Recovering deleted files from a formatted computer can seem daunting, but is often possible with the right tools and techniques. When a computer is formatted, the reference to the files is removed from the file system, but the actual data usually remains on the hard drive until it is overwritten by new data. By using file recovery software, you can scan the hard drive and rebuild the file system to regain access to formatted files. The chances of recovery depend on several factors, but following some best practices can significantly improve your results.
Can I recover files after formatting my computer?
Yes, it is often possible to recover deleted files even after formatting your computer. When Windows or other operating systems format a drive, they do not actually erase the data on the disk. Instead, the format process removes information about where files are located and marks the space on the drive as available for new data. Your files remain in place until they are overwritten.
Formatting does make data recovery trickier because it deletes the file system structure. This means recovery tools have to scan the entire drive and piece the files back together without an index. However, as long as the deleted files have not been overwritten, the chances of at least partial recovery are good.
How does file recovery from a formatted disk work?
File recovery software works by scanning the formatted drive and looking for traces of files that previously existed. There are a few main approaches:
- Searching for intact file records based on characteristic patterns (e.g. JPEGs start with a specific signature)
- Looking for familiar file formats by file extension like .DOCX or .PDF
- Checking for remnants of file system data structures
- Using file directory entries that were not fully erased
Based on this raw data, the file recovery tool will attempt to rebuild the folder structure and recover files. Results can vary based on how thoroughly the drive was erased during formatting.
What is the best file recovery software?
Some top data recovery programs for retrieving deleted files after formatting include:
- Stellar Data Recovery – Full-featured recovery tool with deep scanning capability and straightforward interface.
- EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard – Excellent at recovering files from formatted or corrupted drives.
- Disk Drill – Powerful deep scan features and file preview ability.
- R-Studio – Great results for advanced users recovering formatted data.
- Recuva – Free user-friendly option good for basic file recovery needs.
- PhotoRec – Specialized in recovering photos, videos, documents and other media files.
The right software for you depends on your budget, computer skills, and specific needs. For most users, I recommend Stellar Data Recovery or EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for their balance of deep scanning power, intuitive interface, and reliable file recovery from formatted drives.
How can I increase my chances of file recovery from a formatted drive?
Follow these tips to improve your formatted file recovery results:
- Avoid writing new data to the formatted drive. Any newly saved files may overwrite deleted data.
- Use read-only recovery tools that won’t alter the existing data structure.
- Try to determine the previous file system like FAT32 or NTFS, which helps reconstruction.
- Recovery from a quick format has better chances than a full format.
- Recover the files to a different drive than the original formatted one.
- Look for file fragments and recover them piece-by-piece if needed.
Speed is also important when recovering formatted files before they are overwritten. Avoid software that needs to write to the drive and be prepared to perform read-only deep scans if necessary.
What kind of files can be recovered from a formatted disk?
In theory, any type of file can potentially be recovered from a formatted drive as long as the file data still exists. However, recovery success rates can vary based on factors like:
- File size – Larger files have more data to reconstruct.
- File system – Some file systems fragment files less than others.
- File location – Closer to start of drive has better chance.
- File structure – Simple formats (e.g. JPEGs) easier to recover.
- Overwrites – New data reduces recovery opportunities.
In most cases, these types of files have the best chance of recovery from a formatted drive:
- Photos – JPEGs and other image formats often recover well.
- Videos – Files like AVI and MP4 contain recoverable streams.
- Documents – Formats like Word and PDF have header signatures.
- Media files – Music (MP3, WAV) and movies (MP4, AVI) can rebuild.
- Archives – ZIP and RAR files can be reconstructed from pieces.
- Outlook PST files – Contains easily identifiable metadata.
More complex, constantly changing files like databases (SQL) or system files have lower odds of complete recovery.
Can I recover files after reinstalling Windows?
Reinstalling Windows or formatting the C: drive erases the file system similar to formatting any other disk. Your personal files won’t be deleted immediately, so recovery is often possible:
- Use recovery software to scan the Windows drive.
- Locate your old Users folder and Documents and Settings.
- Recover any found files to external media.
- You may need to attempt multiple deep scans.
However, the Windows install process does overwrite parts of the drive, so don’t wait too long. Your chances decrease over time. Also beware of syncing online accounts like OneDrive, which may replace files.
Can files be recovered after reformatting to Mac OS Extended?
Yes, the Mac OS Extended (HFS+) file system can have files recovered after formatting or deletion. When an HFS+ volume is reformatted:
- Pointers to files are reset but data remains.
- Unoccupied space is zeroed out for security reasons.
- Recovery tools can scan for old file records and data.
An HFS+ recovery has good success rates for unencrypted drives. However, Macs with the new APFS formatting method are harder to recover files from due to stronger encryption.
How can I recover an accidentally reformatted hard drive?
If you have accidentally reformatted a hard drive, stay calm and follow these steps:
- Avoid writing new data to the drive.
- Connect the drive to another computer if needed.
- Download and install a file recovery program.
- Scan the reformatted drive for recoverable data.
- Browse found files and preview when possible.
- Recover important files to a different safe drive.
Mistakes happen, but data recovery software makes it possible to get back accidentally reformatted files. Prioritize finding valuable data quickly before it may get overwritten.
Can files be recovered from a quick format vs full format?
Files are easier to recover from a quick format rather than a full format for several reasons:
- Quick format simply remakes the file table, leaving data alone.
- Full format erases the entire drive sector-by-sector.
- More existing data is overwritten during a full format.
- Recovery tools have an easier task with a quick format.
However, recovering files is possible from either type of format. With a full format, more sectors may be unreadable by recovery tools, but much can still be retrieved if it was not overwritten.
How can I recover photos after formatting SD card?
Here are the steps to recover deleted photos from a formatted SD card:
- Don’t take new photos to prevent overwrites.
- Connect SD card to computer via reader.
- Scan card with photo recovery software.
- Review found image files and preview.
- Recover photos to your computer drive.
SD cards commonly get formatted in digital cameras. Thankfully, programs like Recuva, Stellar, and EaseUS can restore JPEGs, RAW images, and other photo files easily as long as they weren’t overwritten.
Is it possible to recover files after Windows 10 reset?
Resetting a Windows 10 PC to factory settings performs a format of the C: drive. Your data folders and files get marked for deletion, but are not immediately overwritten. Therefore, recovery is often possible:
- After reset, avoid saving new files to the drive.
- Attach the reset drive to another computer if needed.
- Use professional recovery software to scan the drive.
- Expect fragmented files, recover what you can.
Run data recovery attempts as soon as possible before too much new data gets written. Valuable files can still persist after a Windows 10 reset.
How do I recover a Shift Deleted formatted hard drive?
Recovering files from a hard drive that was formatted using Shift + Delete is possible, but more challenging because the Windows command bypasses the Recycle Bin. Follow these steps for formatted Shift Deleted recovery:
- Don’t save anything new to the formatted hard drive.
- Scan the drive with data recovery software.
- Search for file records marked as deleted and recover them.
- Several deep scans may be needed to find deleted files.
Shift Delete bypasses the file system, so recoverable data may be fragmented. Recovery tools that can rebuild files from pieces offer the best chance.
Conclusion
While certainly scary, reformatting your computer ultimately does not have to mean losing your personal files forever. Powerful data recovery software makes it possible to undo a format and get back deleted documents, photos, media, and most other files. The key is using read-only tools quickly before too many overwrites occur. With some effort and avoiding new writes to the drive, you stand an excellent chance of recovering your lost files even from an accidentally formatted disk.