Formatting vs Deleting The predominant difference between a format and deleting is that formatting a drive refers to the entire drive being wiped clean, rather than just a single file being wiped from the hard disk. Formatting a file is simply the same act as deleting, on a larger scale. However, when you format a disk you are also provided with the opportunity to modify the file system on that disk as well as the size of the disk.

	When you delete a single file, it is sent to the recycle bin from where it can be deleted from the computer, or restored to its original file location. However, the file is not entirely gone even when the recycle bin has been emptied. The file system has been instructed to view the file space as "free space" that can be overwritten with new data. When you format a hard disk, the same type of process takes place. Rather than a single file being deleted, all of the disk space becomes designated as “free space”. The file system is deleted when the hard disk is formatted. The file system is what stores the information necessary to find a particular file and, upon formatting, the hard disk essentially forgets where the information has been stored. Thus, once the disk is formatted, it is unable to call up the location of the deleted files upon command and remains in this state until the previous information is overwritten with new data. In both file deletion and disk formatting, the existing files are not necessarily lost. So long as no new data overwrites the previous data, the files are still on the hard disk and can be retrieved with file recovery programs. Remember, the information is still there, but the hard disk no longer has the location information necessary to pull it up. However, the deleted information will not stay where it is forever. As new information is stored on the disk, through new reading and writing processes, this information overwrites the old data, thus making it irrecoverable. Whether you are trying to recover a single file that was deleted accidentally, or you realized you had precious information left on a formatted disk, it is possible to retrieve the data. The first step to data retrieval in both cases is to stop using the computer. If the information is stored on the system disk, reading and writing activity overwrite the old information rather quickly. If you are short on disk space, turn off the computer! This prevents any further reading or writing activity from taking place. Eject the hard disk from the computer and mount it to another computer as a slave drive or put it in a USB enclosure to attach to another system. Install a file recovery tool (on a disk other than the disk from which data is being recovered) and use the tool to retrieve the single file or all of the information deleted in a format. After you have retrieved your files, you can return the hard disk to your computer and continue on as normal. However, take this important lesson with you and make sure to back up your files often to prevent accidental file deletion.
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