How to Recover Deleted Files: A Comprehensive Guide

Losing valuable data can be a frustrating and disheartening experience. However, don’t despair! This comprehensive guide will walk you through several methods to help you recover deleted files.

Understanding Deleted Files

When you delete a file, it isn’t truly erased from your storage device immediately. Instead, the space it occupies is marked as available for other data. Until that space is overwritten with new data, the deleted file can often be recovered.

Method 1: Recover Deleted Files Using a Recovery Software

There are numerous recovery software tools available online. These tools can scan your storage device for deleted files and attempt to recover them. Some popular options include Recuva, Disk Drill, and EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard.

• Step 1: Download and install a recovery software of your choice.
• Step 2: Launch the software and follow its instructions to select the drive containing the deleted files.
• Step 3: Run the scan. The software will search for deleted files.
• Step 4: Preview and recover the found files.

Method 2: Use a Trusted System Restore Point

If you’ve created system restore points, you can use them to recover deleted files. However, this method only works if the file was deleted after the restore point was created.

• Step 1: Open Control Panel, click on System and Security, then System.
• Step 2: Click on System Protection, then choose your system drive.
• Step 3: Select the restore point containing the deleted file and click on ‘System Restore’.
• Step 4: Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

Method 3: Check Your Recycle Bin

Sometimes, the easiest way to recover deleted files is by checking your Recycle Bin. If a file was not permanently deleted, it can be easily recovered from here.

• Step 1: Right-click on the Recycle Bin icon and select ‘Restore All Items’.
• Step 2: If you only want to restore a specific file, right-click it and select ‘Restore’.

Conclusion

Whether you’ve accidentally deleted an important file or encountered data loss due to a hardware failure, the methods outlined in this guide can help you recover your lost data. Remember, prevention is better than cure, so always back up your files regularly.