Deleted files....

[SAH]

Is it possible to retrieve a file once you have deleted it from your recycle bin, or has it gone for good??

[LeMarchand]

Not necessarily. Try one of these (free) utilities: http://www.webattack.com/freeware/system/fwdatarec
overy.html

[SAH]

Thanks for that LeMarchand, I'll give it a go!

[SAH]

Just tried to retrieve my files using the above software but without any luck :-( I wish there was some way of retrieving deleted files without having to download any software. Where do files go to once they've been deleted from the recycle bin anyway, they must be sitting somewhere for these software programs to be able to detect them in the first place?

[LeMarchand]

I could be wrong, but it's my understanding that the files don't go anywhere (unless you've used a "shredder", which overwrites the files with random data immediately). It's just that the paths to access them via normal channels are removed, and the space they occupy is no longer reserved, meaning that other data is free to overwrite the files. You may have been really unlucky and overwritten the files already. Most of the computer expert types on Answerbank seem to be more active during the week (posting from work?), so you may get a better/more accurate explanation and idea for recovery then.

[SAH]

That sounds right LeMarchand, thanks for your help anyway, it was much appreciated :-)