Accidentally formatting a computer deletes all its content. If you’ve lost important files from your computer after formatting it, don’t worry. Luckily, data recovery is not impossible, even after a complete format. There are several Windows data recovery methods available online that you can try to restore lost data. This quick guide will walk you through some best methods to recover data from formatted computer.
Is It Possible to Recover Data after Formatting?
Before diving into Windows data recovery methods to recover data from formatted computers, it’s important to understand what happens to your data after formatting. Formatting essentially erases the file system, making the data inaccessible. However, the data isn’t immediately deleted. The space where the data was stored will be marked available for new data, but the data remains until it is overwritten by new files. This is why it’s important to stop using the computer immediately after formatting to prevent overwriting the data, which makes recovery more difficult or impossible.
Immediate Steps to Take After Formatting Your PC
Here are certain quick steps that you can consider for smooth and hassle-free data recovery of lost data from formatted Windows PC:
- Stop Using the Device: Continued use of the device can overwrite the deleted files, making the data recovery process harder or even impossible to recover.
- Disconnect the Storage Drive: Disconnecting the drive prevents accidental data writes and allows you to use it as an external drive for recovery purposes.
- Select a reliable Windows data recovery software: Data recovery software can scan the formatted drive for recoverable files, so it is important to select reliable and user-friendly software.
How do I Recover Data from a Formatted PC?
In this part of the blog, we’ll discuss some best Windows data recovery methods to restore the lost data from your formatted computer:
Method 01: Use Third-Party Data Recovery Software
Let’s start with the simplest method first! You can use third-party Windows data recovery software to easily recover deleted files. Tools like Stellar Data Recovery Standard allow you to restore data from a formatted computer in a few simple clicks. The software is known for its high success rate and user-friendly recovery process. You can easily recover deleted photos, videos, documents, and other file types using this versatile recovery software.
- The Stellar Data Recovery Standard is helpful in the recovery of data deleted due to accidental deletion, formatting, corrupt storage drives, etc.
- Support various data types such as photos, videos, audio, documents and more.
- 100% safe and secure tool with a three-step recovery process.
- Allows you to preview the recoverable data after scanning the storage drive.
- The software is available in multiple versions varying in features and prices. Compare their features and select the one that best suits your requirements.
Here’s how to recover data from a formatted computer using the Stellar Data Recovery Standard software:
Step 1: Firstly, download and install the Stellar Data Recovery standard software on your Windows/Mac device. Launch the software and from the homepage, select the type of data you need to restore and click Next.
Step 2: Select the folder location where your data was stored before deletion and click Scan to initiate the scanning process.
Step 3: Once the scan is complete, preview the recoverable files and choose whatever you need to recover. Click the Recover button to save selected files at the desired location.
Method 02: Use Previously Created Backups
If you have been regularly backing up your device, you can use the Backup and Restore option in Windows or Time Machine on macOS to restore your deleted data.
For Windows Users:
- Firstly, go to the Control Panel and select the “Backup and Restore (Windows 7)” option.
- Now, click the “Restore my files” and go through the on-screen instructions to restore your data from the backup.
- Select the appropriate backup from the list and choose the files you want to restore.
- You can save the selected version of files to their original location or a new one.
For macOS Users:
Mac users can use the Time Machine backup utility to recover data deleted from their device. For this:
- Connect your Time Machine backup drive and open Time Machine from the menu bar or System Preferences.
- Use the timeline on the right pane to navigate through your backups. Select the backup version before the formatting occurs.
- Browse through the files and folders to find the selected version you need to recover.
- Lastly, click the Restore button to recover the selected files.
Method 03: Recover Deleted Data Using File History Backups
Another backup alternative to recover deleted data from formatted computers is by using the File History backups. If you have enabled File History backup on your device, it will automatically create backups on an external disk. Follow the below steps to recover deleted data from formatted computers using File History backups:
- Firstly, type File History on your Windows search box and select Restore your files with file history.
- Go to the folder where deleted data was earlier stored and select the backup version you want to recover.
- Click the green Restore button to save selected files back to your device.
Wrapping Up
Hope the above Windows data recovery methods help you to recover data from a formatted computer. The key is to act quickly, avoid using the computer to prevent data overwriting, and choose the most suitable recovery method to recover the lost data and the specific situation. Regular backups are the best prevention against data loss, so consider setting up an automated backup system to safeguard your data in the future.
