We regularly recover accidentallydeleted data here at Fields. Usually, though, we’re trying toretrieve the odd file – not the entire contents of a hard drive. Still, ifyou’ve wiped your hard drive and really wish you hadn’t, it’s entirely possiblethat your data can be recovered.
Why a wiped harddrive can be recovered
When data is deleted from a hard drive, it’s not erased.Instead, the locations of the bytes that form the document, MP3 file etc. areremoved meaning the data itself still exists. It’s location, however, is markedas being free and will be erased as soon as a single one of these bytes isoverwritten with new data. So, if you have accidentally wiped your hard drive, timeis of the essence. Refrain from using the drive and get in touch with a companyproviding harddrive recovery services as soon as possible.
Why isn’t data erasedpermanently when it’s deleted?
In a word: efficiency. The process of removing any referenceto the locations of the bytes that form a file is extremely quick whereaserasing the data completely is a much lengthier process. If, for example, youdeleted a file that took up 5GBs of storage space, erasing it could takeseveral minutes rather than a few seconds.
Plus, as an added bonus, this means that anyone thataccidentally deletes a file they want to keep has an opportunity to get itrecovered.
Can I recoveraccidentally deleted data with software?
Technically, yes: you can recover deleted date with software– but we wouldn’t recommend it.
Data recovery software is not designed for the layperson – itneeds to be operated by someone with appropriate training as it’s oftennecessary to use metadata to reconstruct deleted files and return them toworking order. This is a complicated task and it should really be performed bya professional.
Is this true of allstorage media?
Afraid not. Flash-based memory – typically found in SSDs andmobile devices like smartphones and tablets – must erase data before newinformation can be stored in the same location. So, if you’ve accidentallydeleted data from one of these devices, we’re sorry to be the bearer of badnews, but your data won’t be recoverable.
But what if I want topermanently delete sensitive data?
If you don’t want to sell your drive on, you can simplyphysically destroy it. This isn’t absolutely guaranteed to erase all of thedata contained on it but it makes the datarecovery process so difficult and laborious that only the mostskilled and experienced technicians would even know where to begin.
If you do wish to sell on your drive and need to ensure thateverything on it has been erased, there’s softwareand hardware than can completely erase all of the data held on a hard drive.
Conclusion
Data can be recovered from a wiped hard drive provided theuser acts quickly and stops using the drive the moment they realise they’vemade a mistake.
If someone wants to securely erase all of the data held on ahard drive, this is entirely possible.
Sadly, if a user has accidentally deleted data held on apiece of storage media using Flash, their data is, indeed, permanently deleted.
FAQs
Yes, it is often possible to recover files from a wiped hard drive, especially if you act quickly. The success of data recovery depends largely on whether new data has overwritten the old data.
Can you recover permanently deleted files from a hard drive? ›
Yes, files can be recovered after being deleted. The level of difficulty depends on how long ago the file was deleted, however, and you may need to use specialized tools if trying to recover data that has been corrupted.
Can you recover data from a destroyed hard drive? ›
If the failure is logical, such as due to corrupted files or a damaged file system, you can potentially recover files at home using data recovery software. However, if the failure is physical, such as from a damaged disk or mechanical failure, home recovery is not feasible.
Can data be recovered from a failed hard drive? ›
If, however, find you have a dead hard drive and need access to the data on the drive, consider using an open-source data recovery solution. This kind of data recovery software offers cost-effectiveness, transparency, and community support, making it a preferred choice for many users.
Can wipe data be recovered? ›
Flash-based memory – typically found in SSDs and mobile devices like smartphones and tablets – must erase data before new information can be stored in the same location. So, if you've accidentally deleted data from one of these devices, we're sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but your data won't be recoverable.
Can a wiped hard drive be reused? ›
You can either wipe the drive or physically destroy and replace the drive, but reuse the old computer with a new drive. If you are going to wipe the drive, you should know that just simple formatting is often not enough to ensure that old data is properly destroyed and unrecoverable.
Can a hard drive be permanently erased? ›
Yes, it is possible to completely wipe a hard drive. Your computer comes with tools to help you wipe its hard drive. But it's not always easy to do, and if your computer has an SSD hard drive, you'll need to use encryption or perform a full format to reliably wipe it completely.
Are deleted files really and truly gone from the computer? ›
Generally speaking, when you delete a file from your computer (and subsequently empty it from the recycle bin), that doesn't always mean the file is actually gone. What it means is that the reference to the file is gone.
When a file is deleted it can never be recovered? ›
When Windows deletes a file, it moves it to a specific hard drive sector and hides it from the operating system. Even after emptying the Recycle Bin, there is still a chance of data recovery if no new data is written on those specific sectors where the deleted files exist.
How much does it cost to recover data from a damaged hard drive? ›
On average, you should expect to pay around $300-$500 for data recovery when you have accidentally erased directories or files. A logically damaged (ransomware) hard drive will probably cost between $500 and $1,000 to fix, while a physically damaged hard drive will probably cost between $1000 and $3,000 to fix.
Connect your hard drive to your computer and run the data recovery software. Follow the prompts to scan the drive for lost files. Once the scan is complete, the software will display a list of recoverable files. Select the files you want to recover and follow the instructions to save them to a different storage device.
Does destroying hard drive remove all data? ›
You'd think that if a hard drive is littered with holes that the data will be completely destroyed and inaccessible, but this isn't the case. Although your computer may not be able to read it, all the intact portions of the drive will be retrievable by data thieves.
Can data be recovered from a wiped hard drive? ›
Yes! Erased files from a hard drive can be recovered if you use the appropriate method corresponding to your data loss scenario. We'll present the common scenarios, recovery rates, and solutions in the table below to help you navigate the journey better.
When can a hard drive not be recovered? ›
Most of unrecoverable cases happen when problem is treated in a computer repair shop, by someone who has neither the right tools nor basic knowledge (at best) in data recovery, thus most of the hard drives end up unrecoverable there - for the reason that most of the public do not distinguish the difference between ...
How to recover data from formatted hard disk without software? ›
Possible Solutions to Recover Formatted Hard Drive without Software
- Open the Control Panel and navigate to 'System and Security' > 'File History'.
- Click on 'Restore personal files'. ...
- Use the interface to browse through the backups. ...
- Navigate through the backups using the arrows to view files at different times.
Wiping a hard drive may sound like something a person who diligently cleans their computer hardware does, but in computing, it means permanently deleting all the data on a storage unit. There are several good reasons why you may want to wipe your hard drive.
Can you recover data from a hard drive that is not recognized? ›
Simply connect your hard disk drive to a different computer. Once you have connected it, look for any missing data, and if you see it, you can recover it from there. A hard drive error message can show up for many reasons and one of the lesser-known reasons is driver issues.
Is possible to recover data from a hard drive that has been reformatted? ›
You can recover files from a formatted hard drive in a few different ways. If you have a backup of your data, you can restore your files from the backup. If you don't have a backup, you can try the best hard drive data recovery software - EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard.
Can you recover files after hard reset? ›
You can recover files from Windows after a factory reset by applying for a data recovery program - EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard. This is a safe and handy tool that can help you recover data from a formatted computer hard drive or RAW hard drive.
