Recover lost data on your computer

Accidents can happen. For a home PC, that usually means important data disappearing into thin air.

Sometimes this is due to the computer itself, but it’s usually because we deleted something we shouldn’t have. That doesn’t mean you can’t get the file back.

For those of us who run a rigorous backup schedule, this isn’t a problem. We can restore most of the data that’s been lost with a few mouse clicks.

n the real world, where things don’t always run as smoothly and those reminders to back up are routinely ignored, the story usually turns out differently. But it doesn’t have to.

With the right tools, a bit of foresight and some luck, you can recover files and folders that have been deleted accidentally. In the pages that follow, we’ll explain how it’s done. It doesn’t necessarily require any special skills or expensive software to recover what’s lost.

It’s extremely rare – almost impossible under normal circumstances – for files and folders to delete themselves. Viruses can delete data but most of the time information disappears as the direct result of a mistake. Without pointing any fingers, this is usually referred to as ‘operator error’.

Since prevention is better than cure, it’s best to start by setting up simple procedures to help retrieve lost files in the event of an attack of clumsy fingers. Make sure the Recycle Bin is set to store deleted items temporarily, rather than remove them immediately.

Check the setting by right-clicking on the Recycle Bin icon, choosing Properties and making sure there’s no tick next to the ‘Do not move files’ option. While the dialogue box is open, make sure that the bin can hold a decent amount of stuff. On most PCs, giving 10 per cent of the drive to the bin is fine and doesn’t slow the computer up noticeably. If 10 per cent causes problems, try five.

Next, set a reminder in a calendar program or Windows Scheduler (under All Programs, Accessories, System Tools) to empty the bin at the end of each week. This provides a decent grace period to discover any accidentally deleted items and restore them safely from the bin without any fuss.

Paranoid PC users can assign a bigger part of their hard disk to the bin and probably only empty it every few months. Note that you can view the contents of the bin before emptying it by double-clicking on the icon.

Third, get a backup program and use it regularly. Windows XP comes with one, but it’s squirrelled away on the installation CD, which most XP users do not have. Instead, download a copy of Paragon Disk Manager 8. If a favourite program includes an option to make a backup of every file created, make sure it’s enabled. In Word this is under Tools, then Options. Click on the Save tab to adjust the setting.

There are other circumstances in which a file or folder may be lost but these are much less common. Installing any decent anti-virus program and firewall and following the default settings is enough to protect from most malicious attacks.

If the computer suffers a more serious hard disk failure, it should be possible to restore most of the information from backups or by buying a commercial data recovery tool. If the hard disk fault is mechanical or the corruption more severe, specialist companies can try to recover the data.