Data Recovery Help
I started this data recovery website to help offer insight on how the pro's recover data. Having owned and operated my own computer repair business before retiring (mostly) from the data recovery and computer repair world, I'll share every trick in the book I used to successfully recover files from client computers. Some of the tactics are a little out there but they do and have worked for me in the past. The main purpose for me to share this information is to help you recover your deleted files. Having been hugged and kissed by clients in the past I know just how import those baby pictures, family pictures, wedding pictures and business files are.
Word of Caution: All information on this website is for educational purposes only. I can not be held liable for any data loss you suffer. Any tips and tricks mentioned on this website may result in permanent data loss. You should ALWAYS first attempt to use data recovery software first to recover your data before attempting to freeze your hard drive or knock it around a bit.
The first thing you are going to want to do is STOP using the hard drive that you suffered data loss on. If for instance you re-formatted your hard drive and your files are gone but your computer still works you should keep that computer OFF. Using a hard drive that you are recovering files from only causes more data to be over written. Once data is over written there is no way currently to get it back. However in most cases you will be able to save almost all your major files if you stop using that hard drive.
Now that you have read the ABOVE we can continue on and recover your data and files.
Step 1.in Data Recovery: We first need to identify if you are suffering from a mechanical hardware failure or a software failure. This in many cases is easy.
Recover Data from Software Related issues
If you permanently deleted your files by mistake or formatted your hard drive then it is a software issue. You should follow our Recover Data from Formatted Drive guide. This guide covers most software related issues when it comes to data recovery. If you deleted your files by mistake, formatted your drive, crashed the operating system but the drive is mechanically sound and you just want to pull your files off. Things of that nature. The above file recovery guide is very in-depth and walks you through the process. Depending on what happened you may need to purchase data recovery software and/or data recovery equipment.
Recover Data from Hardware Related Issues
Recovering data from a hardware related issue can be very hard. See our master recover data from hard drive failure guide. Instances of your issue being a hardware related crash are as follows
1. Your hard drive does not even turn on (See Advanced Data Recovery Options )
2. Your hard drive is making clicking / knocking sounds ( See hard drive making clicking sounds for more info )
3. When you run data recovery software it does not find the drive
4. The drive is not recognized by your computer ( See Hard drive is not recognized by my computer )
Recommended Data Recovery Software
When it comes to recovering data. Recover My files has the widest range of depth and reach. This is the program that works to recover files after all others fail. The standard Recover My Files program allows for you to recover data even from formatted and over written hard drives. There is even a pro version and tech version of this software for professional use. In all most all cases users just need the regular version. Read our full Recover My Files Review for details of this software.
If it's just photos you wish to recover see our Photo Recovery Software page for programs that are designed only for photo recovery.
Best Data Recovery Program
This is the best all in one data recovery program that resolves the most data recovery problems. With this one software program you can recover the widest range of data.