Data in Formatted Partition

[nomie25]

Is it possible to find a file that was moved from one HD to an external in the formatted partition of former?

I purchased an open box laptop from a shop and my mistake that I had not verified the specs at the time of purchase. After a use of about 3-4 days, it revealed that it was a different laptop packed in wrong box. On knowing this, I moved the files to my External HDD before going to shop.

People there were not able to help me as they found my files in a formatted partition. They say that the format was done way before I purchased that laptop, implying that I was in possession of this laptop and I am trying to dodge them around.

So, Again .. Is it possible to have a file deleted and on recovery you find this file in a formatted partition?

[#43 fan]

Yes, but I think it would take quite the program and possibly time.
Although, with Windows you shouldn't find the file, so they must have used a file recovery program.

[nomie25]

If i understand correctly 'Formatted Partition', then as far as i know .. Every partition is to be formatted before being used. So if they find a deleted file on system .. it is not a big deal .. i used laptop for three days. Then why the guys at Best Buy are accusing me.

May be they mean that this recovered file is a remnant from some previous format. I never formatted it .. just copied the file on system and moved it to another device. Is it by any means possible to get this file associated to some previous format incident.

[nomie25]

I am very much clear about the concept. I have just 2-3 final questions. If you can please help me.

1. Some Computers come with a partition intended to restore the computer to initial configuration. Is it possible that sometime, this partition backs up some files from your main partition?

2. In data recovery the data is recovered to the 'Date Modified' or 'Date Created'?

3. Is there any way to tell that the recovered file is from which formatted partition.