RECOVER LOST FILES
Resurrect data you thought had gone
WE’VE ALL DELETED FILES BY MISTAKE, and immediately panicked, because while deleting them is easy to do, recovering them isn’t always that straightforward.
The good news is that when you empty the Windows Recycle Bin, the files aren’t really destroyed. In fact, what Windows does is earmark the space occupied by the “deleted” files as empty space for new data. This makes it possible to recover the files, so long as new data hasn’t already been written over the space.
Recuva is a free, feature-rich tool that helps recover accidentally deleted files. In addition to hard disks, it can also be used to recover data on USB drives, SD cards, and smartphones connected to your computer. It can recover data from formatted drives, too. If that wasn’t enough, Recuva can even recover deleted emails from your mail client. Let’s get started!
1 DOWNLOAD AND INSTALL Head to www.piriform.com/recuva and click “Free Download” to grab the application [ Image A]. Run the installer to install the app. While the default installation options work for most users, make sure you remember to deselect the option to install any additional application when prompted. 2 RECOVERY WIZARD When you launch the app, it fires up a recovery wizard. Ensure that the storage device where your deleted files are kept is connected to the computer. If your deleted files are stored on an external drive, such as a USB stick or a memory card, remember to connect them to your PC via a USB cable or card reader. 3 FILE TYPE In the next screen, the program asks you to select the type of files you are trying to retrieve. You can only check one of the options [ Image B]. If you wish to retrieve two or more types, you need to select “All Files.” This retrieves all deleted files, but you can sort out the ones you don’t need later. 4 SELECT LOCATION After selecting the type of file you wish to retrieve, the program prompts you to select the location where you want to retrieve the files from. The screen lists several options. The default option searches your entire computer, while the second option looks for deleted files inside any removable drives. 5 BROWSE LOCATION Instead of searching your entire computer, you can save time and look for deleted files inside a specific location by selecting the second-to-last option [ Image C]. Now click “Browse,” and point Recuva to a particular folder on the computer. Select the last option if you wish to look for files on an optical disc. 6 INITIATE THE SCAN That’s all the information Recuva needs to start hunting for deleted files. Click “Start” in the next screen to get going. Do not toggle the option marked “Deep Scan” at this stage. This option kicks off an intensive and time-consuming scan, and should only be used if you can’t find the files using the regular process.
7 ANALYZE RESULTS A regular scan usually only takes a few seconds. When it’s finished, Recuva lists all the deleted files that it has dug up [ Image D]. The list is normally fairly long and exhaustive, especially if you asked the application to look for all types of deleted files back in Step 3. 8 SWITCH TO ADVANCED MODE Because the recovered files don’t retain their original names, you’ll need help identifying them. Click “Switch to advanced mode.” This splits the interface, and shows three tabs in the right-hand pane. Use these to preview the files, and read their metadata information, such as size, state, creation time, and so on. 9 NARROW DOWN RESULTS You can also rein in the results by limiting their scope. Use the pull-down menus in the advanced mode. The first menu enables you to switch drives, while the third can be used to only show files of a particular media type. When you find files you recognize, toggle the checkbox adjacent to the files you wish to recover. 10 RECOVER FILES Now click “Recover.” Recuva asks you where you wish to save the recovered files [ Image E]. This folder should be on a different drive from the one you’ve scanned for deleted files. That’s it! This folder now contains all the recovered files for you to rename and move as you please.