NTFS Deleted File Recovery — $LogFile and $MFT Artifacts
During a forensic investigation of a Windows 10 system, you need to analyze the file system to recover deleted files. Which TWO file system artifacts would be most useful for this purpose?
Quick Answer
The answer is the $MFT (Master File Table) and the $LogFile. These two NTFS deleted file recovery artifacts are the most useful because the $MFT stores a record for every file and directory on the volume, and even after deletion, its entry—including file attributes and data runs—remains intact until overwritten by new data. The $LogFile, meanwhile, logs metadata changes as transactional records, allowing an investigator to replay recent deletions to recover file names and directory structures. On the Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator CHFI exam, this question tests your understanding of NTFS forensic artifacts and how they differ from file slack or unallocated space; a common trap is choosing the $UsnJrnl (Update Sequence Number Journal) instead, which tracks changes but not the full file record needed for recovery. To remember the pair, think of the $MFT as the file’s permanent address book and the $LogFile as its recent activity log—together, they reconstruct what was removed.
⚠ Common exam trap
EC-Council often tests the misconception that $Bitmap is the primary artifact for file recovery, but it only shows which clusters are free, not the file names or metadata needed to reconstruct deleted files.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
$LogFile
The $MFT (Master File Table) is correct because it is the core NTFS metadata structure that contains a record for every file and directory, including entries for deleted files whose records may still hold the filename, timestamps, size, and data run locations needed for recovery. The $LogFile is correct because it is NTFS's transaction journal, which records metadata changes such as file creation, deletion, and renaming, allowing investigators to reconstruct prior states and corroborate evidence of deleted files. The $Boot file is not the best choice because it primarily stores volume boot code and basic geometry/BPB parameters, not per-file records. The $Volume file holds volume label and version information, which is not useful for recovering deleted files. The $Bitmap tracks cluster allocation (which clusters are in use versus free) and can help locate unallocated space, but by itself it does not preserve deleted file metadata or names the way the $MFT and $LogFile do.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
$LogFile
Why this is correct
The $LogFile records transactional metadata changes, letting you reconstruct directory entries and cluster allocations before deletion, which supports recovering deleted files on NTFS. It satisfies the Windows 10 NTFS constraint directly, unlike FAT-based artifacts. Paired with $MFT, it exposes the pre-deletion state needed for forensic reconstruction.
- ✗
$Boot file
Why it's wrong here
$Boot holds volume boot code and BIOS parameter block data, giving no record of deleted file entries or their clusters. It is tempting because it is a core NTFS metadata file, but recovery relies on $MFT records and $LogFile transactions, not boot-sector contents.
- ✓
$MFT (Master File Table)
Why this is correct
$MFT holds one record per file, including name, timestamps, size and data runs. When a file is deleted, its record is marked unallocated but often retains this metadata, letting examiners recover the file or its fragments.
- ✗
$Volume
Why it's wrong here
$Volume stores the volume label, version and dirty flag; it contains no filename, timestamp or cluster-allocation data for deleted files. It is tempting as a core NTFS metadata file, but $MFT and $LogFile are the artifacts that actually track deleted entries and their clusters.
- ✗
$Bitmap
Why it's wrong here
$Bitmap tracks cluster allocation, so it identifies which clusters are free or in use, not the deleted file's name, path or content. It is genuinely useful for spotting unallocated space where deleted data may linger, but recovery requires $MFT records and $LogFile entries that preserve the filename, timestamps and data runs.
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on CHFI
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. You are a forensic investigator responding to an incident on a Windows 10 workstation used by a finance manager. The user reports that a critical spreadsheet containing quarterly budget data was accidentally deleted from the Desktop yesterday at approximately 3:00 PM. The system has been used normally since then, and the user has not emptied the Recycle Bin. You have created a forensic image of the drive using FTK Imager. The Recycle Bin contains a file named 'Quarterly_Budget.xlsx', but it appears to be a shortcut (size 1 KB). The user insists the original file was several megabytes. You need to recover the original file. Which action should you take next?
easy- ✓ A.Search the $Recycle.Bin folder on the forensic image to locate the original file data, which may be stored under a different name.
- B.Restore a previous version of the Desktop folder from Volume Shadow Copy.
- C.Use file carving techniques to recover the file from unallocated space on the Desktop.
- D.Check the Recycle Bin on the live system; the file should be there and can be restored.
Why A: When a file is moved to the Recycle Bin on Windows 10, the original file data is not stored in the Recycle Bin itself; instead, a hidden file (with a random name) is created in the `$Recycle.Bin` folder on the volume, and a shortcut (the visible entry) is placed in the Recycle Bin. The shortcut points to the hidden file, which retains the original data. Since the visible entry is only 1 KB, the actual file content must be located in the `$Recycle.Bin` folder under a different name, making option A the correct next step.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CHFI practice question is part of Courseiva's free EC-Council certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CHFI exam.