PPSC Excise and Taxation Inspector 2018 Question Paper

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63.

Deleted data remains in the disk until :

A: the data is overwritten
B: the disk is scanned
C: a file compression utility is used
D: all of these

The answer is: A

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Explanation

Answer: A) The data is overwritten

 

Core Concept:

When you "delete" a file, the OS does not actually erase the data. It only:

  • Removes the file's reference/pointer from the file system
  • Marks that space as "available" for future use

The actual data stays on the disk until new data is written over that exact space.

 

Why other options are wrong:

OptionWhy Wrong
Disk scanningOnly checks for errors, does NOT erase deleted data
File compressionOnly compresses existing files, does NOT overwrite deleted data
All of theseIncorrect since B and C don't erase deleted data

 

Real World Implication:

  • This is why data recovery software (like Recuva) can restore deleted files
  • This is also why simply deleting sensitive files is not secure
  • To permanently destroy data, you need overwriting tools or physical destruction

The data is only truly gone when overwritten.