Ever imagined what it would if your drive which has all your important documents and precious data is crashed by mistake, it would be a heart-stopping moment, right! This is the common situation which most of us have faced once in our lifetime, or may come across ahead. But before you feel everything is over and all the data is lost, take a deep breath. Fortunately, Windows effective ways to recover our default data. This guide will walk you through the process step by step, using a combination of powerful recovery software and manual techniques. Finally, you will be equipped with the knowledge to recover your lost files and protect data from future accidents.
Understanding Data Loss Due to Formatting
Formatting a drive in Windows is a common process for preparing it for cleaning or other use. However, formatting can sometimes cause accidental loss of data. When you format the drive, the space allocated for it is marked free to store new data, this happens as the original files are not deleted immediately; instead, their information is removed from the file system. That is why it is important to stop using a formatted drive immediately to increase the chances of a successful recovery.
Recovering Data Using Stellar Windows Data Recovery Software
- Stop Using the Drive
As soon as you realize you formatted the drive incorrectly or by mistake, stop using it. Continued use of the drive can cause new data to be overwritten by old data, making recovery difficult or even impossible.
- Choose the Right Data Recovery Software
There are several data recovery programs available that can help recover formatted data. For this guide, we’ll focus on one of the best windows data recovery software of Stellar, because it is a reliable and powerful tool for data recovery on Windows.
- Download and Install Stellar Data Recovery
Visit the official website of Stellar and download the software. Install the software on a different drive than the one you are trying to recover data from to avoid overwriting any recoverable files.
- Launch Stellar Data Recovery
Open the Stellar windows data recovery software after installation. On the main interface, you’ll see options to recover different types of data. You can select specific types like documents, photos, videos, etc., or choose “All Data” for a comprehensive scan.
- Select the Drive to Scan
Choose the formatted drive from the list of available drives. Click on the “Scan” button to start the scanning process.
- Scan the Drive
Stellar Data Recovery will perform a quick scan first to find recoverable data. If the quick scan doesn’t find all the data, you can perform a deep scan. The deep scan takes longer but is more thorough and can find more files.
- Preview and Select Files to Recover
Once the scan is complete, Stellar will display a list of recoverable files. Preview the files to ensure they are intact. Select the files you want to recover and click the “Recover” button.
- Save the Recovered Files
Choose a different drive or storage location to save the recovered files to avoid overwriting the formatted data. Wait for the recovery process to complete, and then check the saved files to ensure they are correctly recovered.
Handy Methods for Data Recovery
In addition to using software, there are a few manual methods you can try to assist in data recovery:
Using File History
If you have File History set up on your Windows system, you can restore previous versions of your files:
- Right-click on the folder where the formatted data was located.
- Select “Restore previous versions.”
- Choose the version you want to restore and click “Restore.”
Checking for Temporary Files
Sometimes, temporary files can hold the key to your lost data:
- Open the folder where the data was stored.
- Look for files with extensions like .tmp or files that seem like they could be the missing data.
- Rename the file to its original extension and try to open it.
Using System Restore
System Restore can sometimes help recover system files and settings that may include your lost data:
- Type “System Restore” in the Windows search bar and select “Create a restore point.”
- Click on “System Restore” and follow the prompts.
- Choose a restore point before the data loss occurred and restore your system.
Conclusion
Accidental formatting can be a frustrating experience, but with the right tools and knowledge you can recover your lost data. Using Stellar Windows Data Recovery software provides an effective solution for recovering custom data on Windows. Additionally, implementing preventive measures such as regular backups and file management can help prevent future data loss. Remember, the key to successful recovery is to work quickly and avoid using a formatted drive until the recovery is complete.
