Formatting the drive just makes the space available for new data but it doesn’t really delete the old data. However, the data is not completely gone from the drive until it is overwritten. When the hard drive is formatted, the data stored on the drive gets deleted. What Happens When NTFS Hard Drive Gets Formatted? This file system locates contagious storage space, holding the entire files (and all of their clusters).

When a file or folder is created using NTFS, a record of the file is developed in the Master File Table (MFT), which is used for finding a file’s possible distributed clusters. Generally, the larger the size of a hard disk, the larger would be the default cluster. Even the smallest file takes up one cluster and a 4.1 KB file may take up two clusters on a 4 KB cluster system. The size of each cluster may range from 512 bytes to 64 kilobytes. In every partition, the OS keeps a track of data stored in it and each file is scattered and stored on the drive in one or more clusters, or disk spaces of a predetermined size. In case the hard drive gets formatted, the data gets divided into partitions or volumes within the drive. It also allows you to restrict access to certain files and folders to ensure better security. It is the most modern file system, which makes use of advanced data structures for improving disk space utilization, reliability, and overall performance. This primary file system supports Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP, 2000, and Windows NT 3.1. NTFS, which stands for New Technology File System, helps the Windows Operating system to store, manage and search data on a Hard Disk Drive (HDD), USB, and Solid State Drive (SSD) and other similar storage devices.

Before getting started with the data recovery process, let’s see how NTFS works and the advantages of having a hard drive with this file system. Although, if you lose data, you may recover it easily with a NTFS hard drive recovery software.

But NTFS hard drives are prone to corruption, formatting, or even physical damage, which may lead you to data loss.

Without the support of a file system, the operating system can’t read the drive and help you retrieve lost data from it. It is the process to store and manage data on the hard drive. NTFS is the standard file system structure developed by Microsoft for Windows OS. Generally, the storage devices, which are bigger in terms of storage capacity, need NTFS. System’s internal drive as well as external storage drives support different file systems.

Can a mac access ntfs