Master the CHFI Challenge 2025: Crack the Code and Become a Cyber Sleuth!

When a file is deleted in Windows 7, the operating system marks the file's name in the Master File Table (MFT) as deleted. This process reflects how Windows manages file systems, particularly with NTFS (New Technology File System). The MFT is a special database that contains information about every file and directory on an NTFS volume. When a file is deleted, rather than physically wiping the data immediately, the system updates the MFT to indicate that the file is no longer active, effectively making the space it occupied available for reuse.

This deletion process allows for the potential recovery of files because the actual data remains on the disk until it is overwritten by new data. Therefore, understanding that deleting a file alters the MFT rather than removing the data itself is crucial for digital forensics and data recovery tactics.

In contrast, the other choices misinterpret how file deletion functions in Windows. While choice A relates to FAT file systems, which is not relevant to NTFS that Windows 7 commonly uses, choice C inaccurately describes cluster management for NTFS, as deleted files do not instantly mark clusters as used; they are merely marked as available. Choice D is misleading, as it implies that all data is immediately eradicated upon deletion,