What happens to a deleted file in a Windows computer?

When a file is deleted on a Windows computer, it typically moves to the Recycle Bin, rather than being permanently removed from the disk immediately. This process allows for an easy recovery of files that may have been deleted unintentionally. The file remains on the disk in the Recycle Bin until the user decides to empty it or until the Recycle Bin reaches its storage limit, at which point the oldest files in the bin are permanently deleted to make room for new ones.

This behavior provides a safeguard against accidental deletions, allowing users to restore files without needing specialized recovery tools. While the file is stored in the Recycle Bin, it can still take up disk space, and its original location on the drive is marked as available for new data. Only when the Recycle Bin is emptied or the file is permanently deleted using a direct delete command does it become more challenging to recover the data.