If you reformat your PC is it possible to ever recover files?

Question

Or is everything permanently removed without the hope of ever getting it back?

Answer 1

No. You can't recover files unless you have the proper equipment (which is VERY expensive). If you're going to reformat your hard drive, back up all your files. All your music, documents, everything you want to keep, you're going to need to back up. If you have a CD burner and know how to use it, this might be the most effective way to back up your files.

Answer 2

There are some long and detailed answers here, but my answer is simple. Yes, it is technically possible to recover data from a formatted drive, and if the data is important or something you desperately need, then by all means follow some of the other answers people have posted here telling you how to recover data (beastofserenity's answer is the best one telling you how to recover data, in my opinion). However, if the hard disk only contained software that you have the disks for or documents you don't really need (or want) then it might not be worth the bother (it ultimately depends on how much you want that data back.)

Answer 3

There are businesses that specialize in retrieving data off formatted hard drives. It's cheaper and easier if you just formatted the hard drive, and didn't install anything over it, so if you haven't reinstalled, don't do it.



You want to find a place that will refund your money if they can't get your data back. Depending on the complexity of the task, the charges range upward from $50. If you have anything on the hard drive that would be worth $50 to retrieve, contact a local company that does Data Recovery Services (look in the phone book under Computer Repair). Good luck

Answer 4

Sorry yet there is not any technique to get better records from a reformatted complicated means for the reason that records is written over it. next time, leave reformatting as your very final option for removing viruses out of your workstation. Plus, backup your optimum records only so won't happen back.

Answer 5

yes, it is, the first thing you should know is that don't install or copy anything to your formatted hard drive. when we format a pc we make it hard drive able to delete the old files and write new files on it. we don't delete data when we format a drive.

Answer 6

if you format, it's gone. unless you do data recovery which the government does when investigating for whats called "footprinting" which costs thousands. but consider it gone.

Answer 7

It depends on how you format the drive. There are two ways to format it.



The quick way simply deletes the FAT table on your hard drive. FAT stands for File Allocation Table. Its basically a record of where all the files on your hard drive are, what area's they're in, etc. If a file has an entry in the FAT, then it can't be over written. By formating the hard drive, you delete the FAT, allowing your computer to store other information over the top of the old information. Once new data is stored on a hard drive, whatever was in that spot is gone.



The other way to format is called a Low Level Format. This no only wipes the FAT but also overwrites all the data. Hard drives store data Sectors and Tracks. Sectors are chunks of a hard drive that are like pieces of pie, vaguely wedge shaped and all meeting in the middle. Tracks are circles around a hard drive like rings on a tree. Hard drives use this like a set of coordinates to find a file. When you do a Low Level Format, you are reseting all the sectors and tracks on the hard drive. This generally erases all the data on a hard drive making it irretievable.



Feel free to check out any of these utilities for data recovery.



FREE TOOLS



PC INSPECTOR

http://www.pcinspector.de/file_recovery/UK/welcome.htm

File Recovery is a data recovery program that supports the FAT 12/16/32 and NTFS file systems. The current version 3.x replaces the previous version 2.x, which is now over 6 years old.



Restoration

http://hccweb1.bai.ne.jp/~hcj58401/REST2514.EXE

For 9x/NT/2K/XP. Restore deleted files that are no longer in the Recycle Bin!



Tool to check and undelete partition

Works with the following partitions:

- FAT12 FAT16 FAT32

- Linux

- Linux SWAP (version 1 and 2)

- NTFS (Windows NT)

- BeFS (BeOS)

- UFS (BSD)

- Netware

- RaiserFS

http://www.cgsecurity.org//testdisk.html

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NOT FREE



EasyRecovery DataRecovery is a simple, yet powerful tool that recovers data that is lost, inaccessible or deleted. It's the ultimate do-it-yourself solution for nearly all causes of data loss (except physical hardware or system problems) where your hard drive and system are fully functional.

http://www.ontrack.com/easyrecoverydatarecovery/



File Rescue 2.5

Web:http://www.file-rescue.com/



GetDataBack for FAT

GetDataBack will help you retrieve your files if the hard drive's partition table, boot record, FAT, or root directory have been damaged by a virus, formatting, fdisk or power failure. GetDataBack can even recover your data when the drive is no longer recognized by Windows.



GetDataBack for NTFS

Recover your files when the data is no longer accessible due to formatting, fdisk, virus attack, power or software failure. Get everything back even when the drive's partition table, boot record, Master File Table or root directory is lost or corrupt.

Hard Drives

Partitions

Floppy Drives

Drive Images

Zip/Jaz Drives

http://www.runtime.org/



Norton Utilities/SystemWorks

The Norton Protected Recycle Bin helps you recover deleted and overwritten files.

The UnErase wizard helps you retrieve files you've accidentally deleted.

http://www.symantec.com/nu/nu_9x/features.html



For NTFS

http://www.restorer2000.com/r2k.htm



Data Recovery

http://www.dtidata.com/

Fast File Undelete

http://www.dtidata.com/products_ff_undelete.asp



Undelete

http://www.quantumsoft.co.uk/undelete.stm



File Recover 2000

http://www.filerecover.com/



R-Tools

http://www.r-tt.com/



File Restore

If you've deleted your data and you want to get it back, you need FileRestore.

FileRestore is a simple, easy-to-use tool for recovering files that have been lost or deleted from your Windows system. Designed for Windows XP, 2000, NT, Me, and 9x

http://www.winternals.com/products/repairandrecovery/filerestore.asp



Disk Commander

In virtually any situation where you need to recover lost data from a Windows system, Disk Commander is the solution. Disk Commander performs a wide range of data recovery operations.

http://www.winternals.com/products/repairandrecovery/diskcommander.asp



DFSee

http://www.dfsee.com/

As a tool to 'UNDELETE' files that have been accidentaly deleted.

This feature is implemented for HPFS and NTFS only.



MRECOVER

http://kristenonline.com/lain/cih/mrecintro.htm



Emergency Undelete

I believe this is free

For Win2000 and NT may work on XP

http://www.c2000.com/software/#win2000



Back2Life

http://www.simtel.net/pub/pd/57588.html



Hard Drive Mechanic

http://www.highergroundsoftware.com/6.html

It's true. Even if you just re-formatted your entire hard drive, you can still get all of your data back because, unlike what most people believe, formatting does NOT erase your files! With Hard Drive Mechanic's Unformat Feature, you can restore all of your valuable data in about 10 minutes!

demo version:

http://www.highergroundsoftware.com/downloads2.htm



Filerecovery for Windows

http://www.lc-tech.com/filerecovery.asp

Filerecovery for Windows. is a safe and affordable do-it-yourself data recovery solution that is designed to recover deleted files from all types of media such as Hard Drives, Floppy Drives, SmartMedia, CompactFlash, Memory Sticks, and other types of removable media.



Undelete

http://www.executive.com/consumer/undelete/undelete.asp

You know how upsetting it is to accidentally delete a file that you need it takes just a moment to lose hours of work. Undelete file-recovery utility captures ALL deleted files including those that typically bypass the Recycle Bin. You can even recover files you purged from our Recovery Bin. With our Emergency Undelete feature, you can recover files deleted prior to Undelete being installed on your system (provided they have not been written over). Buy Undelete and you'll never again be at the mercy of lost data.



Fast File Recovery

http://savemyfiles.com/fastfile.htm

A definite must for the PC guru! It will allow the user to perform all data recovery tasks associated with disks which are not physically damaged.





File Scavenge

http://www.quetek.com/prod01.htm

File Scavenge is the most comprehensive, award-winning file undelete and data recovery for NTFS volumes on Windows NT, Windows 2000 and Windows XP.



Active UNERASER

http://www.uneraser.com/undelete.htm

Active UNERASER is a compact and powerful undelete utility that can recover deleted files and folders on FAT12, FAT16, FAT32 and NTFS systems. It can even restore files from deleted and re-formatted partitions.



Undelete 3.0

http://www.pcconnection.com/scripts/productdetail.asp?product_id=309884

Undelete 3.0 restores accidentally deleted files within seconds from anywhere on your system. Version 3.0 includes new SecureDelete, full Windows XP support and expanded search options.



FinalData Data Recovery

http://www1.finaldata.com/

FinalData Data Recovery Solution will recover files that have been lost by quick formatting, FDISK, FAT damage, MBR damage or directory destruction. It recovers data from FAT12/16/32, NTFS, and EXT2, EXT3.



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Or Data Recovery Services



http://www.ontrack.com/datarecovery/

Ontrack offers a full range of data recovery solutions to address your data loss needs. Unlike other data recovery companies, Ontrack provides exclusive and patented solutions that do not require you to send in your media for recovery. In situations where the hardware is functioning normally, our patented Remote Data Recovery service and EasyRecovery software solutions can solve your data loss needs safely and effectively in a matter of hours. If another company claims that there is no alternative to shipping your drive, it's because they don't offer an alternative. For situations in which the hardware is physically failing, our In-Lab services will utilize our Class 100 clean-rooms to retrieve your mission critical data.



or



FLAT RATE DATA RECOVERY PRICING INCLUDES!

http://www.i-t-s.com/datarec/datarec_pricing.htm



or



Total Recall

http://www.recallusa.com/

Our recovery and forensic technology is used by support and call centers as well as data recovery providers world-wide.



ESS Data Recovery

http://www.savemyfiles.com/

ESS Data Recovery, Inc. has been removing barriers in the data recovery and computer forensics market ever since its inception