Recovery utility after formatting. File recovery. Disk Drill – to recover deleted files

Quite often, PC users are faced with an unpleasant situation when they need to recover deleted files from hard drive that were erased by mistake or accident. The system marks such data as “zero”, after which other information can be written on top of it. When recording other data, when the user fills the free disk space, the original files will be lost forever.

Therefore, today we will tell you how to recover data from a hard drive or flash drive and whether it is possible not to lose it forever!

What not to do and what is better to do:

  • Under no circumstances should you install programs or save files to the disk on which the deleted files were located - this will increase the chances of their successful recovery.
  • For further work recommended to use external drive.

You can turn to specialists to extract data, but their work is usually too expensive. Doing the restoration yourself is also quite possible. In order not to encounter this problem, read about what may indicate that.

Programs for recovering deleted files

R.Saver

Eat special programs recovery deleted files, the best of them is R.Saver. For the most part, these programs are suitable not only for working with computer disks, but also for external media. You can download the program to recover deleted files using the button below

There is a possibility that the information will only be partially restored, but you will have to come to terms with this. To get the best results from the program, you should install it on an external drive, run it from there and follow the instructions.

Free, but very effective program R.Saver can:

  • recover deleted files from a flash drive or disk;
  • reconstruct damaged file systems;
  • return data after formatting;
  • recover deleted files using signatures.

At the end there will be a list of other programs for recovering deleted files from your computer.

We will check how R.Saver recovers files after standard removal from the storage medium. To do this, take an ordinary USB flash drive with a file NTFS system, let's create on it separate folder, let's save several various documents, and then delete them.

In the main program window, call context menu and select “Search for lost data.”

In the next window, click “No”, since we deleted the data manually and not by formatting.

We wait until the scanning process is completed.

After scanning we will see remote folder, and inside it are our documents.

Determine the save location, click “Select”.

That's all.

Recuva

One of the most promising products. The program is free, Russified and does not cause any difficulties in learning.

Recuva will find deleted files from your computer or external media and immediately resuscitate them. After downloading and installing it on your computer or external drive, you should do the following actions:

  • After starting the recovery wizard, mark all the data that should be restored;
  • Mark the section or folder where the lost data was;
  • After this, scanning of the marked folders and searching for deleted files begins. Longer in time, but showing top scores, there will be an in-depth scanning function;
  • Recuva will then retrieve the lost data from your hard drive or external storage device. For external media, the sequence of actions will be the same as for a hard drive;
  • The program highlights all found data in different colors. Green - which were completely removed, yellow - which were partially restored, red - which remained deleted with the loss of all information.

At the final stage, you need to mark the folder where all the files will be saved.

R-Studio

Paid, but professional program. In demo mode, it allows you to recover documents no larger than 256 KB in size. Will return everything accidentally lost or missing after formatting or virus attack data from a hard drive or removable media. All are in the list of supported popular versions Windows.

Practical interface and advanced functionality with additional features will delight the most demanding users. How to recover deleted files from using R-Studio- the algorithm of actions after downloading will be as follows:

  • In the main R-Studio window, you need to select the disk/partition from which recovery will be performed and click “Scan”.

  • After scanning, you need to click “Show disk contents”, mark everything that can be recovered, and then click “Recover those marked...”

The program will be able to bring back to life not only individual documents, but also entire partitions on the hard drive.

Starus File Recovery

Program for a short time find and return missing data to your computer or external media. It is shareware.

  • Before starting the search, you will need to install Starus File Recovery and start scanning from the place where the data was deleted.
  • After recovery, when the user is presented with a message about successful operation, the program will offer the function preview for sorting.
  • Mark necessary files and a place to save them. You can write data to a CD, flash drive, virtual image or (if large quantities information) send via FTP connection.

Have a great day!

When an important file is lost, a document you spent a week on is erased, and photos disappear from a suddenly formatted memory card, there is no need to worry ahead of time. When you delete a file from the disk, its description in the system is erased. The set of bytes that made up the file remains in place until something else is written on top of them. So you can try to recover your data using any of these applications.

Be careful if you install applications on a drive where deleted files were located. There is a risk that application files will be overwritten during installation. It is better to select another partition or physical disk for installation.

Platform: Windows.
Price: free, $19.95 for premium version.

Recuva can recover data lost by mistake, for example from an accidentally emptied Recycle Bin. The program can return photos from an accidentally formatted memory card in the camera or music from an empty MP3 player. Any media is supported, even iPod memory.

Platform: Windows, Mac.
Price: free, $89 for premium version.

Disk Drill is a data recovery application for Mac, but there is also a version for Windows. This program supports most types of disks, files and file systems. With its help you can restore erased files due to Recovery functions Protection, as well as find and clean up the disk. However free version does not allow you to recover files lost before Disk installations Drill.

Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, SunOS, DOS.
Price: for free.

Very functional and universal application with open source code. Him text interface, but it’s not difficult to figure it out.

TestDisk supports great amount file formats. In addition, the program can be burned to a LiveCD to recover data from a disk on which the system does not boot. The utility can recover a damaged boot sector or lost data.

TestDisk comes with the PhotoRec program, which recovers erased files, photos, music and videos.

4. R-Undelete

Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux.
Price: the free version recovers files up to 256 KB in size; $79.99 per full version.

R-Undelete is part of R-Studio. It's a whole family powerful programs for data recovery. Supported file systems are FAT12/16/32/exFAT, NTFS, NTFS5, HFS/HFS+, UFS1/UFS2 and Ext2/Ext3/Ext4.

R-Studio applications can recover deleted data as local disks, and over the network. In addition to data recovery, the utilities provide tools for advanced partition copying and searching for bad blocks on disks.

Platform: Windows.
Price: free in trial mode with recovery of up to 1 GB of data; $69.95 for full version.

Eassos Recovery recovers deleted files, photos, text documents and more than 550 file formats. The application has a very simple and clear interface.

Platform: Windows.
Price: the free version does not save found files; $37.95 for full version.

Developer Hetman provides a set of recovery utilities various types data: entire sections or individual photographs and documents. The program supports everything hard disks, flash cards, SD and microSD.

Platform: Windows.
Price: free, $19.97 included with Glary Utilities.

Glary Undelete can recover any deleted files, including compressed, fragmented or encrypted ones. Filtering of recovered data is supported.

You know more convenient and functional applications for data recovery? Tell us about them in the comments.

Programs for recovering deleted or lost files are quite popular. With their help you can return lost important files or folders.

To restore, you do not have to seek the services of professionals in this field. Using these programs, you can carry out recovery operations yourself.

Our selection of programs in Russian will allow you to restore this data without any problems.

DiskDigger reliable program to recover lost data. First of all, I would like to note that this application does not require installation. Therefore, it can be run from a portable device. Another important advantage is the presence of powerful algorithms. They allow you to efficiently recover data. The program has a simple and intuitive interface that is suitable for novice users. Download for free Disk Digger Pro 1.20.12.2767 in Russian + license key Password for all archives: 1progs Main features of the DiskDigger program: In-depth…

If you accidentally performed a quick format hard section disk or flash drive, then it’s okay: the information can be restored using special programs. Deleted data will be returned with a 99% probability if you select the right utility and do everything according to the instructions.

Recovery rules

For data recovery to be successful, you must comply with the main requirement - do not write new information to the media from which files have been deleted. Deleted data is not destroyed without a trace - only information about it in the file table is overwritten.

Important: Do not save recovered data on a disk from which it was previously deleted. Use removable drive or another hard drive partition.

Formatted data can be restored only if quick formatting (by headers) was used. After deep marking, it is almost impossible to return information at home.

Using Recuva

First, try recovering files after formatting your system using the free Recuva program. As tests show, this utility returns more than 80% of files after formatting the system or removable drive.

A list of files found after formatting the system will appear. Deleted data, which is marked with a green circle, can be restored without problems - they are fully functional. If the file is marked yellow or red, then it will not be possible to return it: when formatting the system, the data was damaged.

Other free programs

Recuva does not find all erased data, so sometimes it becomes necessary to use other programs. So that you do not get confused among the variety of software, the description of which indicates what it returns deleted information After formatting the system, we will highlight two proven utilities - MiniTool Power Data Recovery and /TestDisk.

The first program is shareware - you can save no more than 1024 MB at a time. If the deleted data takes up a smaller volume, then there will be no problems with returning it. The second utility is completely free and recovers any amount of information.

Working with MiniTool Power Data Recovery:


If the capabilities of MiniTool Power Data Recovery are not enough for you, use the PhotoRec/TestDisk utility, with which you can recover files in almost any situation: after partitioning, in case of a file system failure, etc. There is one procedure for all problems:

  1. Launch the program and select the disk you will work with.
  2. Specify the formatted partition or removable storage. Click "Search".
  3. Select the "Other" file system.
  4. Start scanning mode "Free".
  5. Use the arrows to select the folder where you want to restore the files and press "C".

The data will be saved to the directory you specified. The files may change name, but there should be no problems running them.

If you are lost valuable files, do not rush to fall into depression: recovering information from a hard drive is possible, and you can do it yourself.

A file deleted from the hard drive actually remains on the same sectors of the disk. In the file table it is marked “zero”. As long as this information is not overwritten, the files are recoverable.

The most important thing is to choose the right tool. We have selected best programs to recover data on your hard drive. In the review we will list necessary functions programs, we will briefly describe how they work.

2. TestDisk – recovery of deleted HDD partitions (Windows / Mac OS / Linux)


Strict console interface of the TestDisk program

TestDisk is a program for data recovery and . Supports file systems FAT, NTFS, ext2, etc. Works only from command line, detailed documentation will help you understand the commands.

It makes sense to use the program in cases where data has been lost

  • as a result of errors in the file table,
  • in the presence of bad blocks
  • in case of accidental deletion HDD partition.

IN similar cases other utilities, like Recuva or PhotoRec, may not do the job.

With TestDisk you can restore boot sectors, fix tables in FAT, Master File Table - in general, fix errors on the hard drive, which often cause files to be deleted.

If operating system does not boot and/or you are running Linux, you can make a byte-by-byte copy of the HDD partitions and restore files safely, avoiding overwriting.

If TestDisk did not help or seemed complicated, test PhotoRec (see below), since the programs are distributed in a common archive.

3. PhotoRec – recovery of photos and videos on your hard drive (Windows, Linux, Mac OS)

PhotoRec main window: search and save settings

PhotoRec is a cross-platform program for recovering data from disk. Searches by file signatures and works best at finding deleted images and videos.

In total, PhotoRec covers about 300 file types and 480 file extensions. Data recovery is performed both on the hard drive and removable media– flash drives, memory cards.

You can download the program for free for desktop. Major file systems are supported, including NTFS, FAT, exFAT, ext2/3/4, partially ReiserFS, etc.

Complete with the program - console TestDisk utility. Let us remind you that it is intended for restoration deleted partitions, corrections boot entry on the disk and other errors on the HDD.

Note. Despite the fact that data recovery on the disk takes place in read mode. When saving files, you must specify a directory on another drive - otherwise the deleted data will be overwritten.

4. Diskdigger for PC

Diskdigger exists on desktop and mobile editions. We will be looking at the Windows version. It supports HDD, SSD, SD cards and USB flash drives and virtual disks(VHD/VDI, etc.) connected to a computer.

The program offers you to choose one of two scanning options – Dig deep or Dig Deeper.

Accordingly, the Dig deep method is suitable for recovering files on a hard drive, deleting files to the Recycle Bin, deleting any data in the FAT, exFAT and NTFS file system.

The Dig Deeper recovery method will be extremely useful in more complex cases involving the deletion of information. This method involves searching for files by signatures, bypassing the file system. Scanning in Dig Deeper mode will take much longer than Dig deep.

It should be noted that the desktop version of Diskdigger has user-friendly interface and allows you to flexibly configure the search for files on the HDD. It is convenient to use previews when restoring and saving results as a list or thumbnails. In general, Diskdigger is designed for photo, audio and video recovery, similar to PhotoRec.

5. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard (Windows)

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is an excellent, although not free, program for recovering deleted files from the HDD. However, 500 MB can be restored without purchasing the full version. To do this, just download the 30-day trial version of the product on the website.

Scenarios in which the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard will be useful:

  • Deleting files bypassing the Recycle Bin (via Shift+Delete)
  • Removing an entire HDD partition
  • Fast hard formatting disk
  • File corruption, or bad blocks
  • Hard disk partition is defined as raw

The program interface is simple, it will be useful for beginners step by step wizard settings. It allows you to choose file types, scanning type (Quick Scan / Deep Scan). As the scan progresses, you can view the results in a convenient preview window.

That's why EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is great for image and video recovery.


Interface EaseUS programs Data Recovery Wizard

Data Recovery Wizard supports data recovery from hard drive, SSD, memory card, USB flash drive.

The list of supported operating systems includes Windows 8, 7, Vista, XP, Server 2008 and 2003, 2000 and older.

Stellar Phoenix Windows Data Recovery supports more than 300 file extensions, is suitable for recovering deleted partitions on HDD/SSD, and ignores read errors. The description states that the main file systems for searching files are FAT, NTFS and ExFAT. However Phoenix Windows Data Recovery can bypass and detect files regardless of the file system type. To do this, use a signature search, which is activated by the Deep Scan option.


Stellar Phoenix Windows Data Recovery main window: disk selection

The Technician version of the program will be indispensable if the files were in a RAID archive and one of the array disks failed. Other versions of the program also have useful additions For Reserve copy. However for home use Home or Professional versions will be optimal (cost from $60 to $100).

7. Minitool Power Data Recovery – a program for recovering files from a hard drive

Minitool Power Data Recovery is a program for recovering data from damaged, faulty hard drives, emergency hdds - those that are not detected on the computer.


MiniTool Power Data Recovery main window: selecting a disk partition

Some features of the utility:

  • Power Data Recovery recovers entire disks, works with dynamic disks large sizes(> 1 TB), RAID arrays,
  • when scanning, it bypasses errors, cyclically reads data, bad blocks, switches the head to a “sparing” mode when reading information from the disk,
  • works with FAT 16/32 file systems,
  • The “deep scan” option allows you to find deleted files that are not detected during normal scanning,
  • Free recovery of 1024 MB of any data.

How to recover information from a hard drive

The program has a step-by-step data recovery wizard. After selecting Logical drive and clicking the Scan button, a list of Scan Results will be displayed. Files are sorted by File name, Size, Creation date.

Video on how to use Power Data Recovery:

8. Undelete Plus (Windows)


Main window interface Undelete Plus

Undelete Plus is a shareware program for recovering deleted files. Supports recovery:

Undelete Plus works on all versions of Windows and supports storage devices with the FAT or NTFS file system.

Similar to Recuva, the program determines the probability of recovery for found files. You can sort results by type, set filters by time and size.

9. Glary Undelete: recovering information from your hard drive

Glary Undelete free program to recover deleted files from HDD, easy to use, with a convenient user interface.


Recovery to HDD using Glary programs Undelete

Glary Undelete recovers files from hard drives, SSD, any removable media devices - memory cards, USB flash drives etc.

There are no settings, to get started you need to click Start. There is a filter by name/date/size. The sidebar allows you to group results by file extension. The probability of recovery for each file can be found in the “Status” column.

10. R-Studio - a popular program for recovering data from a hard drive

11. Puran File Recovery - a simple program for recovering from FAT/NTFS drives

This is not to say that Puran File Recovery stands out from other data recovery programs in the review. However, we list the main functional features this free product.

Puran File Recovery works with Windows 8, 7, Vista, and XP. The application is available in portable form and for 32-bit and 64-bit Windows versions, therefore does not require installation. The program has a simple and fast interface.

FAT12/16/32 and NTFS file systems are supported. If the disk is deleted or has a raw format, the Full Scan option will allow you to detect the partition and then recover data from the hard disk in normal mode.

There are two modes for recovering data from HDD - fast and deep (byte-by-byte) scanning of deleted information. At deep scanning not easy search is underway Based on entries in the file table, Puran File Recovery scans known patterns, trying to detect a particular format. By the way, the utility can recognize about 50 file types.

Found files are restored, preserving full paths and names (if possible). Before saving to disk, the user can sort the recovery results and familiarize themselves with the files in preview mode.


Tools included in Puran File Recovery

Other disk recovery programs

  • (Now " EASEUS Data Recovery"): professional recovery of damaged information in file systems FAT and NTFS.
  • Data Rescue PC3: program for searching deleted files from Prosoft Engineering, supports FAT and NTFS file systems
  • : a program for recovering files and SSD partitions for Windows and .
  • FileSalvage: data recovery from disk, resuscitation of deleted/damaged information
  • : works under Microsoft Windows 2000 and higher, supports FAT, NTFS and HFS file systems, RAID arrays.
  • : Recovers damaged data on NTFS partitions, HFS, FAT 16/32.

Answers to readers' questions

1. The lid of a Lenovo laptop was accidentally slammed shut. I don’t know whether it was because of this or not, Windows itself reinstalled itself and all the information from the Desktop disappeared. Then a window with a red Windows cross appeared. There it was suggested that we print out the instructions and save them on a flash drive, something about the hard drive and not use the computer until we restore the hard drive. What should I do, I would like to recover files on my hard drive :-)

2. There were files on the Desktop. They disappeared. I only found the names in MS Word. Please help me so that I can work with them as before.

Answer. The answer will be short. See programs for recovering data from a hard drive in the list above. Indicate in the list the system drive on which WIndows was installed. If you need to return some files from the Desktop, when scanning, specify “[system drive letter] > Users > [User name] > Desktop.

After reinstalling the system, photos and videos were not copied to HDD and, apparently, left. Is it possible now free recovery data from hdd?

Answer. The question is imprecise in its wording, but it is not difficult to answer. Use any recovery program mentioned in the article. Actually, before the data recovery process, it is highly undesirable to use the hard drive to write and read information, so if possible, install the software on another medium and do not work in the OS before you begin restoring data on the disk.

Yesterday I deleted the entire folder on my hard drive. There was 1 GB of content, there were many folders and other valuable data! I looked a few times and there was nothing there. Then I went and deleted the entire folder, but it turns out that there were my hidden photos and videos... How to recover data from a hard drive?

Answer. Almost any data recovery program is suitable for these purposes. For example, R-Studio, Minitool Power Data Recovery, Power Data Recovery or Recuva. In general, there is a lack of similar programs no, choose any one, read the instructions on Softdroid and start recovery.

I uploaded files to the mail.ru cloud, after a few days the files disappeared. Before that I logged in from another device - the files were there! Is it possible to recover files for free?

Answer. Yes, recovering files from your hard drive is quite possible if you have synchronized files uploaded to the Mail.ru cloud with your PC. To do this, you need to use R-Studio, Minitool Power Data Recovery or other tools. After installing a file recovery program, point it to the drive where the synchronized cloud files were located. Further actions, I assume you know.

My son's favorite game on the computer crashed. I wanted to download it for him again, but he doesn’t want to start it from the very beginning. It says "application error". Will data recovery programs help? Thanks in advance.

Answer. Theoretically, you can recover files ( deleted saves games) using programs to recover data from your hard drive. To do this, find out where the saves of a particular game are stored, run a search for files, etc., everything as usual when restoring. However, it is not entirely clear how your saves were lost and in what circumstances this happened. It is quite possible that you do not need the help of data recovery programs, since many games store saves in the user Windows folder separate from the actual gaming application. Reinstall the game and see if you can open saves within the game.

The information has been erased. After recovering lost files I have corrupted files which I don’t know how to restore. The information is very necessary. How to recover a damaged file? Tell me the way out.

Answer. This information is not enough to answer your question correctly. If you restored files yourself and as a result received some of the information in a damaged form, this means that the deleted files have already been overwritten new information, and this process is irreversible.

It is less likely that you used low-quality recovery software or selected the wrong scanning mode. However, we suggest that you try to recover damaged files again using .