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Free Image Format ConversionFormatting a disk is effortless, leading many to accidentally format their drives. If you've had a similar experience, follow the solutions below to retrieve your formatted hard drive.
Why It's Possible to Recover Formatted Hard Drive
Most of us have had this unpleasant experience. You discover that there are still valuable files on the hard drive after formatting. At the realization that all your data is gone, panic might set in. Don't worry; you can recover files even after formatting the hard drive.
In fact, when you format a hard drive, the Operating System removes the file directory for all the data on the disk. As a result, you are unable to locate your files. However, the formatting process does not actually delete the data itself from the disk. This means that it is feasible to recover a formatted hard drive. If you accidentally format a hard drive, don't worry! You can retrieve your lost files by following these two solutions.
- Important
- If the data you are attempting to recover has already been overwritten, it cannot be recovered.
Part 1. How to Recover Files from Formatted Hard Drive (Free) When you accidentally format your hard drive, you might panic thinking all your files are lost. However, there's still hope for recovery. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to recover files from a formatted hard drive using free methods: 1. **Stop Using the Formatted Drive Immediately** - As soon as you realize the mistake, stop using the formatted hard drive to prevent new data from overwriting the old files. 2. **Download a Free Data Recovery Tool** - Choose a reliable and reputable data recovery software that offers a free trial or is entirely free. Some popular options include Recuva, tools Data Recovery Wizard Free, and TestDisk. 3. **Install and Launch the Software** - Install the chosen software on your computer, ensuring not to install it on the formatted hard drive. - Launch the application and follow the on-screen instructions. 4. **Connect the Formatted Drive** - Connect the formatted hard drive to your computer via USB or other available ports. 5. **Select the Formatted Drive** - In the software, select the formatted hard drive from the list of available drives. 6. **Start the Scan** - Initiate a deep scan or full scan, which may take some time depending on the size of the hard drive. 7. **Preview and Recover Files** - Once the scan is complete, the software will display a list of recoverable files. Preview the files to ensure they are the ones you need. - Select the files you want to recover and choose a safe location on another storage device to save them. 8. **Save the Recovered Files** - Click on the "Recover" button to start the recovery process. Do not save the files back to the formatted hard drive to avoid potential data overwrite. Remember, while these free tools can be helpful, their recovery capabilities may be limited. If you're unable to recover crucial files, consider using a professional data recovery service.
This solution enables effortless retrieval of formatted data, requiring no technical expertise. All you need is the utility, Data Recovery Wizard - a powerful free data recovery software. It can restore files from a formatted hard drive, USB drive, SD card, or memory in just three simple steps. Moreover, it is compatible with all Windows versions, including 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP. For more information on this data recovery software, proceed to Part 2.
How to recover formatted hard drive for free: 1. **Stop using the hard drive**: Once you've formatted the hard drive, avoid writing any new data to it. This is crucial to prevent overwriting the existing data that can still be recovered. 2. **Download a reliable recovery tool**: There are several free data recovery software options available, such as Recuva, tools Data Recovery Wizard Free, or TestDisk. Choose one and download it to a different drive than the formatted one. 3. **Install the software**: Follow the installation instructions provided by the software. 4. **Launch the recovery tool**: Run the program and select the formatted hard drive from the list of available drives. 5. **Start the scan**: Choose the appropriate scan mode. A "Deep Scan" may take longer but will search more thoroughly for lost files. 6. **Wait for the scan to complete**: This process can take some time depending on the size of the hard drive. 7. **Preview and select files**: After the scan, the software should display a list of recoverable files. Preview them to ensure they are the ones you want to recover. 8. **Recover the files**: Select the desired files and choose a safe location to save them, ideally another drive or an external storage device. Do not save them back to the formatted hard drive to avoid potential data overwrite. 9. **Backup your recovered data**: After successful recovery, make sure to create a backup of your important files to avoid future loss. Remember, while free tools can be effective, their capabilities might be limited compared to paid software. If you're unable to recover crucial files with a free option, consider investing in a professional data recovery service.
< strong > A step-by-step guide to recover files from a formatted hard drive: < / strong > 1. **Stop using the formatted hard drive:** Once you've accidentally formatted the hard drive, immediately stop using it to prevent new data from overwriting the lost files. 2. **Select a reliable data recovery software:** Choose a reputable and highly-rated data recovery tool such as tools Data Recovery Wizard, Recuva, or Stellar Phoenix Data Recovery. 3. **Download and install the software:** Visit the official website of the chosen software, download the setup file, and follow the on-screen instructions to install it on your computer. 4. **Connect the formatted hard drive:** Connect the formatted hard drive to your computer using an appropriate cable or adapter (USB, SATA, etc.). Make sure it's recognized by your system. 5. **Launch the data recovery software:** Open the installed software, and you'll typically see a main screen with options to scan for lost files. 6. **Select the formatted hard drive:** In the software, choose the formatted hard drive from the list of available drives or storage devices. 7. **Start the scanning process:** Click on the "Scan" or "Start" button to initiate the scanning process. The software will search for deleted or lost files on the formatted drive. 8. **Deep scan (if necessary):** If the initial scan doesn't find all your lost files, use the "Deep Scan" or "Advanced Scan" option to perform a more comprehensive search. 9. **Preview and select files:** Once the scan is complete, the software will display a list of recoverable files. Preview the files to ensure they're the ones you want to recover. 10. **Recover the files:** Select the desired files, and click on the "Recover" or "Save" button to begin the recovery process. Choose a safe location on your computer or another storage device to save the recovered files, avoiding the formatted hard drive itself. 11. **Wait for the recovery process to finish:** This may take some time depending on the size of the files and the speed of your system. Do not interrupt the process. 12. **Verify the recovered files:** After the recovery, check the saved files to confirm that they're intact and functional. Remember that data recovery is not always guaranteed, especially if the hard drive has been heavily used after formatting. It's crucial to back up important files regularly to avoid potential data loss.
Note: To ensure a high chance of data recovery, install the data recovery tool on a different disk rather than the formatted disk.
Step 1. Launch tools Data Recovery Wizard. Choose the hard drive partition that you accidentally formatted and click "Scan".
Step 2. The formatted hard drive recovery software will commence scanning for all lost data and files. Upon completion of the scan, you can click "Filter" to refine the search by a specific file type to locate the required files swiftly. Alternatively, you can use the "Search files or folders" option to select the data you wish to recover.
Step 3. Preview the scanned files. Next, select the ones you wish to recover and click "Recover". Choose a new location to save the files and click "OK".
If you're a Mac user, you can also recover a formatted hard drive on Mac using specific tools.
Consult with Tools Data Recovery Experts for personalized manual recovery service. After a FREE diagnosis, we can provide the following services:
- Repair corrupted RAID configuration, unbootable Windows operating system, and damaged virtual disk files (.vmdk, .vhd, .vhdx, etc.)
- Recover or repair lost partitions and re-partitioned drives
- Unformat hard drives and repair raw drives (including BitLocker encrypted drives)
- Resolve disks that have become protected by GPT partitions
Bonus Tip - Backup Files to Prevent Data Loss
If your data has been overwritten, what options do you have? Unfortunately, your old files will be irretrievably lost. It's crucial to take preventive measures in such cases. One of the best ways to guard against data loss is through regular backups. You'll need a reliable backup software solution for this purpose, and one such tool is Todo Backup.
Download this free backup software, and you can choose what you want to back up – your entire system, a disk, a partition, specific folders.
Step 1. Click the "Select backup contents" button to initiate the backup process.
Step 2. There are four data backup categories: File, Disk, OS, and Mail. Click on File.
Step 3. Both local and network files will be listed on the left. You can expand the directory to select the files to back up.
Step 4. Follow the on-screen instructions and select the location where you want to save the backup.
Click "Options" to encrypt the backup with a password under "Backup Options", set the backup schedule, and choose to initiate the backup at a specific event under "Backup Scheme". You can also explore various other options to customize the backup task as per your requirements.
Step 5. You can save the backup to your local drive, the tool's cloud service, or a NAS device.
Step 6. Todo Backup allows users to back up data to both third-party cloud drives and its own cloud drive.
If you want to back up data to a third-party cloud drive, choose Local Drive, scroll down to add a Cloud Device, then add and log in to your account.
You can also select the tool's built-in cloud drive. Click on Tools Cloud, sign up with your Tool Account, and log in.
Step 7. Click "Backup Now" to initiate the backup process. Once the backup task is completed, it will be displayed as a card on the left side of the panel. You can right-click on the backup task to manage it further.
Part 2. Top 10 Formatted Hard Drive Data Recovery Software
If you inadvertently fail to back up your files prior to formatting your hard drive, the sole means of restoring them is by employing data recovery software. Numerous data recovery tools exist that can delve into the depths of your lost digital realm and recover those precious scrolls of knowledge. Here, I have compiled a list of 10 of the best free Windows 10 data recovery software options.
Top 1. Tool - Data Recovery Wizard (Windows & Mac)
Data recovery software can thoroughly retrieve lost files, photographs, documents, and videos following deletion, formatting, partition loss, operating system crashes, virus attacks, and other data loss situations. It is an ideal option for swift yet comprehensive file recovery.
Pros:
- Supports all file systems, including FAT, exFAT, NTFS, NTFS5, ext2/ext3, HFS+, and ReFS.
- Effectively recovers lost or deleted files, photos, audio, music, and emails from formatted hard drives.
- Recovers data from the Recycle Bin, hard drives, memory cards, flash drives, digital cameras, camcorders, etc.
- Repairs corrupted JPEG/JPG photos and damaged MP4/MOV camera videos.
Cons:
- Recovers up to 2GB for free
Top 2. Recuva (Windows)
< a href="https://www.ccleaner.com/recuva" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Recuva< /a> is a tool that can swiftly recover deleted, formatted, or lost data. It is capable of restoring lost or erased photos, videos, audios, documents, and more from Hard Drives, USB devices, or other storage mediums.
Translation:
Best Data Recovery Software - Top 2 - Recuva
Pros:
- Fast to download and install. The portable version can run from a flash drive.
- User-friendly. Ideal for everyone, with both simple and advanced options available.
- Deep Scan feature can locate more files, albeit with a slightly longer processing time.
Cons:
- No technical support for the free version
Top 3. Disk Drill (Windows and Mac)
Pros:
- Deep scan feature accessible following a basic scan.
- Supports all file systems, including FAT, NTFS, HFS+, and EXT4.
- Capable of restoring any undamaged storage device.
Cons:
- Only recovers up to 500MB of data for free.
Top 4. OnTrack EasyRecovery (Windows & Mac)
Developed by the world's premier data recovery provider, Ontrack EasyRecovery is user-friendly and robust enough to address almost any scenario of shared data loss.
Pros:
- Potent interface
- Extensive array of features
- Straightforward file organization
Cons:
- Recover 1GB of data for free
- Mandatory entry of personal information to download the software
Top 5. R-Studio (Windows/Mac/Linux)
R-Studio is the most comprehensive data recovery solution for retrieving files from NTFS, NTFS5, ReFS, FAT12/16/32, exFAT, HFS/HFS+, and AFP file systems. In addition to being compatible with all 32-bit Windows versions, R-Studio also supports 64-bit Windows and utilizes all available physical memory, significantly boosting scan performance, particularly on high-capacity disks.
Pros:
- Enables data recovery from various data loss scenarios
- Exclusive support for data recovery from network drives
- Permits creating image files and recovering files from image files
Cons:
- Limited free recovery for files larger than 256KB.
- Outdated and relatively complex user interface.
Top 6. TestDisk Data Recovery (Windows/Mac/Linux)
TestDisk is a free, open-source file recovery program that works impressively well on virtually every operating system. It can recover deleted or lost partitions, restore bootability to damaged disks, and do much more.
Pros:
- Free, open-source, and secure.
- Capable of repairing partition tables and recovering deleted partitions.
- Efficiently retrieves data from partitions affected by software issues, specific types of viruses, or human mistakes.
Cons:
- Inconvenient for regular users
Top 7. Puran Data Recovery (Windows)
Puran Data Recovery is another powerful yet free data recovery tool. Puran File Recovery excels in rescuing data from your hard drive, USB flash drive, and SD card.
This image represents "Formatted Hard Drive Recovery Software - Puran Data Recovery."
Pros:
- It features Deep Scan and Full Scan options for enhanced search capabilities.
- Enables previewing of files upon selection.
- Supports drag and drop functionality.
- Completely free of charge.
Cons:
- Unable to preview the result
- The interface is not user-friendly.
Top 8. Glary Undelete (Windows)
< a href="https://www.glarysoft.com/glary-undelete/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Glary Undelete, as the sister program of Recuva, is an incredibly powerful partition recovery tool designed to restore compressed, fragmented, and encrypted files on NTFS. It automatically sorts the recovery results based on each file's name, size, and creation date.
Pros
- Supports multiple file systems, including NTFS + EFS, FAT, and NTFS.
- Ideal for restoring items from the Recycle Bin or external storage devices.
- Preview feature assists in locating the files you wish to recover.
Cons:
- It has an old-fashioned interface.
- Many junk files are detected and listed, which can seem a bit overwhelming.
Top 9. Wise Data Recovery (Windows)
Pros:
- Lightweight and space-saving
- Fast scanning speed
Cons:
- The free version does not support deep scan and RAW recovery.
Top 10. Recover My Files (Windows)
Pros:
- Quick, easy, and intuitive to use.
- File preview capability for certain file types.
Cons:
- Outdated software interface
- Unable to save files with the free version.
Conclusion
You can retrieve files from a formatted hard drive for free using these helpful data recovery utilities. Select the most suitable file recovery software based on your requirements.
"Recover Formatted Hard Drive" FAQs
Can you reverse a format? How to retrieve data from a formatted hard drive? You can find all your answers right here.
How can I retrieve files from a formatted hard drive for free?
Step 1. Choose the partition.
Step 2. Select the desired files.
Step 3. Recover files to a secure location.
Can I undo a format?
Sorry, you can't. If you wish to undo the formatting, the answer is no. However, you can make it possible to recover all lost data and transfer them back to the formatted drive. This process is commonly referred to as reversing or undoing a format.
Can files be recovered after a quick format?
通常，格式化后，文件并未从驱动器中永久删除，因此只要原始数据未被覆盖，快速格式化后仍有机会恢复丢失的数据。要快速格式化后恢复丢失的数据，您需要一款专业的格式恢复软件来协助您。
Can a formatted hard drive be recovered?
It depends on how you wiped the disk. If you merely deleted files or formatted the hard drive, it can be easily recovered. If you utilized specialized tools to write zeros across the disk, all data will be irreparably damaged. To prevent overwritten deleted files, it's advisable to cease using the hard drive.