RECOVER YOUR LOST DATA

In the event of a disaster, all is not always lost, in this article we will guide you in the use of various tools that will help you recover your data and, in case they are not able to do so, we will also recommend an infallible company in these conflicts.

Although no data recovery system can substitute for regular backups, it is not uncommon to skip this advisable measure until it is too late. Luckily, once the information has disappeared, not everything is lost, the data recovery tools are able to analyze our hard drive in search of data that has been deleted and to recover a large amount of it. However, we must bear in mind that time is running against us. It is quite feasible to recover a file that we have just deleted, although we can hardly save the ones we destroyed months ago.

Step 1. Avoid scares

Windows incorporates a basic security system, called the Recycle Bin, which most users see rather as a hindrance. However, this system is easy to use and requires no more than a few thousandths of a second. If at the time of deleting a file we do it using the “Shift + Delete key combination”, the deletion will be permanent and irreversible.

But once we have lost the information, is it possible to recover it? The answer is yes, although a large number of factors come into play. Understanding what happens when we delete a file is vital to avoid making mistakes during the process.

When we delete a file, in reality, the operating system does not delete each and every one of the bits that make up the information, what it does is mark that space as empty, but the information is still there, waiting for new data to arrive to replace it. Therefore, if we are able to locate those areas of the disk, we can theoretically recover our information. This is where data recovery programs come into play. However, not everything is so simple. With normal use of our PC, we will be writing information to the disk, which can go to the sectors that we want to recover. As a rule of thumb: the more we have written on disk, the less chance we will have to save our files.

Step 2. The partitions

When we have lost a file, two things can happen: that it is found on the system partition or on a secondary partition. In the event that the affected partition is the system partition, we must immediately turn off the computer and remove the disk, to place it as a secondary one on another PC. The reason is that with just daily use, Windows already writes a large amount of data to disk.

Once this is done, we will get a data recovery tool, which we will see below, and we will always install it on a different partition than the one that contained our information. After carrying out an analysis, we will be asked for the path where the files that we want to recover the files will be placed. If we have learned our lesson, we will already know that it must always be in an isolated partition.

One factor that will work in our favor is the degree of disc fragmentation. If it is low, we will have a better chance of achieving good results. As you never know what may happen, it is advisable to always keep your disk in good order, defragmenting it on a regular basis, with tools like Defraggler, from Piriform (www.piriform.com/defraggler). As an added value, this will allow us to always squeeze it to the maximum of its possibilities.

And finally, a warning. Something that we should not do under any circumstances is try to open or manipulate the inside of our disk, since, in this way, in addition to losing the warranty of the disk, we risk losing the information permanently .

Step 3. File recovery

Few tools are usually very efficient and have a good graphic finish. Tools aimed at recovering deleted files on a Windows PC, from the Recycle Bin, memory card, MP3 player, etc.

The first thing is to choose the type of file that we have deleted. If it is a set of files, we will select others to recover them all. Next, we will choose the route or unit that we are going to analyze. We must bear in mind that the process can take a long time, so it is preferable to limit as much as possible. On the last screen before we begin, we will see an option called Activate Deep Scan which will bring out files that would not normally appear. But beware, the analysis time will go from a few minutes to hours.

Once the inspection has concluded, we will be shown a list with all the files found , as well as an indicator that, depending on the color (green, yellow or red), will alert us to the integrity of the file. Depending on this factor, we will recover all the data or only a percentage of it, which will result in corrupted photos or texts partially converted into unintelligible characters.