Recovery of deleted files and data
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Every computer user has at some point used the delete function to remove files from Windows. Maybe your HDD is full and you need to free some more space, maybe your spring cleaning old files that you no longer use, or maybe you're clearing your Hard Drive so you can sell your computer.
The scary truth is that deleting a file does absolutely nothing to the files contents. The files and folders remain intact with all their contents.
Why?
Let me show you...
The scary truth is that deleting a file does absolutely nothing to the files contents. The files and folders remain intact with all their contents.
Why?
Let me show you...
To understand why this happends you have to know how data is stored on your HDD
When Windows creates a file on your HDD it stores the file contents over many sectors on the HDD depending on its size. The bigger the file the more sectors it will reserve. What also happens is file is the files location is then recorded in the FAT
Whats a FAT??
Stands for File Allocation Table. It's a database which maps out the files on your HDD. Similar to finding points on a alphanumeric grid. The FAT holds vital information such as the locations of files on the disk that are ready to be retrieved.When you delete a file, or a bunch of folders the HDD just simply marks the locations where this data was as free space in the FAT. The files and folders remain intact.
Okay So Deleting a file doesnt destroy the files contents. How do I securely destroy my data?
There are many programs on the Internet that can securely destroy data for FREE. You can find some good free ones by doing a Google search.They work by over writing the data with random characters before deleting the file and removing the files entries from the FAT.
A Word to the Wise
Most Eraser programs will destroy data beyond the point of recovery. After this data has been erased there's no going back. Even if you send your HDD to a specialist recovery Lab there's still a slim change that you will be able to get your data back. Use these tools with caution!
Ive removed all of the deleted file entries from the FAT Does this mean that my files can not be recovered
NOEven removing the old deleted file entries will not protect you. There is recovery software out there that will scan the empty clusters of your HDD for data that hasn't been marked as deleted. The process can take hours depending on the size of your disk but the files can be restored to their original state.
Some eraser programs have the ability to fill your HDD's free space which will overwrite any files that remain there. This is often a very slow process and can take days depending on the speed and size of your drive but it's the only way to guarantee that your drive is clean.
My HDD has died and I didnt make a backup Can I still recover my data
This depends really on the fault. Sometimes you might be lucky to remove the dyeing HDD and attach as a secondary drive to another computer to begin recovering your data.However if the drive is catastrophically failing you may only end up shorting its life and copying corrupt files. Where a dyeing HDD is concerned it's only a matter of time before the failure become imminent.
If you find yourself in the situation where your HDD is completely dead, the motor doesn't spin, the PCB has burnt out or it's just not detected in windows anymore there are still further options.
You can send your HDD to a recovery specialist. Now this isn't cheap and there's never any 100% guarantee that you can get all of your data back.
I deleted an important file I need to get this back
If you have recently deleted the file, there's a good chance that you can get it back. There are lots of free file recovery programs that you can download and use. Just Google search File recovery.As I stated earlier on when files are deleted their contents are not touched just the file entries are changed in the FAT. There is a possibility that these files could be overwritten by new files. If you're hoping to recover lost files from your PC's HDD don't leave it until the last minute.
There is one exception if you used one of the file eraser programs that I talked about in the start of the article you won't be able to recover your data. You might be lucky if you recover the file however the contents will likely be corrupt due to the program writing 0's and 1's over the data.
eBay
One last Tip
Never Ever Open a HDD
The surface of your HDD is made of a delicate material that is very easily damaged. All HDD's are sealed and made air tight in order to keep out dust and airborne particles.
Removing the cover of your HDD will spell Doom for any data that was left on there. The fine dust particles in the air are like daggers and destroy the surface of the HDD this happens on a microscopic level so tiny your eyes don't see it.
Watch this video below that shows how a recovery expert replaces the heads in a HDD and copies the data from the drive.
Removing the cover of your HDD will spell Doom for any data that was left on there. The fine dust particles in the air are like daggers and destroy the surface of the HDD this happens on a microscopic level so tiny your eyes don't see it.
Watch this video below that shows how a recovery expert replaces the heads in a HDD and copies the data from the drive.
Comments Questions
Tell me what you think of this lens?
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KonaGirl
Apr 30, 2012 @ 12:35 pm | delete
- Great information! I always wondered exactly what the FAT was on a PC. *Squid Angel Blessed* and added to "My Squid Angel Blessings for 2012" in the "Computers & Electronics » PCs" neighborhood. Good job.
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data1122
Apr 23, 2012 @ 11:35 am | delete
- Great post. If you need recover raid array can use raid recovery tool here
http://raidlabs.com
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AlishaRay
Feb 15, 2012 @ 1:22 am | delete
- Wow! nice post about recovery of deleted files & data. I want to share exchange edb recovery tool software that recovers lost or corrupted data of ms exchange server.
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BarbieJolly
Feb 14, 2012 @ 2:20 am | delete
- Wow! what a nice lens it is. There is edb to pst tool software that recovers lost data of ms exchange database.
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kenarok
Jan 19, 2012 @ 8:26 pm | delete
- making lots of effort before catch up to this lens..thanks for your kindness put such a lot of useful solution here :)
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jennifir
Jan 6, 2012 @ 12:31 am | delete
- Wow ! Thanks for sharing such a lovely information. Yes, you are right its a nice way to recover data. but I want to share Windows Vista Deleted File Recovery you can recover lost/deleted or formatted files easily with quick recovery - windows data recovery software!
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jennifir
Jan 5, 2012 @ 4:00 am | delete
- Wow ! Thanks for sharing such a lovely information. Yes, you are right its a nice way to save to data.Here I would like to share Windows Data Recovery Software this software is very user friendly and supports all types of window file system like NTFS5, NTFS, FAT16 and FAT32.
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Satish111
Dec 23, 2011 @ 1:31 am | delete
- This lens about data and file recovery is very useful and informative. But I would like ti share EDB to PST Conversion software. This software is the best software I ever used.
TO know more visit: http://edb-to-pst-conversion.blogspot.com/
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jennifir
Dec 21, 2011 @ 2:00 am | delete
- A very nice post it is. I have been seeking this type of knowledge for a long time and by posting this article you have made my work so much easier. This site always gives me outstanding knowledge. Here I would like to share Windows File Recovery you can recover deleted, lost, missing, corrupted and damaged data from hard drive, floppy disk or another media within seconds.
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aaronsm
Dec 19, 2011 @ 1:17 am | delete
- Great lens, you are certainly very passionate about recovery and have put a lot of effort into sharing your knowledge. but I want to share Windows 7 Deleted File Recovery it provides a tech savvy person a perfect platform for advance computing.
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simonwade
Dec 15, 2011 @ 11:20 pm | delete
- very cool lens with nice data recovery tips & suggestions. But seems you ignore the Mac users. hah, see my lens recover deleted files mac os x. Best regards.
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Amitabh111
Dec 13, 2011 @ 1:08 am | delete
- Hi..... NIce lens about recovery of files and data. The edb file recovery software is Quick Recovery email conversion software. For more visit: http://www.unistal.com/exchange-recovery-tool.html
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JulieDisouza
Dec 12, 2011 @ 2:13 am | delete
- Nice lens about data and file recovery software. Thanks for sharing such a useful information. Here I would like to share an Exchange Email Recovery software
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cintrondigitalmedia
Nov 5, 2011 @ 10:08 am | delete
- great lens
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JakeFinch
Oct 28, 2011 @ 4:40 pm | delete
- very useful information to have
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