Hard Drive Data Recovery: How to Recover Lost or Deleted Files from Any Hard Drive (Formatted, Corrupted or Crashed)

Is it Possible to Recover Data from a Hard Drive?

A hard drive is a primary storage device in computers, storing digital data on spinning disks for long-term retention. Imagine losing important data or files due to sudden data corruption, physical damage, or an accidental deletion. In these heart-stopping moments, hard drive data recovery is necessary. So, is it possible to recover data from a hard drive? Yes. It is possible!

Before attempting hard drive data recovery, it’s important to understand what caused the data loss in the first place. Different causes require different recovery approaches. Some common reasons include:

• Accidental Deletion: Unintentionally deleting files, either by emptying the Recycle Bin or through a software error.
• Hard Drive Formatting: Formatting your hard drive, either intentionally or unintentionally, can lead to data loss.
• File System Corruption: Hard drives can develop file system corruption due to power outages, improper shutdowns, or software failures.
• External Factors: Issues with external hard drives, such as being improperly ejected or exposed to static or power surges, can lead to data loss.
• Physical Damage: This can occur due to drops, exposure to heat, or mechanical failure within the drive.

Three Main Causes of Hard Drive Data Loss

While hard drive data loss can happen for many reasons, most cases generally fall into three major categories: accidental deletion, logical errors, and physical damage. Understanding which type of failure you are dealing with is critical because recovery difficulty and success rates vary significantly depending on the cause. This table provides a quick comparison of these common hard drive data loss scenarios and can help you better evaluate the situation before choosing an appropriate recovery method.

How to Recover Lost or Deleted Files from Hard Drive with Software

Once you’ve identified the type of data loss affecting your hard drive, the next step is to take action to recover your files safely. While physical repairs may be needed for damaged drives, most logical errors and accidental deletions can be resolved using specialized data recovery software. This section walks you through how to recover lost or deleted files from any hard drive, whether internal or external, formatted, corrupted, or accidentally cleared, using reliable recovery tools.

Recover Lost Data on Hard Drive with MyRecover [GUI Tool]

When it comes to restoring lost or deleted files from a hard drive, reliability and ease of use are key. While some recovery tools can be time-consuming and error-prone, MyRecover offers a streamlined solution that combines powerful scanning capabilities with an intuitive graphical interface. This makes it suitable for both beginners and advanced users who want to recover files quickly without risking further data loss.

★ Feature Highlights of MyRecover for Hard Drive Data Recovery: 

Wide File Type Support: Recover documents, photos, videos, emails, and more from any hard drive.

Dual Scan Modes: Quick Scan for recently deleted files, Deep Scan for formatted, corrupted or crashed drives.

Support for All Storage Devices: Works with HDDs, SSDs, USB drives, and external disks.

Safe Recovery: Files are restored without overwriting existing data.

Broad Brand Support: Fully compatible with major hard drive from Samsung, WD, Seagate, SanDisk, Toshiba and more.

Windows Compatibility: Fully supports Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, and Windows Server.

4 steps to recover lost files from MyRecover:

Step 1. Download and install MyRecover on your Windows computer from Microsoft Store or its official website.

Step 2. Launch the application and select the drive with lost files to scan, then click " Scan".

Step 3. Choose the files you want to recover from the recoverable lists and click "Recover".

Step 4. Select a different location (not the original drive) to avoid overwriting any uncovered data.

When the message "Files have been recovered successfully" pops up, you can click the path to recovered files to check them.

In the most severe case where your SSD system drive has corrupted or crashed and rendered your computer unbootable, MyRecover provides a comprehensive solution. It enables you to create bootable recovery media to extract data from the crashed system or damaged drive.

Step 1. Download and install MyRecover on a working computer and prepare a blank USB to make a bootable media. Connect it to the working PC.

Step 2. Launch the program and select "PC Crashed Recovery", then click "USB Boot Device" > "Create" to start the process.

Step 3. If there are important files on the USB drive, you'd better back up them beforehand. This process will format the drive and erase all the files. Wait for the process to complete.

Step 4. Insert the USB bootable media into the unbootable computer. Enter BIOS/UEFI to change the boot priority as the USB device. Then, restart your computer and boot it from the USB.

Step 5. Now, you will automatically get into the interface of MyRecover and can recover your files with the same steps mentioned earlier.

Run Windows File Recovery Command for Hard Drive Data Recovery [Command-Line Tool]

For users who prefer command-line tool or need a lightweight recovery option, Windows also provides a command-line recovery tool called Windows File Recovery. It relies on command syntax to scan and restore deleted files from hard drives. Although it requires more technical input, it can still be useful for recovering recently deleted files from healthy NTFS, FAT, or exFAT drives.

Step 1. Download and install Windows File Recovery on your computer from the Microsoft official channel.

Step 2. Type "Windows File Recovery" in the Start menu and right-click to run it as as administrator.

Step 3. Enter the command "Winfr D: E: /extensive" and hit "Enter". Replace the drive letters "D" and "E" with your actual drive letters.

Step 4. Press "y" to continue the process.

When the process is completed, you can press "y" to check the recovered files in the destination folder.

★Tips:

D: the source drive letter.

E: the destination drive letter.

Extensive: the search mode.

Windows File Recovery is only compatible with Windows 10 and 11.

How to Recover Lost Files from Hard Drive Without Software

Moreover, it’s also worth checking whether your lost files can be restored using Windows’ built-in recovery options. If you have previously set up a backup in your computer, the recovery process becomes much easier. Backups ensure that even if your hard drive fails, your data remains protected. You can usually restore previously backed-up data via File History, Backup and Restore, or cloud sync services.

Restore Lost Files from Recycle Bin

If you only accidentally delete (not using Shift + Delete) files from the hard drive, there's a high chance they are moved to the Recycle Bin. They will remain in the Recycle Bin waiting to be restored until you empty the bin or permanently delete them.

Step 1. Double click the "Recycle Bin" icon to open it.

Step 2. Browse and select the files you want to recover, then right click on it and choose "Restore" to recover it to its original location.

Restore Lost Files from File History

As a built-in backup feature in Windows, File History can automatically back up copies of your personal files to an external hard drive or network location. It allows users to restore previous versions of files when they encounter accidental deletion, formatting or corruption. If you’ve enabled File History in Windows before data loss occurs, you can easily restore lost data.

Step 1. Type "Restore your files with File History" in the Start menu and open it.

Step 2. Go to the folder where you want to recover files from.

Step 3. Select the files or folders and click the green "Restore" button to recover them.

Get Files Back with Backup and Restore (Windows 7)

Backup and Restore is a process of copying data to a safe location and retrieving it when lost due to deletion, corruption, or hardware failure, ensuring data security and recoverability. You can restore your files from the backup you made.

Step 1. Type "backup settings" in the Start menu and open it.

Step 2. Click "Go to Backup and Restore (Windows 7)" and choose "Select another backup to restore your files from".

Step 3. Select a created backup including your lost files and click "Next".

Step 4. Choose the files you want to recover by clicking "Browse for files/folders". You can also choose to recover all of the files in the backup by checking the box of "Select all files from this backup".

Step 5. Select a secure destination to save the recovered files and click "Restore" to start the process.

Step 6. When the process is finished, you can click "View restored files" to check the recovered files in the destination folder.

Notes:✎...

Both "File History" and "Backup and Restore" are efficient methods to recover lost data when you have a backup. It should be emphasized again that these two features can only effectively recover files if they are enabled before the files are lost.

Retrieve Files from Cloud Backup

If your hard drive files were previously synchronized with a cloud storage service, you may be able to restore them from cloud Recycle bin. Services like OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox often keep deleted in the Recycle bin for a limited period, making them useful for recovering accidentally deleted or overwritten data.

Step 1. Sign in to your OneDrive account using a web browser or desktop application (take OneDrive as an example).

Step 2. Navigate to "Recycle Bin" section to locate recently removed files.

Step 3. Select the target files or folders and click "Restore" to return them to their original location.

Connect the Drive to Another Computer

If the computer cannot boot because of a crashed Windows system or boot failure, the hard drive itself may still be readable. In this situation, connecting the drive to another working computer is one of the safest ways to access and recover important files without using recovery software. This method is especially useful when the drive has logical issues rather than severe physical damage.

Step 1. Power off the computer completely and disconnect it from power. Carefully remove the internal HDD or SSD from the device.

Step 2. Use a SATA-to-USB adapter, external hard drive enclosure, or connect the drive directly to another desktop motherboard.

Step 3. Open "This PC" or "Disk Management" on the working computer and verify whether the drive appears normally. If the drive is accessible, transfer critical files such as documents, photos, videos, and project data to another safe storage location.

How to Fix a Corrupted or Crashed Hard Drive

After exploring multiple ways to recover lost files, the next crucial step is addressing the root cause: a corrupted or crashed hard drive. Recovering data is effective, but if the drive itself is damaged or contains logical errors, continuing to use it may result in further data loss. Following these steps not only helps restore drive functionality but also reduces the risk of repeated crashes, ensuring a safer environment for future data storage.

Run CHKDSK Command to Fix Disk Errors

If the hard drive is inaccessible or prompts that it needs to be formatted, it may be due to a hard drive crash. Running the CHKDSK command can fix file system errors and restore files on the hard drive.

Step 1. Type "Command Prompt" in the Start menu and right click to run it as administrator.

Step 2. Enter the command "chkdsk g: /f /r" and press "Enter" to start the process. Replace the drive letter "G" with your actual drive letter.

Try Error Checking Tool

When facing a hard drive crash, if you are not accustomed to using command-line tools, Windows also provides a graphical interface for problem detection to help you fix hard drive errors.

Step 1. Press "Win + E" to open File Explorer.

Step 2. Select the corrupted drive and right click on it, then choose "Properties" and go to the "Tools" tab.

Step 3. Click "Check" under the "Error checking" and select "Scan the drive" to start error checking.

Seek for Professional Data Recovery Service

If the worst happens and the hard drive suffers physical damage, the likelihood of successful data recovery is significantly reduced. The best approach is to seek help from professional data recovery services. Be sure to store the hard drive in a safe place to avoid causing secondary damage.

Summary

In conclusion, recovering data from a hard drive is achievable, whether it's been formatted or crashed. If you're looking for a simpler and more comprehensive solution, try MyRecover. It features user-friendly operations and covers a wider range of data loss scenarios, making it the ideal choice for data recovery. Additionally, its Professional and Technician editions can meet your more advanced needs. They allow unlimited data recovery and let you preview the file contents before getting them back.

FAQs

Q1: How can I recover my hard drive data for free?

You can recover lost files for free using Windows built-in tools like Recycle Bin, File History, or Windows File Recovery. For more comprehensive recovery, the free editions of MyRecover allow 500MB data recovery quota without cost.

Q2: How to recover data from a hard drive that is not detected?

First, check the physical connections and try connecting the drive to another computer. If it’s still undetected, specialized data recovery software like MyRecover or professional services may be required to retrieve files.

Q3: How to fix a corrupted hard drive?

Use tools like CHKDSK to repair logical errors, or try Windows’ built-in error-checking. For severe corruption, professional repair may be necessary before restoring the drive.

Q4: Can data be restored from a dead hard drive?

Yes, data can sometimes be recovered from a physically dead hard drive by connecting it to another computer, using specialized software, or via professional data recovery services. Success depends on the drive’s condition.

Q5: Is data permanently stored in hard disk?

Data on a hard disk remains until it is overwritten, deleted, or the drive is physically damaged. Even deleted files can often be recovered unless overwritten.

Q6: What does it cost to recover data from a hard drive?

Costs vary by method: software solutions range from free to $100, while professional recovery services for physically damaged drives can range from $200 to over $1,000 depending on complexity and drive size.