Recover lost data on your computer

So how is it possible to restore a file after it’s removed from the Recycle Bin?

Surely it’s been thrown away for good? Not so. Windows doesn’t delete the file straight away, it merely removes the reference that ‘points’ to it.

Then it marks the areas on the hard disk being used by the file in question as free, even though the file is still there.

This is crucial because it means that if you create and save new files, it’s possible they will overwrite the area of the disk where the deleted file is stored, making it more difficult to recover.

None of the freeware tools we’ve looked at can recover anything with certainty after new files have been created and saved. That means it’s vital to think carefully before and after removing something from the Recycle Bin to improve the chances of getting it back. It also means you should install your recovery software before files are lost to avoid over-writing them by accident.

PC hard disks are relatively forgiving when it comes to deleted files. With prompt action there’s a decent chance of getting something back. With external hard disks and the various memory cards used by digital cameras, things are different. They bypass the Recycle Bin and get rid of the file pointers straight away, so the safety net of the Recycle Bin doesn’t exist.

If you use external disks a lot, consider downloading a free program such as Microsoft’s Flash Drive Manager to organise and back up the files on any external disks to safeguard the data stored on them. It’s also worth pointing out that many external and camera disks have a tiny lock switch that can be set to on or off.

When the device is plugged into a PC, consider setting this to locked to prevent data being deleted. The drawback is nothing new can be stored on the disk while it’s locked.

Back from the brink
Let’s see how easy it can be to recover a file that’s been removed accidentally. Start by downloading a data recovery tool called Freeundelete. Follow the instructions to download the program to the Windows Desktop and then install it by double-clicking on the icon and following the prompts.

We’re going to attempt to recover some precious photographs that have mistakenly been moved into the wrong folder and then sent to the Recycle Bin. As part of a general clear up we’ve subsequently emptied the bin, tried to open the photos again and realised our mistake.

Before we start there’s something we need to do and something we need to make sure we don’t do. First we need to identify another disk we can copy the rescued photos to – that’s because Freeundelete won’t let us recover the photos onto the disk they were deleted from, in case we accidentally overwrite the originals for good.

If your disk is partitioned into drives C and D, use the second one, or alternatively use something like a USB memory key. Second we need to avoid loading and using any programs that write data to the hard disk for the same reason.

Begin the attempted recovery by going to the Start menu and choosing All Programs, Freeundelete and then loading the program. Next select the disk we want Freeundelete to scan – the disk where the photo was stored. This is usually drive C. Then click on drive C to select it and click on the Scan button above the list of drives on the left.

Freeundelete then rummages around the selected hard disk, looking for fragments of files it can piece together and recover. Anything it finds will be displayed in a list in the centre of the program window, with information such as the file size and status (anything labelled good or better is hopeful).