Tips for Recovering Deleted Files
If you haven't made use of the popular "Shift + Delete" combination, you are sure of getting your deleted file back. In Windows, the recycle bin stores all deleted files if you ever want to recover them. But beware, some programs like "CCleaner" attach to the trash can and if configured to delete files from the recycle bin. Also, the basket has limited space, so check regularly.
Also, Windows allows you to make backups (or system restore). This feature is enabled by default to protect system files and recover them if mishandled. In cloud, almost all services (Google Drive, SkyDrive, Dropbox ) have trash in their menus.
How to recover deleted files? (HDD vs SSD)
If you have performed the above manipulations without result, the only way to find your files is to use file recovery software. However, this does not work on all computers
The traditional magnetic hard drives HDD and SSDs work differently. When you delete a file on a magnetic hard drive, the data are not immediately erased from the disk. Instead, it is the pointer that points to the data that is deleted. The data can then be replaced. It is possible to scan the hard drive to find and restore deleted files that have not yet been overwritten.
When a file is deleted on an SSD, it is immediately deleted to free up space and allow rapid writing thereafter. This means that you cannot recover data from SSD.
If you deleted a file on a magnetic HDD, the first thing to do is to turn off the computer immediately. If you continue to use the computer, even to install the file recovery software, it is possible that the program is recorded on the sector of the deleted file
After the computer is turned off, insert a file recovery live CD or USB drive. The aim is to avoid writing on the target hard drive, then use file recovery software and scan the disc. If you deleted the file recently and you have not written to disk, you have quite a good chance of recovering.
If your file to recover is not very important to you, but you still want to get it back. There are tools to be installed directly on your Windows, like RS Recovery for example. These are software built to help recover any deleted file.
RS Recovery
RS recovery offers several data recovery solutions which include RS Partition Recovery and a host of other data recovery solutions. RS partition recovery can restore the original structure of the hard drive, fix file system errors and recover deleted partitions completely automatically. RS Partition Recovery will recover all files and folders even if the original disk is formatted, corrupted or inaccessible.
The Professional Data Recovery
For organizations and businesses, there are professional ways to recover lost critical files. For this, consulting professionals who can charge to recover expensive data is recommended. These professionals have sophisticated tools and can fetch data in damaged media and even totally destroyed hard drives. Nevertheless, the outcome is never guaranteed.
To finish this guide, my last tip to save your files is the regular backup, please back up your important documents and enable backups and Windows history and you can rest easy.
