No matter how careful you are about the data being used in your laptop or desktop, data loss can take place. You may end up deleting an important document or folder of files at times. This can also be done by someone else, including a kid in the house! When you understand some important folders or files have been deleted from the HDD, it is time you resort to apt recovery measures. Thankfully, there are a lot of apps that can be used to retrieve data lost from the computer’s HDD.
Ways To Recover Lost Data From The Hard Disk
Not Making Changes To The HDD Data
When you empty the recycle bin and then realize it contained some essential files, do not panic. The first thing you need to do is refraining from saving any new data to the hard disk. That is because the data deleted from the recycle bin still stays on the HDD until it gets erased and overwritten by fresh data. In most cases, that data can be retrieved.
Choosing A Data Recovery Tool
You should use a suitable data recovery application to retrieve data deleted from the computer’s recycle bin. Now, selecting the most apt contender can be difficult for you, given the abundance of choices! There are both freeware and commercial software that can be used for retrieving lost data from the HDD.
You will have to analyze your needs before picking a data recovery tool. Freeware tools have limitations like data limit and you will find top notch paid tools that also pack in HDD diagnostic and repair along with recovery. You will also find some apps that can run without being installed.
Before picking a data recovery tool, think of aspects like user friendliness, data backup options, additional features etc. Some data recovery tools will let you retrieve data and burn it on optical media instantly. There are data recovery wizards bundled in some such apps to aid the beginners.
If you are not willing to spend on a data recovery tool, contenders like Recuva and Undelete Plus for Windows will fit the bill. Mac users who want a commercial data recovery tool can try out either File Salvage or Data Rescue for Mac. If you do not have monetary constraints and want a Swiss army knife type data recovery tool with oodles of features, there are suitable options. Acronis and Stellar phoenix offer some top notch data recovery tools for such users.
Getting Into The Actual Recovery Process
After you have selected a data recovery tool for the computer and installed it, it is time to get into the real job.
Launch the software and let it scan for deleted and lost data. The UI will be different for each software and in some instances, the wizard will make the process easier for you. After the app shows the found data, you can choose to recover. Some apps display retrievable data with color coding and descriptions. It helps you understand the possibility of retrieval and the condition of data.
After you select the data to be retrieved, the app will kick into action. In most cases, it will display a progress bar. After completion of data recovery, you should store it either on the hard disk or some external media.
Recovering Data In Critical Situations
Sometimes, the data loss can be caused by a HDD failure. After prolonged usage, wear and tear your PC hard disk may start malfunctioning, leading to booting and performance problems. In such cases, you want to recover a huge amount of data, but owing to booting issues that seem out of bounds. You can use bootable data recovery CDs and DVDs made by some vendors. These software are offered in Linux based distros that boot the PC using optical drive and then let you recover existing data from its UI. As expected, such apps can cost you a big amount.
Summing It Up
A data recovery tool can be your savior when you delete crucial data mistakenly or the hard disk failure is imminent. You need to pick the most apt tool keeping an eye on aspects like budget, usage needs and feature set.