Don’t Panic If You Accidentally Delete Files From The USB Flash Drive! Keeping These In Mind, More Than 90% Of The Data Can Be Recovered
Due to accidental deletion of the partition of the mobile hard disk, or after formatting, the entire disk becomes empty. It feels like my heart has been completely hollowed out in an instant.
Are the project files, precious family photos and videos that you have worked on for years just gone?
Don’t rush into despair, let alone seek medical treatment in a hurry.
In fact, whether it is a USB flash drive or a mobile hard disk, most data lost due to logical deletion (such as accidental deletion, formatting operations, and partition loss) can be successfully recovered, and the probability of successful recovery is much higher than what you usually imagine in your mind.
The core logic is one sentence, that is, immediately stop writing data that does not yet exist, and select appropriate tools and processes.
As long as the data has not been overwritten by new files, they will still be quietly placed in a corner of the hard disk, waiting to be "awakened" by professional recovery methods.
This article is a "Data Rescue Guide" specially prepared for you. It covers core principles, extends practical steps, and involves tool selection in different scenarios. It will teach you step by step how to recover lost partitions and files based on safety and efficiency requirements.
The core of data recovery: Why can it be recovered after deletion?
Operating systems (such as Windows), when you delete a file or format a partition, usually do not immediately erase the corresponding physical data on the hard disk.
What it does is only modify the file system index, such as the MFT table of NTFS, which falls within the scope of modification, and then marks this space with memory as "usable".
This is no different than the catalog cards for book inquiries in the library that have been tragically removed. However, the books themselves are still perfectly placed on the bookshelf as they are.
Only when no new data is written to occupy these so-called "available" spaces, will the original file content still exist intact.
Partitions are deleted or partitions are lost. This is a similar logic, which often causes the information in the partition table to be damaged. Or the information in the partition table is lost, causing the system to be unable to identify and access the partition. However, the data within the partition itself may not be damaged.
The bottom line for all our subsequent operations, including saving files, installing software, and defragmenting the system disk, is that it is absolutely forbidden to write to the target hard drive, and it is crucial to understand this.
Absolute taboos before recovery: Don’t step on these minefields
Before embarking on any recovery operation, there are a few ironclad rules that must be kept in mind, and the reason is that they are directly related to the success of the recovery, that is.
First, never install recovery software onto the hard drive to be recovered .
This is a mistake that is easily made by novices and can lead to serious consequences. This situation is because the temporary files generated during the installation process will directly overwrite the area where the lost data is located.
The software must be installed on the computer's own system disk, which is commonly known as the C drive, or on other hard drives that are not associated with it.
Second, make sure the hard drive connection is stable .
For mobile hard drives, use original data cables as much as possible and plug them directly into the USB interface on the back of the computer motherboard. Avoid using low-quality docking stations or chassis front interfaces to prevent identification failure or even secondary damage due to insufficient power supply or unstable transmission.
Third, the recovered files must be saved to another location .
After scanning out the lost files, the target path when restoring and saving must be another intact hard disk partition, and it cannot be the source hard disk where the recovery operation is being performed.
Universal five-step recovery method: Even beginners can operate it with zero threshold
No matter which data recovery software you choose, its core operating procedures are the same.
Follow these five steps to maximize your chances of success.
Step one: Download and install regular software .
Be sure to download genuine tools from official websites or trusted channels to avoid cracked versions that are bundled with malware.
When installing, as mentioned above, be sure to select the local hard drive of your computer.
Step 2: Select disk and scan mode .
After launching the software, it will list all recognized storage devices.
Accurately select your "lost partition" mobile hard drive.
Most software will provide two modes: "Quick Scan" and "Deep Scan".
It is recommended to try a quick scan first. It is mainly for those files that have been accidentally deleted and formatted recently, and its speed is very fast.
If you can't find it, then enable deep scan, which will analyze the entire hard disk sector by sector. Although it takes a long time, you can find more stubborn data and even data after the partition table is damaged.
Step 3: Preview and select files .
After the scan is completed, the software will display the found files in the form of a directory tree or file list.
Good recovery software has a free preview function, such as pictures, documents, videos, etc., so that you can confirm whether the files are in good condition before restoring them.
Carefully check the important files you need to recover.
Step 4: Perform recovery and save safely .
Click the recovery button, and the most critical step appears. Set the save path to another hard disk partition on the computer, such as the D or E drive.
Step 5: Verify the recovery results .
After the recovery is completed, immediately go to the saved path, open several files, and check their integrity and readability.
Hengping Review of Eight Artifacts: Choose the Right One According to Your Scenario
There are many data recovery software on the market, with different functional focuses and applicable scenarios.
Here is an inventory of 8 word-of-mouth tools for you, you can choose according to your own situation.
1. Zhuanzhuan Master data recovery software is the best in the field of domestic software, especially suitable for novice users.
Its core recovery mode covers all scenarios of accidental deletion, formatting, and partition loss.
It has the characteristic function of high recovery rate, can have the ability to repair some files, and focuses on local privacy and security.
The free version supports scanning and previewing of the entire disk, small files can be restored directly, the interface guidance is very clear and clear, and the operation difficulty is quite low.
2. Recuva: There is a free tool that can achieve classic and lightweight effects. It is produced by Piriform, the creator of the well-known cleaning tool CCleaner.
The core recovery mode focuses on basic accidental deletion and removable storage device recovery.
It has a unique feature that it is lightweight and has no bundling, it scans quickly and quickly, and it has a built-in file type filter.
The capabilities of its free version are indeed very generous. Its core functions are completely open and there is no form of castration. It is more than enough to handle simple deletion operations in daily life.
This is a domestic comprehensive disk management and data recovery tool called DiskGenius. It has powerful functions, but it is more suitable for users with a certain computer foundation.
Partition repair is not as good as the core recovery mode, sector depth scanning is not as good as the core recovery mode, and RAW format hard drive failure recovery is also not as good as the core recovery mode.
The unique feature is that it has professional-level in-depth retrieval capabilities. At the same time, it also integrates powerful partition management functions, as well as backup and restore functions.
The free version can scan and preview, but complete recovery requires payment and the operation is more difficult .
4. TestDisk, an open source and free command line tool that can run across platforms, is one of the ultimate weapons for dealing with severe disk failures.
The core recovery mode is to repair corrupted partition tables and boot sectors.
When the partition table of your hard disk is completely messed up and the system cannot recognize it, it can try to rebuild it from the bottom up.
The whole platform is free and powerful, which belongs to the category of special functions, but the difficulty of operation is at the hard-core professional level. To carry out relevant operations, you have to read detailed tutorials.
5. AOMEI Recovery Star : Produced by AOMEI Technology, it is famous for its simplicity and ease of use.
The core recovery mode targets accidental deletion and formatting of U disks and memory cards.
The special function is to combine the data recovery function and the partition management function into one, and use the read-only mode to scan, which is undoubtedly very safe.
The free version supports preview and small file recovery, and the operation difficulty is simple and entry-level.
6. Samsung and Kingston official tools: If you are a mobile hard drive user of these two brands, or a USB flash drive user, you can give priority to trying the repair tools provided by their official ones.
Just like the official Samsung U disk recovery tool, it is specially designed to optimize Samsung storage space devices. It can be used to repair accidental deletion, formatting and logical faults. It has pure characteristics and has good performance in compatibility.
Kingston USB flash drive repair tool works the same way.
The capabilities of the free version they possess are generally completely free, but they can only be used on devices of the corresponding brand, and their operation difficulty is relatively low.
PhotoRec, an open source free tool from the same development team, is related to TestDisk, however it focuses on recovering specific types of files.
The core recovery mode is dedicated to the recovery of multimedia files such as pictures, videos, and audios.
Its unique function is for the retrieval of image data from formatted storage devices, and the effect is particularly outstanding.
It is fully functional and free, but the operation difficulty is medium and requires the cooperation of a graphical interface.
8. Wise Data Recovery, a lightweight tool created and developed by WiseCleaner Company.
Using the core recovery mode, a quick scan will be performed, and it is a deep full disk type recovery. This mode supports hard drives, disks, and a variety of different devices such as USB flash drives.
Its functional features are that it is very small in size, starts up very quickly, and it also has support for filtering based on conditions such as file size and type.
The free version can be previewed, small files can be recovered for free, and the operation is easy.
Scenario selection guide: Which one should I use?
Faced with so many tools, it may be difficult to choose.
It's actually very simple, just match it according to your specific scenario.
Their interface is friendly, the guidance is clear, the free functions are sufficient, and the success rate is guaranteed.
If your mobile hard drive cannot be recognized, prompts you to format it, or has complex problems such as missing partitions, and ordinary tools find nothing after scanning, then it’s time to use advanced tools.
You can try DiskGenius for deep scanning and partition repair.
If the problem is beyond imagination, similar to the situation where the hard disk is formatted in RAW, then you can explore TestDisk and try to repair the partition table.
If at that time, as a photography enthusiast or a person engaged in video creation, you mainly want to recover pictures and videos that have been lost due to formatting, then PhotoRec will become a very powerful assistant for you. Its recovery algorithm for multimedia files is very professional.
Final advice and confidence
Data recovery in a race against time is a technical task, and it is also a situation that you must treat calmly and carefully.
Remember, mistakes made in panic are the second leading cause of data loss.
As long as you remember it firmly in your mind, avoid overwriting operations, choose the right tool, and follow the prescribed process, the probability of successfully recovering the data is quite high.
At this point, take a deep breath, choose the tool that suits you according to the guidelines given above, and follow the steps one by one.
Those precious memories and important work results are very likely to return to you again after the next click.
