Recovering data from formatted hard drives

Formatted hard drive data recovery has reached new heights with cutting-edge techniques and innovations. In this article, we present the ultimate guide to formatted hard drive data recovery, covering the latest methods and strategies to retrieve lost data from formatted drives. Whether you’re a professional IT expert or a casual user, staying informed about the latest data recovery techniques is essential. Master the art of formatted hard drive data recovery!

Recovering data from formatted hard drives

Yet recovering data after formatting the hard disk or deleting the partition is also possible. To do this, you can use programs designed for recovering deleted or formatted partitions. In any case, this is not a panacea: much depends on the formatting method.

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How to Recover Data After Formatting, Deleting or Creating Partitions in 2020 📁🔥⚕️

How to Recover Data After Formatting, Deleting or Creating Partitions in 2020 📁🔥⚕️

If you formatted a hard drive or any other storage medium using standard Windows tools, then you will not have any difficulties with data recovery. At least if this device was not used after that. If special software was used for formatting, then data recovery may be difficult.

Ways to format your hard drive

The concept of formatting a hard disk can be divided into two types:

  • In one case, this is the process of preparing a hard disk for loading or storing data. This process is performed with completely new hard disks, since they cannot be used for any of the above tasks in an unprocessed state – in fact, in this form they are RAW disks.
  • On the contrary, the other case involves complete deletion of data from the hard disk with one operation. It will be correct to add that such formatting is carried out both with standard Windows tools and third-party software.
    Formatting the hard drive with standard tools provided by the operating system simply removes all the information from the hard drive (if you do not delve into the technical details of the process). In this case, data can be restored easily using specialized programs.
    On the other hand, the recovery of data that is deleted using third-party software largely depends on the purpose and quality of such a program, as well as the functions used. For example, using the program to clean the disk in normal mode (by simply formatting the disk) will allow you to recover data. Yet if the function for overwriting the hard disk was applied, then data recovery is almost impossible.

Causes of data loss

Common cases of data loss include accidental deletion or loss of one or several files, but more interesting are the cases of inadvertently formatting a partition or the entire disk, losing data due to formatting FAT into NTFS or vice versa, or similar situations that result in large-scale loss of data.

Unintentional formatting of a partition

Data loss due to unintentional formatting of a partition is usually the result of formatting the wrong partition. For example, instead of formatting the local disk D: you format the local disk E: and realize what happened only after the formatting process was completed. Most often, it happens when installing the operating system and means losing a large amount of data.

Changing the file system from FAT to NTFS

FAT file system partitions are not designed to store large files (there is a maximum file size limit of 4 GB), and they have low read/write speeds. Consequently, overall performance of the computer decreases gradually as the disk gets low on free space. Conversely, the NTFS file system allows you to store larger files, while it has significantly higher read/write speeds.

Therefore, users sometimes switch from one file system to another to change the read/write speeds and obtain the ability to store larger files. But this cannot be done without formatting the specific disk or partition, which certainly entails the loss of data that is stored on it.

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Recovering files from formatted partitions is not an easy task. How does this happen? Recovering lost files as a result of disk formatting is the direct purpose of our programs .

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Converting NTFS, FAT32 or exFAT USB Flash Drive, External Drive Without Losing Data

Converting NTFS, FAT32 or exFAT USB Flash Drive, External Drive Without Losing Data

Formatting a disk deletes the data that is stored on it, and the files become inaccessible to the user. In addition, the formatting process frees up disk space and makes it available for future use. But although deleted data is no longer displayed on disk, it remains where it was before formatting. This is because these files no longer have a link to the disk file table. In other words, deleting one or more files from the hard drive is simply removing information about it from the file table, which makes them inaccessible. Accordingly, such files are not displayed on the computer and do not take up space on the hard drive.

Oleg Afonin

Author: , Technical Writer

Oleg Afonin is an expert in mobile forensics, data recovery and computer systems. He often attends large data security conferences, and writes several blogs for such resources as xaker.ru, Elcomsoft and Habr. In addition to his online activities, Oleg’s articles are also published in professional magazines. Also, Oleg Afonin is the co-author of a well-known book, Mobile Forensics - Advanced Investigative Strategies.

Vladimir Artiukh

Editor: , Technical Writer

Vladimir Artiukh is a technical writer for Hetman Software, as well as the voice and face of their English-speaking YouTube channel, Hetman Software: Data Recovery for Windows. He handles tutorials, how-tos, and detailed reviews on how the company’s tools work with all kinds of data storage devices.

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Questions and answers

  • What is the importance of data recovery from a formatted hard drive?

    Data recovery from a formatted hard drive is important because it can help restore important files and documents that may have been lost due to accidental formatting or deletion. Data recovery can also help to recover data that may have been damaged or corrupted due to a virus or other malicious software. By recovering data from a formatted hard drive, you can restore important documents, pictures, music, and other files that may have been lost or damaged.

  • Can data be recovered from a hard drive that has been formatted?

    Yes, it is possible to recover data from a formatted hard drive, although the success of the recovery depends on the type of formatting that was done. If the drive was quick-formatted, meaning that only the file system was erased, then the data may be recovered using data recovery software. If the drive was full-formatted, meaning that all data was overwritten, then it is unlikely that any data can be recovered.

  • What are the common causes of data loss from a formatted hard drive?
    • Physical Damage: Hard drives can become damaged due to physical impact, such as being dropped or exposed to extreme temperatures.
    • Electrical Failure: Power surges, spikes, and outages can cause hard drive failure and data loss.
    • Firmware Issues: Firmware is the software that controls the hard drive’s operations. If it becomes corrupted, it can cause the drive to malfunction and lead to data loss.
    • Bad Sectors: Bad sectors are areas of the hard drive that are no longer readable due to physical damage or wear and tear.
    • File System Corruption: The file system is the structure that stores data on the hard drive. If it becomes corrupted, it can lead to data loss.
    • Malware Infection: Malware can infect a hard drive and corrupt or delete data.
  • How does data recovery software work for formatted hard drives?

    Data recovery software works by scanning the hard drive for lost files and attempting to recover them. The software looks for patterns and data structures that indicate the presence of a file, then attempts to reconstruct the file from the remaining data. It can also scan for deleted files, which are not always completely erased from the drive. Depending on the type of formatting done, the software may be able to access some or all of the data on the drive.

  • Are there any limitations to data recovery from a formatted hard drive?

    Yes, there are limitations to data recovery from a formatted hard drive. Depending on the type of formatting, it is possible that some or all of the data may be lost. Additionally, the longer the hard drive has been formatted, the more likely it is that some data may be unrecoverable. Finally, if the hard drive has sustained physical damage, data recovery may not be possible.

Comments (10)

  • Gale Wadeson
    Gale Wadeson 22.05.2012 02:22 #
    Is it possible to recover all data from a formatted hard drive, or are some files lost forever?
    Reply
    • Hetman Software
      Hetman Software 22.05.2012 02:37 #
      It is possible to recover some data from a formatted hard drive, but some files may be lost forever. Depending on the type of formatting and the amount of time that has passed since the formatting, some data may be unrecoverable.
      Reply
  • Jonnie Perry
    Jonnie Perry 21.05.2012 22:23 #
    What are the signs that indicate a hard drive has been formatted?
    Reply
    • Hetman Software
      Hetman Software 21.05.2012 22:51 #
      • The hard drive will no longer appear in Windows Explorer or other file manager applications.
      • The capacity of the hard drive will be reset to its original size.
      • The drive will be empty and all the previously stored data will be gone.
      • A new file system will be created on the hard drive, such as NTFS or FAT32.
      • The drive will have a new name and label assigned to it.
      Reply
  • Jaden Leggott
    Jaden Leggott 21.05.2012 20:22 #
    Are there any preventive measures to avoid data loss due to a formatted hard drive?
    Reply
    • Hetman Software
      Hetman Software 21.05.2012 20:54 #

      Yes, there are several preventive measures that can be taken to avoid data loss due to a formatted hard drive:

      • Back up your data regularly: Regularly backing up your data is the best way to ensure that your data is safe and secure in the event of a hard drive failure or data loss. You can use external hard drives, cloud storage, or other backup solutions to ensure that your data is secure.
      • Use disk imaging software: Disk imaging software can create an exact copy of your hard drive so that if you ever need to restore it, you can do so quickly and easily.
      • Use a reliable antivirus software: Antivirus software can help protect your system from malicious software and viruses that can cause data loss.
      • Avoid using pirated software: Pirated software can contain malicious code that can damage your system and cause data loss.
      • Keep your operating system and software up to date: Regularly updating your operating system and software can help protect your system from security vulnerabilities that can lead to data loss.
      Reply
  • Renssalaer Knight
    Renssalaer Knight 21.05.2012 16:27 #
    How much time does it take to recover data from a formatted hard drive?
    Reply
    • Hetman Software
      Hetman Software 21.05.2012 16:54 #
      The amount of time it takes to recover data from a formatted hard drive will depend on the size of the drive and the complexity of the data recovery process. Generally, it can take anywhere from several hours to several days to complete the recovery process.
      Reply
  • Mason Madge
    Mason Madge 21.05.2012 13:35 #
    Can a professional data recovery service help recover data from a formatted hard drive?
    Reply
    • Hetman Software
      Hetman Software 21.05.2012 13:59 #
      Yes, a professional data recovery service can help recover data from a formatted hard drive. Depending on the type of formatting, the success rate of data recovery may vary. Professional data recovery services typically use specialized software and hardware to scan the hard drive and attempt to recover lost data.
      Reply
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