How to recover deleted files from hard disk

​Recovering deleted files from a hard disk can be a critical task, especially when the lost data includes important documents, photos, videos, or other valuable information. Although deletion might seem like a permanent loss, there are many ways to recover these files, depending on the circumstances of the deletion and the actions taken afterward. 

When you delete a file from your hard disk, it does not instantly vanish from the storage medium. Instead, the system marks the space occupied by the file as available for new data. Until that space is overwritten by new files, the original data remains on the disk, making recovery possible.

There are two main types of file deletion:

Soft Deletion: This happens when you delete files normally using your operating system (like deleting files and emptying the Recycle Bin or Trash). The file system simply marks the space as free but does not erase the actual data.

Hard Deletion: This occurs when files are deleted using methods that overwrite or securely erase the data, such as formatting the drive, using secure erase tools, or physically damaging the disk.

Understanding this difference is vital because the recovery methods depend on whether the deleted data has been overwritten or not.

Immediate Steps After File Deletion

Stop Using the Disk: The most crucial action after realizing you have deleted files is to stop using the hard disk immediately. Every new file saved to the disk increases the risk of overwriting the deleted files, reducing the chances of successful recovery.

Avoid Installing Recovery Software on the Same Disk: When you want to recover deleted files, do not install recovery programs on the drive where the files were deleted. Installing software on the same disk can overwrite lost files.

Check the Recycle Bin or Trash: Sometimes, deleted files are still recoverable from the system’s recycle bin or trash folder. If the files are there, restoring them is straightforward.

Identify the Type of Hard Disk: Recovery techniques vary slightly between traditional Hard Disk Drives (HDD) and Solid State Drives (SSD), mainly because SSDs handle data storage differently due to the TRIM command, which can erase deleted files more permanently.

Common Causes of File Deletion

Accidental deletion by users.

Formatting or reformatting the hard disk.

Corruption of file system or partition.

Malware or virus attacks.

Software errors or crashes.

Physical damage to the hard disk.

Each cause might require a slightly different recovery approach, which we will explore.

Recovery Options Based on the Situation

1. Recovering Files from the Recycle Bin or Trash

If you recently deleted the files, the first place to check is the Recycle Bin (Windows) or Trash (Mac). Files here can be restored easily:

Windows: Open Recycle Bin, locate your files, right-click, and select “Restore.”

Mac: Open Trash, select files, right-click, and choose “Put Back.”

If you have emptied the Recycle Bin or Trash, proceed to the next recovery methods.

2. Using File History, System Restore, or Backup

If you have a backup system enabled, such as Windows File History, macOS Time Machine, or any third-party backup, you can restore deleted files from these backups.

Windows File History:

Go to Control Panel > System and Security > File History.

Browse for the deleted files and restore.

Windows System Restore:

System Restore points might not recover personal files but can restore system files to a previous state.

macOS Time Machine:

Use Time Machine to browse and restore deleted files if backups exist.

If no backups are available, move to recovery software solutions.

File Recovery Software

There are many data recovery programs available that can scan your hard disk for recoverable files. These tools work by scanning the file system and raw disk sectors for traces of deleted files and reconstructing them.

Popular recovery software includes:

Panda Assistant

Panda Assistant is a data recovery software designed to help users recover deleted files from various storage devices, including hard disks. When files are accidentally deleted from a hard disk whether due to user error, formatting, virus attacks, or system crashes Panda Assistant can assist in retrieving those lost files efficiently.

Deleted files on a hard disk aren’t immediately erased; instead, the space they occupied is marked as available for new data. Until that space is overwritten, recovery is possible. Panda Assistant scans the hard disk deeply to locate recoverable files by analyzing file signatures and remnants left behind by the operating system. This allows it to restore a wide range of file types such as documents, photos, videos, and audio files.

Using Panda Assistant is straightforward. After installing the software (ideally on a different drive to avoid overwriting), users select the hard disk where files were lost and initiate a scan. The software then displays recoverable files, often with a preview option. Users can then choose which files to restore and save them to a safe location.

How Data Recovery Software Works

Recovery software scans the disk for file entries marked as deleted or attempts to recover files by scanning the raw disk sectors for file signatures (magic numbers) that identify the start and end of known file types. Depending on the file system and fragmentation, the software might recover entire files or just fragments.

Step-by-Step Guide to Using Recovery Software

Step 1: Prepare Recovery Environment

Connect the affected hard disk as a secondary drive if possible.

If using a laptop or desktop with only one drive, create a bootable USB with the recovery software.

Step 2: Install Recovery Software on a Different Disk

Install the chosen recovery tool on another drive or external USB to avoid overwriting deleted data.

Step 3: Run the Recovery Software

Launch the program and select the drive where files were deleted.

Choose the scan mode: quick scan for recently deleted files, or deep scan for thorough searching.

Wait for the scan to complete. This may take minutes to hours depending on disk size.

Step 4: Preview and Select Files to Recover

Most programs allow previewing files such as images and documents before recovery.

Step 5: Recover Files to a Different Drive

Select the files you want to recover and save them to a different storage device (external hard drive or USB).

Dealing with Formatted or Corrupted Drives

If the hard disk has been formatted or has file system corruption, recovery becomes more challenging but still possible.

Use deep scan modes in recovery software.

Use specialized tools like TestDisk to repair partitions or recover partition tables.

Avoid quick format options to increase chances of recovery; full format overwrites data making recovery harder.

Using TestDisk and PhotoRec for Advanced Recovery

TestDisk is a powerful open-source tool for recovering lost partitions and making non-booting disks bootable again. PhotoRec, from the same developers, focuses on file recovery by scanning disk sectors for file signatures.

Basic usage:

Download and run TestDisk.

Analyze the disk for lost partitions.

If partition recovery succeeds, files may be accessible again.

Otherwise, run PhotoRec to scan for file fragments.

These tools require some technical knowledge but are highly effective.

Recovering Data from SSDs

Solid State Drives handle deletion differently due to the TRIM command, which informs the drive to erase deleted data immediately to maintain speed and performance.

When TRIM is enabled (default in modern systems), recovery chances are lower because deleted files are wiped.

If TRIM is disabled or the drive is old, standard recovery tools might work.

Specialized recovery services may be necessary for SSDs with TRIM enabled.

Physical Damage and Professional Recovery Services

If the hard disk is physically damaged (clicking noises, not detected by the computer), software recovery is unlikely to work.

Stop trying to power the disk to avoid further damage.

Consult professional data recovery services which can open the drive in clean rooms and recover data using specialized equipment.

Be prepared for potentially high costs depending on damage severity.

Precautions to Increase Success Rate

Act Quickly: The sooner you try to recover files, the higher the chances.

Do Not Write New Data: Avoid saving new files on the affected disk.

Backup Regularly: Maintain backups to prevent data loss.

Use Reliable Software: Choose trusted recovery tools.

Avoid DIY Physical Repairs: Don’t open the drive yourself; this can cause permanent damage.

Preventing Future Data Loss

Use Cloud Backups: Services like Google Drive, OneDrive, or iCloud automatically back up files.

External Backup Drives: Regularly backup to an external hard disk.

Use RAID Systems: For critical data, RAID configurations provide redundancy.

Regular System Maintenance: Run disk checks and monitor drive health using tools like CrystalDiskInfo.

Be Cautious with Deletions: Double-check before deleting files or formatting drives.

Summary of Recovery Workflow

Stop using the drive immediately.

Check Recycle Bin/Trash.

Restore from backup if available.

Use file recovery software for soft-deleted files.

Use advanced tools (TestDisk/PhotoRec) for partitions and deep recovery.

Seek professional help for physical damage.

Backup recovered data and establish preventive measures.

Recovering deleted files from a hard disk is a process that combines understanding how file systems work, quick reaction to accidental deletions, and using the right software tools. While not all files can be recovered in every situation, especially with physical damage or TRIM-enabled SSDs, many scenarios allow successful retrieval of lost data. With careful action and appropriate tools, you can restore important files and protect yourself from future loss.

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