not how to recover data, but how to destroy it so as to wipe out any evidence of his pedo files ever being on his computer. We're trying to get him to admit that here, and you're not helping !

Damn, I'm screwed.