Complete Guide to Recovering Deleted Files: Tools and Steps

This guide will explain how to recover files accidentally deleted from your computer, smartphone, or tablet. File recovery is useful for anyone who has mistakenly deleted important data and wants to restore it. The solutions presented are suitable for both experienced users and beginners, with tools available for Windows, macOS, Linux, smartphones, and tablets.

The chances of successful recovery depend on the data not being overwritten by new information. It is therefore essential to act promptly and avoid using the affected storage.

• PhotoRec is an open-source program available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, designed to recover deleted files from various storage media.
• Disk Drill is software available for Windows and macOS that allows you to examine internal and external drives to attempt to recover removed data.

By following the detailed steps in the subsequent sections, you will be able to effectively recover your deleted files.

Prerequisites

To recover deleted files from your PC, you will need the following tools:

• A computer with Windows, macOS, or Linux operating system
• PhotoRec (available for Windows, macOS, and Linux) - official website
• Internet access to download the necessary programs
• A storage unit (internal/external hard disk, USB drive, etc.) from which to recover the files
• Sufficient disk space to save the recovered files

How to Recover Deleted Files from the PC

By following this guide, you will recover deleted files from your PC using specific tools. Here is the step-by-step procedure:

PhotoRec (Windows/macOS/Linux)

• Connect to the program's website and click on the item related to the operating system on the computer where you need to run the program.
• Once the download is complete, if you are using Windows, open the ZIP file obtained, extract the contents to a folder of your choice, and launch the executable qphotorecwin.exe.
• In the window displayed on the desktop, expand the drop-down menu at the top to choose the unit to act on.
• Select the item related to the main partition of the chosen unit and choose the file system used for its formatting.
• Choose an option between Free: search for documents only in unallocated space or Complete: extraction of documents from the entire partition.
• Press the File Formats button and select the types of files you want to recover with PhotoRec.
• Click the Browse button to specify the folder where to save the data once the recovery is complete and start the procedure by pressing the Search button.
• If you are using macOS, extract the downloaded TAR.BZ2 file to a folder of your choice and launch the photorec file inside.
• The Terminal window will open. Use the right arrow key on your Mac's keyboard to select the Sudo option, press the Enter key, and type the computer's administrator password.
• Select the unit of interest, indicate the partition you want to act on, select the reference file system, and determine whether to scan only the space marked as free or to thoroughly check everything.
• Indicate the folder where you want to save the recovered content once the process is complete and start the analysis and data recovery by pressing the C key on your Mac's keyboard.

Disk Drill (Windows/macOS)

• If you use Windows, connect to the program's website and press the Free Download button.
• Once the download is complete, run the EXE file obtained and, in the window you see appear on the desktop, press the Yes, Install, and Launch buttons.
• Once the download is complete, open the DMG file obtained and, through the window displayed on the desktop, drag the Disk Drill icon into the Mac's Applications folder.
• Right-click on it and choose the Open option from the menu offered. Then, press the Open button in the new window displayed and click the Install Now button in the additional screen that appears.
• Grant the permissions required for the activity of background apps and full disk access.
• When you see the main window of Disk Drill, choose the unit of interest and the partition on which to search for the data and press the Search for Lost Data button to start the analysis.

Verification and Troubleshooting: How to Test if It Works and What to Do if It Fails

After following the steps to recover deleted files, it is important to verify the effectiveness of the process and know how to act in case of problems.

Recovery Verification

• Check the destination folder: Verify that the recovered files are present in the folder specified during the recovery process.
• Open the recovered files: Ensure that the files are intact and functional, opening them with the appropriate programs.
• Compare the original files: If you have backup copies, compare the recovered files with the originals to verify data integrity.

Troubleshooting

• Files not found: If PhotoRec or Disk Drill do not find the files, try performing a more thorough scan by selecting the "Complete" option instead of "Free".
• Corrupted files: If the recovered files are corrupted, try using another data recovery tool or performing a scan with different options.
• Compatibility issues: Ensure that the recovery software is compatible with your device's operating system and file system.
• Errors during installation: If you encounter problems during the installation of PhotoRec or Disk Drill, make sure to carefully follow the instructions provided and have the necessary administrator permissions.

If the problems persist, consult the official documentation of the programs or seek support in online communities dedicated to data recovery.

Educational Summary and Practical Invitation

You have discovered that promptness is essential to increase the chances of successful recovery.

• Disk Drill offers an intuitive user interface and advanced features for data recovery on Windows and macOS.

Now that you know the necessary steps, put what you have learned into practice immediately. Remember to act quickly and avoid overwriting the deleted data to maximize recovery possibilities.