Restore accidentially deleted data. Help!!!

[Johnnybig]

How can you restore accidentially deleted data? I deleted all My documents
data and since it was large amount most of them did not reach the Recycle bin
but were deleted permanently. Can I restore them?

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

How can you restore accidentially deleted data? I deleted all My documents
data and since it was large amount most of them did not reach the Recycle
bin
but were deleted permanently. Can I restore them?

The best method is to restore them from your backup. If you haven't
got a backup method then it's time to think about one. A 2.5" disk
in an external USB case would be a highly effective and low-cost
backup medium.

The next best method is to use one of the countless undelete tools
that you can find on Google. Some are free or have a free trial
period. If you chose this method then you must do this:
- Stop using your PC immediately.
- Install your disk as a slave disk in some other WinXP PC.
- Install the undelete tool on the main disk of that machine.
- Start undeleting files.

If you deleted a large number of files then the recovery process
will be slow and laborious. This is why it is crucial to back up
important files regularly (e.g. once a week) to an independent
medium.

 

[Johnnybig]

Can you recommend a good and inexpensive program for the data restoration? Is
it not possible to install the program on the same computer and let it
restore? I do not have another computer.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Can you recommend a good and inexpensive program for the data restoration?
Is
it not possible to install the program on the same computer and let it
restore? I do not have another computer.

Sorry, I cannot recommend a particular undelete program -
I haven't used any for a long, long time.

It is certainly possible to install the chosen program on your
own PC. However, any and all activity on your PC will cause
data to be written to the hard disk, which increases the danger
of erased files getting overwritten.

 

[Malke]

Can you recommend a good and inexpensive program for the data restoration?
Is it not possible to install the program on the same computer and let it
restore? I do not have another computer.

If you don't have another computer, don't attempt data restoration. Take the
machine to a professional computer repair shop that has experience in doing
data recovery. This will not be your local version of BigStoreUSA. In-shop
data recovery is usually not exactly cheap (for ex., my charges are
generally $150-350USD), but it costs considerably less than sending the
drive to a professional data recovery company like Drive Savers. You need
to make the determination of the value of your data and decide what to do.

I'll give you some links to various data recovery programs but if you use
your computer you take the very good chance of overwriting the data you
want to recovery. Then it will be gone for good. Perhaps you have a friend
who would let you create the bootable recovery media on his machine.
Remember, you cannot save recovered files to the same hard drive from which
you are recovering the data!

I use Easy Recovery Pro, but it is expensive. People whom I respect have
recommended R-Studio and Restoration. YMMV.

http://www3.telus.net/mikebike/RESTORATION.html
PCInspector File Recovery -
http://www.pcinspector.de/file_recovery/welcome.htm
Executive Software ?Undelete? -
http://www.undelete.com/undelete/undelete.asp
R-Studio - http://www.r-tt.com/
File Scavenger - http://www.quetek.com/prod02.htm
Ontrack's EasyRecovery - http://www.ontrack.com/software/

Malke

 

[Patrick Keenan]

How can you restore accidentially deleted data? I deleted all My documents
data and since it was large amount most of them did not reach the Recycle
bin
but were deleted permanently. Can I restore them?

Not if you keep using your PC. Stop, remove the drive and attach it to
another system, and attempt recovery from there. Take the drive to a
recovery service if necessary.

Every second you run that system reduces the chance of recovery.

HTH
-pk

 

[Johnnybig]

I used the computer and installed the recovery program there, but it on the C
drive (where windows is). All the data I deleted were on the D: drive. Since
this is a separate partition and I have not saved anything there yet, my
chances of recovery should be good. Am I correct?

 

[db.·.. >]

are you sure you deleted
it, perhaps you simply moved
it to another location or
maybe it became "hiddened"
or some program may have
made it off limits to you.

also, if it were deleted then
i think it would have shown
up in your recycle bin, so be
sure you are logged in as
administrator.

if however, you think
it has been deleted, then
you can use a freeware
called "recuva".

 

[Johnnybig]

I used the PC and I installed the recovery program on the C drive where
windows XP is. All the data was on the D: drive which I deleted. Since this
is a separate partition and I have not saved anything there yet, the data
should be still recovable. Am I correct?

 

[Malke]

I used the PC and I installed the recovery program on the C drive where
windows XP is. All the data was on the D: drive which I deleted. Since
this is a separate partition and I have not saved anything there yet, the
data should be still recovable. Am I correct?

It should be OK. I guess you'll find out. ;-)

Malke