Files on HDD

chrisalviola

chrisalviola

New Member
Why is it faster to delete large files on HDD than copying them. It took me like 2 sec to delete a 500MB file and 2 min to copy them.
 
Maybe it's like a vaccum? lol. Maybe with deleting it's just a matter of grabing everything and "deleting" it while with copying it's actually going through each byte and having to make duplicate and make sure that it doesn't miss anything?
Meh, who knows?:confused: :confused:
 
A "clean" delete may take the same time with copying.
Deleting a 500MB file normally just removes the file register from FAT (File Allocation Table) and the 500MB data is still there.

Q: So that means I don't get 500MB more free space?
A: No, not like that. The system simply overwrites the 500MB data when there's some new files to write.

EDIT: Copying is longer because it has to read and then write..
 
It doesn't really delete files (if your useing XP) If you set your computer back to a certain time in safe mode (useing recovery points) You can get all the programs youve uninstalled and all the files you've deleted. Of course formating your drive is different.
 
Jonyboy said:
It doesn't really delete files (if your useing XP) If you set your computer back to a certain time in safe mode (useing recovery points) You can get all the programs youve uninstalled and all the files you've deleted. Of course formating your drive is different.
Click to expand...

with Fat or NTFS?
 
When copying, the data is actually read, and then written to a new disk part; that takes time.
When deleting, not much happens; the OS puts a little note at the beginning and end of the deleted file that says "this is deleted"..the data is still there untouched, which is what allows file recovery progs to work.
That is why deleting is much faster.
 
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