Is it Possible to Recover Deleted Files?
Don't feel bad; everyone's done it. Sometimes that "delete" key gets the better of even the most experienced computer user. As computers slow down and performance suffers, a good cleaning of the hard disk almost always helps. Unwanted programs are uninstalled, old files are deleted, temporary files are cleaned out, the Recycle Bin is emptied, disk defragmenter is run – but wait! In all that cleaning, did you get overzealous? Did you just realize that you accidentally deleted something you shouldn't have? Arrgh! Did you really empty the Recycle Bin?
The good news is that you can recover deleted files, even if you did empty the Recycle Bin. In order to retrieve deleted files, you will need the right tools and a basic understanding of how it's possible to recover deleted files in the first place.
Most computer users think that once the Recycle Bin is emptied, the file is permanently erased. This isn't the case. The file is removed from view. You can no longer access it via normal means. However, it isn't instantly zapped the moment you click the delete button. Only the reference to the file in the file system's master index is removed. The file remains until some other program or file comes along and takes its place.
Because the files are still there but vulnerable to future overwriting, you must act quickly if you want to retrieve deleted files. First, stop what you're doing on your computer. You can't risk writing data to the disk because of the potential for permanent loss. This means you shouldn't install a new program or create new files. Even downloading Windows updates, anti-virus updates, and other routine processes can overwrite your data making it impossible to recover deleted files.
Next, get your hands on a good data recovery software utility. Many of these utilities offer a free download so that you can see if your data is recoverable to start with. Once you've determined that the file still exists, you will need to pay the fee for the full featured version. Before you download, make sure to download the program to a disk other than the one that holds the deleted files such as a floppy or CD-R.
Most data recovery utilities run from the floppy or CD without needing to be installed on the drive. This is important because the installation itself could overwrite your lost data. Make sure to keep that in mind so that you can retrieve deleted files without further data loss.
You can recover deleted files from your hard disk, CDs, DVDs, floppies, USB flash devices, removable storage, ZIP drives, Memory Sticks, SmartCards, and other types of storage media. In addition, you can retrieve deleted files from MP3 players and cameras so long as they show up as a drive letter when connected to your computer. Look for a data recovery utility that addresses your specific situation and get to work before it's too late to recover deleted files.
