Difference between revisions of "Recover Deleted Files from Your Computer"
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If you’ve deleted a critical file, it may seem at first that it’s gone forever. If you act quickly, though, you may be able to recover that file and return it to its rightful place on your hard drive. Recover deleted files from your computer by restoring them from the Recycle Bin (Windows) or Trash (Mac); when that isn't an option, you can also use recovery software to restore deleted files for Windows, Mac, and Linux computers. | If you’ve deleted a critical file, it may seem at first that it’s gone forever. If you act quickly, though, you may be able to recover that file and return it to its rightful place on your hard drive. Recover deleted files from your computer by restoring them from the Recycle Bin (Windows) or Trash (Mac); when that isn't an option, you can also use recovery software to restore deleted files for Windows, Mac, and Linux computers. | ||
| − | [[Category:System Maintenance and Repair]] | + | [[Category: System Maintenance and Repair]] |
== Steps == | == Steps == | ||
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#*Glary Undelete | #*Glary Undelete | ||
#*Puran File Recovery | #*Puran File Recovery | ||
| − | #* Download a portable version of the recovery program if possible, so that you can run it directly from a USB drive without needing to install it. Not all file recovery programs offer portable versions.<ref>http://www3.telus.net/mikebike/RESTORATION.html</ref> | + | #* Download a portable version of the recovery program if possible, so that you can run it directly from a USB drive without needing to install it. Not all file recovery programs offer portable versions.<ref name="rf15633">http://www3.telus.net/mikebike/RESTORATION.html</ref> |
#Run the recovery program. While every program is different, they all follow the same basic steps. Make sure that you don’t install the program to the same drive that you are trying to recover from. | #Run the recovery program. While every program is different, they all follow the same basic steps. Make sure that you don’t install the program to the same drive that you are trying to recover from. | ||
| − | #Specify what you are looking for. Point the recovery program at the disk that the file was on when it was deleted. You can also recover files from a USB drive this way. Most recovery programs will ask what type of file you are searching for. You can also specify the file name, or get a list of all recoverable files to browse through.<ref>http://www.piriform.com/docs/recuva/using-recuva/wizard-mode/using-the-recuva-wizard-wizard-mode</ref> | + | #Specify what you are looking for. Point the recovery program at the disk that the file was on when it was deleted. You can also recover files from a USB drive this way. Most recovery programs will ask what type of file you are searching for. You can also specify the file name, or get a list of all recoverable files to browse through.<ref name="rf3948">http://www.piriform.com/docs/recuva/using-recuva/wizard-mode/using-the-recuva-wizard-wizard-mode</ref> |
#Perform a deep scan. Some programs will give you the option to perform a deep scan while looking for files. This will take significantly longer, but may result in more files found. | #Perform a deep scan. Some programs will give you the option to perform a deep scan while looking for files. This will take significantly longer, but may result in more files found. | ||
#Browse for the file you want. Once the scan has returned results, look through the list to see if your file was recovered. Different programs will have different methods for recovery, but in general you just need to select your file and click the Restore button. | #Browse for the file you want. Once the scan has returned results, look through the list to see if your file was recovered. Different programs will have different methods for recovery, but in general you just need to select your file and click the Restore button. | ||
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#*File names will often be changed from their original because their filer structure was destroyed during the delete process. | #*File names will often be changed from their original because their filer structure was destroyed during the delete process. | ||
#*Many files will not be recoverable, because parts of the file have been overwritten. | #*Many files will not be recoverable, because parts of the file have been overwritten. | ||
| − | #Recover your files. If you are attempting to recover a large number of files, try recovering only the most essential files first. This will help ensure that your most important files stay uncorrupted. The recovered files will be copied to the recovery drive that you plugged in before starting. <ref>http://www.cultofmac.com/67472/how-to-undelete-files-in-mac-os-x-macrx/</ref> | + | #Recover your files. If you are attempting to recover a large number of files, try recovering only the most essential files first. This will help ensure that your most important files stay uncorrupted. The recovered files will be copied to the recovery drive that you plugged in before starting. <ref name="rf15634">http://www.cultofmac.com/67472/how-to-undelete-files-in-mac-os-x-macrx/</ref> |
=== Linux=== | === Linux=== | ||
#Immediately stop accessing the drive. Your chances of recovering the file are much higher if you don’t save anything new. This is because when a file is deleted, it is actually just set to be overwritten. If no new data has overwritten the original file, then it has a much higher chance of being recovered. | #Immediately stop accessing the drive. Your chances of recovering the file are much higher if you don’t save anything new. This is because when a file is deleted, it is actually just set to be overwritten. If no new data has overwritten the original file, then it has a much higher chance of being recovered. | ||
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#Choose a location to save the recovered files. PhotRec will need a location to store recovered files. Make sure that it is not on the same disk as the target disk, otherwise you may overwrite files that could have been recovered. | #Choose a location to save the recovered files. PhotRec will need a location to store recovered files. Make sure that it is not on the same disk as the target disk, otherwise you may overwrite files that could have been recovered. | ||
#Choose which file types you want to recover. A large list of file types will be displayed, and you can check each one that you want to try to recover. Highlight Next and press Enter to switch to the next page of file types. | #Choose which file types you want to recover. A large list of file types will be displayed, and you can check each one that you want to try to recover. Highlight Next and press Enter to switch to the next page of file types. | ||
| − | #Wait for the recovery process to finish. Depending on the size of your drive and the speed of your computer, the recovery process could take several hours. Once the recovery process is complete, you can access the recovered files in the location that you specified.<ref> http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/PhotoRec_Step_By_Step</ref> | + | #Wait for the recovery process to finish. Depending on the size of your drive and the speed of your computer, the recovery process could take several hours. Once the recovery process is complete, you can access the recovered files in the location that you specified.<ref name="rf15635"> http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/PhotoRec_Step_By_Step</ref> |
#*Many files will not be recoverable, or may only be partially recovered, because parts of the file have been overwritten. | #*Many files will not be recoverable, or may only be partially recovered, because parts of the file have been overwritten. | ||
