Reply To: encrypted files showing up un-encrypted in C:\users

[Wilberforce]

are they simply deleted in unencrypted format which could then be recovered using file recovery software

Yes.

Using AxCrypt is no substitute for full-disk encryption such as BitLocker as this would thwart the attack you talk about.

If an attacker can get access to your unencrypted hard drive then Secure Delete does very little.