Recovering deleted data

Hikkins

This week my computer managed to get a virus which effectively crippled the computer, and left me with no choice but to reinstall Windows. This was not a problem, I backed up all my data, or so I thought.

Basically, I forgot to back up a folder which contained all my pictures, university work, all the songs and music I've written, and a ton of other shit. To be honest I'm pretty devastated by the loss of this, and if there's any way I can get this stuff back, especially the music, then I want to know.

My computer has obviously been formatted, which I'd imagine makes it next to impossible to recover any data. However, my external harddrive did have a back up of the folder, which I deleted, because I intended to make a newer back up, and forgot to do. Are there any programs out there that might be able to help me recover this lost data, or am I fucked?

Fantasma

Hi,

You could try using a commercial application called "Data Recovery Wizard Professional", but it is not free.

Good luck.

blakfeld

The data could be there, but its pretty unlikely, and WILL be pricey. If you need the data STOP USING THE COMPUTER RIGHT THE FUCK NOW. Anything and everything you do will write over that data

Crashtard

If you'd only formatted you might be ok, but with the windows install you might be toasted. I don't know of a program that's not going to cost lots of money that might be able to do it. This is also one of those times I feel obligated to say that this is why you should get a USB flash drive or preferably an external hard drive that you can use to back up your files to. It costs money to do it, but it sure saves a lot of grief in times like this.

pacbowl

Hikkins wrote: »

However, my external harddrive did have a back up of the folder, which I deleted, because I intended to make a newer back up, and forgot to do.

The external harddrive would be your best bet. If you haven't used it for anything since you deleted the folder, the chances are pretty good you can recover it. GetDataBack is a pretty good recovery program but it isn't free.

RallyGirl76

Do any of these solutions work for a CD that has been cleared by my DVD read write drive that was playing up?

PaperPritt

The external harddrive would be your best bet. If you haven't used it for anything since you deleted the folder, the chances are pretty good you can recover it.

Truth right there. Any decent recovery program will probably get your files without too much trouble. Some might be damaged, ie lost, but you should get the vast majority of your data back.

I don't have a proggy name on the top of my head but just do a quick google search, should be enough.

Should this fail, you have the -extremly costly- option of getting the external drive to recovery specialists who will probably manage to resurrect all your data. Is it worth it? Probably not.

Cheers!

finalflight89

I've used software called Recuva before and it's worked pretty well in finding deleted data. I'd try using it on your external and seeing what it comes up with. Did I mention it's free?

Hikkins

Thanks for the replies guys, I'm trying running EASEUS Data Recovery Wizard, so hopefully that will turn some stuff up. Already tried it on the harddrive on my computer and it turned up nothing though. Trying my external harddrive now and hoping that works, but it will take ages to search the whole thing.