Information may well be the most valuable commodity to a business or even to an individual. It’s why people have large hard drives. There’s plenty of data and other files that they need and they must be stored safely. One of the most distressing things that can occur is when data is accidentally deleted. You may have partitioned a drive without backing it up, accidentally deleted the wrong files, or even need access to files you intentionally deleted. Whatever the cause of the problem, lost data can be costly in time and money. Fortunately, deleted files can be recovered.
Look in the Recycle Bin
There are companies such as AnyTech365 that offer excellent data recovery services. However, before going to that expense, take the simplest route. Check the recycle bin on your computer. That’s what it’s there for. Deleted files are placed there for 30 days before permanent deletion just in case you need them. Open the recycle bin and locate the file or files you need. Simply right-click on the file name and choose Restore from the pop-up menu. Your file will be placed back in its original folder.
Run a Search
Should the file not be in the recycle bin, it’s worth a try to run a search for it. It may have been inadvertently moved to a different folder. Click your Windows icon to open the search box. Type in the name of the file you are looking for and the program will search your hard drive and show you where the file is if it has not been deleted. If it has, move on to the next step.
Use Software
There are many companies that make data recovery software. These programs are designed to help users locate deleted files and restore them. Microsoft has a free program called Windows File Recovery. It can be downloaded from their site. Just do a search for it. It offers a regular and extensive search mode. When the program starts, it opens a command prompt. A system administrator will have to authorize access to the hard drive to begin the search. It’s important to familiarize yourself with source and destination locations to effectively use the software. Use the right mode as well. Regular is for recently-deleted files while extensive is necessary for files that were deleted some time ago.
Use a Data Recovery Service
If all attempts to recover the data on your own fail, you can hire a data recovery service. These companies employ experts in locating and restoring lost and corrupted data. Do a Google search and read reviews. You can also get recommendations from friends and colleagues. These services can be expensive but they are worth the cost of recovering vital data. Simple document and spreadsheet files are recovered more easily than complex graphic and media files and this will be reflected in the cost.
Data is the lifeblood of any company. Accidental deletion of important files can be scary. Don’t panic. Most data can be recovered if you know how.
