Deleting "Stuff"

[Zephik]

How does it work?? I don't understand how deleting something erases it completely from your computer. I don't understand how something can turn into nothing?? It just seems to me like it has to go somewhere or SOMETHING. Maybe if I understood how it works?

But generally, in life, everything turns into something in some way or another. Things just don't disappear as far as I know...

[Collinstheclown]

When you put something in your recycle bin and empty it it doesn't actually remove the data.

Windows tells the MBR that that area is empty and free to use even though something is there. Then as you use your system creating new files, cache files, etc... the HDD will overwrite whatever it needs for the new data.

Data is stored as 1s and 0s so when you full delete something the HDD will turn all of the 1s to 0s (or vice versa) making that area have nothing on it.

Say you had an image that was in black and whie (no greys). Lets say that all of the black pixels are 1s and all of the white pixels are 0s. In order to erase the image you would use the eraser which just turns the black pixels into white pixels, thus giving you a completely white area and no more image.

Hope that helps... :)

*Edit: Talk about a quick reply! haha




-CollinstheClown

[aintnothang]

wow, thank you.

[Datech]

Yep, the underlying process is insanely simple. Something either 'is' or 'is not' basically. Its always amazing to realize that all those 1's and 0's translate to what you are reading right now.

[Airbozo]

What's interesting and confusing to some people is that physically none of this (forum postings) really physically exists. It is nothing more than positive and negative charges on a physical media (OK an over simplification). Take away those charges and you have nothingness. In one blinding flash of electric energy, all of the data in the world that resides on any electronic media is gone.

Makes you stop and think.

[Datech]

The misconception that 'saving' actually preserves the data is also interesting. In reality it is just a bunch of electrical charges that are telling some other electrical charges to not change another set of electrical charges until another set says its ok.

Then you install new carpet and decide to do some box maintenance with socks on and ZZzzzapp, one little static charge 'erases' it all.

[Luke122]

What's interesting and confusing to some people is that physically none of this (forum postings) really physically exists. It is nothing more than positive and negative charges on a physical media (OK an over simplification). Take away those charges and you have nothingness. In one blinding flash of electric energy, all of the data in the world that resides on any electronic media is gone.

Makes you stop and think.

This makes me worry about the future of stored information, in case of say, I dont know, an EMP from a large scale nuclear explosion. (Fission or fusion.. one of them generates an EMP anyways..)

[Airbozo]

Well, most data _should_ be safe due to the way backups are stored at large companies. I remember being part of a study at SGI where we took certain backup tapes and burned them onto DVD's. They tested both media with simulated EMP's and the DVD's actually held the data. Long term though, tapes won out (minus some EMP) for data degradation. This actually surprised me.

[Zephik]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v163/Gamer674G/nbc_the_more_you_know.jpg
That is so appropriate here. lol

[SXRguyinMA]

lol

[The boy 4rm oz]

When you put something in your recycle bin and empty it it doesn't actually remove the data.

Windows tells the MBR that that area is empty and free to use even though something is there. Then as you use your system creating new files, cache files, etc... the HDD will overwrite whatever it needs for the new data.

Data is stored as 1s and 0s so when you full delete something the HDD will turn all of the 1s to 0s (or vice versa) making that area have nothing on it.

Say you had an image that was in black and whie (no greys). Lets say that all of the black pixels are 1s and all of the white pixels are 0s. In order to erase the image you would use the eraser which just turns the black pixels into white pixels, thus giving you a completely white area and no more image.

Hope that helps... :)

*Edit: Talk about a quick reply! haha




-CollinstheClown

+1, that's computer science baby. One of the lectures I actually stayed awake though covered this lol.

[Drum Thumper]

Well, most data _should_ be safe due to the way backups are stored at large companies. I remember being part of a study at SGI where we took certain backup tapes and burned them onto DVD's. They tested both media with simulated EMP's and the DVD's actually held the data. Long term though, tapes won out (minus some EMP) for data degradation. This actually surprised me.

Just how does one 'simulate' EMP? Inquiring minds wish to know.

[Axis Machine]

This makes me worry about the future of stored information, in case of say, I dont know, an EMP from a large scale nuclear explosion. (Fission or fusion.. one of them generates an EMP anyways..)

What I would worry about is the fact that they have made emp weapons for the purpose of destroying electronics I think it would be hard to protect against that.

[Collinstheclown]

Lead casemod anyone?




-CollinstheClown

[The boy 4rm oz]

Lead casemod anyone?




-CollinstheClown

Only is you are licensed to drive a forklift ;) lol.

[simon275]

Lead casemod anyone?




-CollinstheClown

A Faraday cage would do. If they nuclear blast that caused the EMP didn't destroy it.

[Collinstheclown]

Only is you are licensed to drive a forklift ;) lol.

Which I just so happen to be. ;)




-CollinstheClown

[Trace]

Which I just so happen to be. ;)




-CollinstheClown

Then that's a great idea, but the faraday cage is even better!