Recover Deleted Hard Drive Files – Critical Steps

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If you have just accidentally, or possibly on purpose, deleted a hard drive file that you need to get back, what you do next is critical if you want to recover deleted hard drive files.  The most important thing to do immediately is to limit the use of your computer, and most importantly, do not save any new files or run any type of disk clean up utilities on your hard drive.  There is a good chance you can easily recover deleted hard drive files but you must follow these steps.

Critical steps to recover deleted hard drive files.

  • Do not panic. Even though you deleted the file, the data still exists on the hard drive. The Windows operating system only deletes the file name from its directory, and then it makes the sector that was occupied by by your deleted file available to store new data.
  • Try not to use your computer and most importantly do not install any new programs or save any new files because they may overwrite  the deleted file you are trying to recover
  • Do not run any Windows utilities programs such as CHKDSK or defragmenter’s or disk cleanup programs. It is very likely that these will erase the deleted file you’re trying to recover.
  • Check your recycle bin.  When you delete a file Windows initially stores it in your recycle bin before permanently deleting it, so this is the first step to recover deleted hard drive files.  If you find the deleted file you want to recover in the recycle bin, simply right-click on the file name and choose the restore option.  This will restore the deleted hard drive files to their previous location on your hard drive.  If you do not see the file in the recycle bin then continue with the following steps.
  • Recover deleted hard drive files that are not found in the recycle bin. Unfortunately, Windows does not come with a utility to restore deleted hard drive files so you will need to download one from the Internet.  Our hands down favorite file recovery program to recover deleted hard drive files is Restore My Files – Data Recovery program.  You can download it for free and to try it before purchasing.
  • Use a Floppy Disk. It is highly recommended that you download and install the file recovery program on a floppy drive or a different hard drive than the deleted file you are trying to recover.  If this is not possible at least make sure you install it in a different directory.
  • Once you have downloaded and installed a program to recover deleted hard drive files, simply follow the on-screen instructions to locate the deleted file and recover it.

Being able to recover deleted hard drive files is something that we have all needed one time or another. Luckily there is a wonderful program that will allow you to easily recover critical documents, pictures, music, email and many other types of files.  You can click here download a no risk free trial where you can actually see the files that will be recovered prior to purchasing.

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