

The computer’s file system monitors these files and records a variety of information about them. These are all the files that we can see and open in Windows. Headers and footers can be used to identify the file as well as mark its beginning and end.Īllocated space refers to the data that the computer is using and keeping tabs on. File headers and footers are common examples of these characteristics or signatures. Files are identified in the unallocated space by certain unique characteristics. As you might imagine, tools can greatly speed up the process. The process is known as file carving and can be done manually or with the help of a tool.

The unallocated space on a hard drive can contain valuable evidence. John Sammons, in The Basics of Digital Forensics (Second Edition), 2015 More advanced File carving
