Windows Tips: System Restore Data Recovery

Learn how to recover data after Windows 10 & 8 system restore with ease in this comprehensive guide. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced user, discover step-by-step instructions and essential tips to seamlessly recover your valuable data. Dive deep into data recovery techniques after Windows 10 & 8 system restore and explore insider strategies to maximize your chances of successful data restoration.

Choosing the option «Delete Everything» when resetting the system, you clean the system disk completely, with all user files, applications and settings to be deleted. Certainly, you can reset the system with the option to keep your files, but if there are really important files or data, we recommend you to create a backup copy.

How to Recover Data After Resetting Your Computer

Yes, this is true that user data can be recovered after resetting Windows 8 or 10, but only before such data is overwritten. The moment you face such a problem, stop using the computer immediately, otherwise all lost files will be overwritten with some new data, and it will make recovery impossible.

In order to recover the files lost when resetting the system, run Hetman Partition Recovery and scan the hard disk of your computer with the tools that this program offers.

Remember that in Windows 8/10, the default location to save all documents and user files is the folder «Documents» which can be found here:
C:\Users\UserName\Documents

Images are saved to this folder:
C:\Users\UserName\Pictures

Files downloaded from the Internet go to this folder:
C:\Users\UserName\Downloads

Desktop files are stored here:
C:\Users\UserName\Desktop

That is why when the process of scanning the hard disk is over, use the program to go to the folder with the files that you need to recover.

Drag the necessary files to the Recovery List and click «Recovery»

In a similar way, you can use Hetman Partition Recovery to recover data after formatting the hard disk, reinstalling Windows, operating system or hard disk failures, file system damage, recover data from damaged or inaccessible disk partitions, as well as after emptying the Recycle Bin or accidental deleting of files.

How to Recover Data After Resetting a Laptop to Factory Settings

If the Windows on your laptop started to go slow or it is infected with viruses, there is no need to reinstall the operating system – you can just reset it to factory settings (it is known as Factory Reset).

If you bought a laptop with preinstalled Windows OS, such devices usually come with an operating system installation disk, or there is a special partition to hel you restore the operating system, which is used to perform Factory Reset. In addition to the system restore partition, the manufacturer can also install a special tool to enable resetting the laptop.

For example:

  • HP: HP System Recovery or Recovery Manager
  • Dell: Dell Factory Image Restore, DataSafe, Dell Backup & Recovery
  • Acer: Acer eRecovery or Acer Recovery Management
  • ASUS: ASUS Recovery Partition or AI Recovery
  • Lenovo: Rescue and Recovery or ThinkVantage Recovery (for ThinkPad)
  • Sony: Sony Vaio Recovery Wizard etc.

Such tools work in a way similar to that of Windows built-in resetting tool, but there is a difference: these programs reset the system to factory settings with all manufacturer-preinstalled software.

You can recover data from a laptop after resetting the system to factory settings in the same way as described for data recovery after resetting the computer. The procedure for a laptop will be similar.

Author: , 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.

Editor: , 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.

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Questions and answers

What types of data can be lost as a result of a system reset to the initial state?

Types of data that can be lost as a result of a system reset to the initial state include user settings, installed applications, installed drivers, documents, photos, music, videos, and other personal files. Additionally, any data stored in temporary files or caches may also be lost.

Is it possible to recover data after a system reset to the initial state, and if so, how?

Yes, it is possible to recover data after a system reset to the initial state. Depending on the type of reset that was performed, the recovery process may vary. If a factory reset was performed, then the data may be recoverable using data recovery software or by using a specialized data recovery service. If a Windows reset was performed, then the data may be recoverable using the Windows System Restore feature.

What are the risks associated with attempting to recover data after a system reset to the initial state?

  1. Data Loss: The reset process could potentially overwrite or delete data that was not backed up prior to the reset.
  2. System Corruption: Attempting to recover data after a system reset could lead to system corruption if the reset process was not done correctly.
  3. Security Risks: If the data recovery process is not done properly, it could result in exposing sensitive data to unauthorized parties.
  4. Time and Cost: Data recovery after a system reset is often time consuming and costly, as specialized software and hardware may be required to complete the process.

Can data recovery software be used to recover lost data after a system reset to the initial state?

Yes, data recovery software can be used to recover lost data after a system reset to the initial state. However, it is important to note that the success of the recovery depends on the type of reset performed, the amount of data lost, and other factors. It is also important to note that data recovery software can only recover data that has not been overwritten or corrupted.

Are there any free data recovery options available for users who have experienced a system reset to the initial state?

Yes, there are several free data recovery options available for users who have experienced a system reset to the initial state. These include open source software such as TestDisk, PhotoRec, Recuva, and EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free. Additionally, some storage device manufacturers offer their own free data recovery tools, such as Seagate's Recovery Software.

Comments (16) #

  • Divyang 16.12.2022 10:58 #

    in my pc there was a .FATP virus attacked,, i did full hard fectory resert my pc,,,, so how to backup my files,folder videos,software etc???? is there possible by this software??

    • Hetman Software 16.12.2022 11:00 #

      You can scan your files with the free Hetman Partition Recovery software. It will show you the files it can find to recover. The preview window will show you whether your files are corrupted or not. If all is well, you will be able to log in and recover your files

  • jazzon 15.02.2017 11:46 #

    can i recover data after computer crash?

  • Patsy Mitchell 25.01.2017 01:25 #

    Are there any specific tools or techniques that data recovery professionals use to recover lost data after a system reset to the initial state?

    • Hetman Software 25.01.2017 01:51 #

      Data recovery professionals typically use a variety of different tools and techniques to recover lost data after a system reset. These include disk imaging, file carving, data extraction from unallocated space, and data recovery from damaged sectors. They may also use specialized software tools to scan the hard drive for lost data and attempt to reconstruct it. Additionally, they may use data recovery services such as RAID recovery, forensic analysis, and virtual machine recovery.

  • Edwin Richardson 24.01.2017 21:09 #

    Are there any preventative measures that users can take to avoid data loss during a system reset to the initial state?

    • Hetman Software 24.01.2017 21:41 #

      Yes, there are several preventative measures users can take to avoid data loss during a system reset to the initial state.

      1. Back up important data: Before resetting the system, make sure to back up any important data that you don't want to lose. This can be done by copying files to an external hard drive or cloud storage.
      2. Disable auto-sync: Before resetting the system, make sure to disable any auto-sync settings that may be enabled. This will prevent any data from being automatically synced and lost when the system is reset.
      3. Uninstall programs: Before resetting the system, make sure to uninstall any programs that you don't want to lose. This will prevent them from being deleted when the system is reset.
      4. Disable cloud storage: Before resetting the system, make sure to disable any cloud storage settings that may be enabled. This will prevent any data from being stored in the cloud and lost when the system is reset.
  • Ian Meyers 24.01.2017 18:08 #

    What are some common reasons why data recovery after a system reset to the initial state might fail?

    • Hetman Software 24.01.2017 18:39 #

      1. The hard drive was damaged or corrupted beyond repair.
      2. The data was overwritten by new data written to the same drive.
      3. The data was stored on a different drive or partition that was not included in the reset.
      4. The system reset did not include the necessary software or drivers needed to access the data.
      5. The reset process did not properly configure the system settings, resulting in data being inaccessible.
      6. The reset process did not include a backup of the original data, making it impossible to recover.
      7. The reset process was incomplete, leaving some data inaccessible.
      8. The data was encrypted and the encryption keys were not included in the reset process.
  • Armand Hadfield 24.01.2017 14:08 #

    How long does the data recovery process typically take after a system reset to the initial state?

    • Hetman Software 24.01.2017 14:39 #

      The data recovery process typically takes anywhere from a few hours to a few days, depending on the size of the data and the complexity of the system reset.

  • Hugh Patten 24.01.2017 12:04 #

    What steps should be taken before attempting to recover data after a system reset to the initial state?

    • Hetman Software 24.01.2017 12:39 #

      1. Identify the cause of the system reset. This will help to determine the scope of data that may have been lost and the best approach for recovery.
      2. Check for any available backup files. If there is a recent backup, it can be used to restore lost data.
      3. Try to recover data from the hard drive using specialized software. This is the most common approach for recovering data from a reset system.
      4. Contact a professional data recovery service if the data is still not accessible. They may be able to use more advanced methods to recover the data.
  • Hetman Software: Data Recovery 20.07.2018 12:28 #

    Read about data recovery after Windows 10 & 8 system restore and recommend it to friends. If you do have any questions, don't hesitate to contact our technical support service - we will be happy to help you.

    • Michael martinez 7.02.2020 01:48 #

      After buying a new desktop I factory reset our old hp desktop and now I found out my wife hadn’t saved her videos and pictures to a flash drive like I thought she did. So is there a way to still retrieve these things or am I in deep trouble. Please help if possible

      • Andrey Mareev 7.02.2020 20:23 #

        You can try to recover deleted videos, go to hetmanrecovery.com and download Hetman Partition Recovery. After the program has completely scanned the hard drive, you can see all the data that it was able to find. Selecting files one by one, you can see the live preview (pictures, documents, videos, etc.). If the preview is displayed correctly, then you can completely restore this file. Now the decision is yours, it is worth restoring them or not.

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