Recovering lost data from a formatted drive can be a critical task, especially if important files were inadvertently erased. Here’s a detailed step-by-step process to help you recover data without causing further loss:
Stop Using the Drive Immediately: As soon as you realize the drive has been formatted and you need to recover data, stop using it right away. Continued use can lead to overwriting the sectors where your data was stored, making recovery much more difficult or even impossible.
Assess the Situation: Determine the type of formatting that was performed. There are typically two types: quick format and full format. Quick format only removes the file system’s indexing while preserving the actual data, whereas full format also writes zeros to the data areas, which can complicate recovery.
Choose the Right Data Recovery Software: Select reliable data recovery software that supports the type of drive you are working with HDD, SSD, USB, etc. and can handle the file system NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, etc. Popular options include Recuva, Ease US Data Recovery Wizard, and Disk Drill. Ensure that the software supports formatted drives and offers a preview feature to assess recoverable files.
Install and Run the Software: Install the data recovery software on a different drive or computer to avoid overwriting data on the formatted drive. Launch the software and select the formatted drive as the target for recovery.
Scan the Drive: Initiate a scan of the formatted drive. Most recovery software offers two types of scans: a quick scan for recently deleted files and a deep scan for more thorough recovery. Opt for the deep scan if the quick scan does not find the data you need. The deep scan can take a significant amount of time but is more effective at locating recoverable files.
Review and Select Files for Recovery: Once the scan is complete, the software will present a list of recoverable files. Browse through the list to locate the files you want to recover. Some software tools offer a preview feature, which allows you to view the files before recovery. This helps in verifying that the files are intact and usable.
Recover the Files: Choose the files you want to recover and select a destination for saving them. It is crucial to save the recovered files to a different drive than the one from which you are recovering to prevent any risk of overwriting data on the original drive.
Verify Recovered Files: After recovery, How to Recover Data to check the files to ensure they are intact and properly restored. Open and test them to confirm their usability. If you encounter issues with any files, some advanced recovery software offers additional tools for repairing corrupted files.
Backup Your Data: To prevent future data loss, create regular backups of important files. Utilize external drives, cloud storage, or other backup solutions to ensure your data remains safe in case of accidental deletion or drive failure.
Consider Professional Help: If you are unable to recover the data yourself or if the drive is physically damaged, consider seeking professional data recovery services. Experts in this field have specialized tools and expertise that can handle more complex recovery scenarios.