I accidentally deleted some important files from my USB drive and really need to recover them. Is there a way to restore these files? Any help would be appreciated as they are crucial for an upcoming project.
Recovery of deleted files from a USB drive? Not all hope is lost! Here’s what you can try:
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Stop Using the Drive: First, stop using the USB drive immediately. This step is crucial because continuing to use it can overwrite the space that your deleted files occupy, making them harder to recover.
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Check the Trash: If you’re using macOS, sometimes deleting a file moves it to the Trash, even from external drives. It’s a slim chance but definitely worth a quick look.
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Recovery Software: For a more certain recovery, you’ll need specialized file recovery software. There’s plenty out there like Recuva, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, and one I’ve had great results with, Disk Drill.
Disk Drill is pretty user-friendly, even if you’re not a tech wizard. It scans your USB drive and identifies files that are recoverable. I’ve managed to get back data from that on more than one occasion.
Here’s a step-by-step for Disk Drill:
- Download Disk Drill from here: Download Disk Drill.
- Install and open the app.
- Select your USB drive from the list of available disks.
- Start the scan. Disk Drill will look for any recoverable files.
- Review the scan results and find your deleted files.
- Choose what you need and proceed with the recovery.
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Backup Everything: It’s always good to take this moment as a harsh reminder to regularly back up. External hard drives, cloud services, anything to keep your data safe from loss.
Word of warning: Be careful with free software downloads. Always download directly from the developer’s site to avoid getting malware or unwanted software bundled in.
I’ll share an experience - I once almost lost a whole semester’s worth of research data due to accidental deletion. Used Disk Drill and most of my files were right back where they needed to be within an hour. Not saying it’s foolproof, but I was impressed enough to use it again whenever needed.
File recoveries can be a bit hit-and-miss sometimes, depending on how quickly you act and if the data hasn’t been overwritten. Nonetheless, give these steps a shot before considering professional recovery services, which can get pricey.
Good luck with your project!
Not a bad take from @codecrafter, but I’ve got an extra spin that might help you further when trying to recover those crucial files from your USB drive.
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Immediate Halt on Usage: Agreeing 100% here. Using your USB drive after file loss risks overwriting, which is bad news for file recovery.
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Check System Trash/Bin: Just like the macOS suggestion, if you’re on Windows, check the Recycle Bin. Not always a guarantee but worth a shot. Sometimes when you delete from the USB drive, files might sneak in there.
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Command Line Magic (Cmd): Before jumping onto recovery software, you could try a quick fix using the Command Prompt:
- Plug in your USB drive.
- Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
- Type
chkdsk X: /f(Replace “X” with the USB drive letter) and hit Enter. - Then, type
ATTRIB -H -R -S /S /D X:\*.*(again, replace “X” with the USB drive letter)
This isn’t failproof but sometimes recovers hidden files or those moved to invisible directories.
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Drive Health Check: It’s wise to check if your drive is physically okay. Sometimes, the drive itself might corrupt files. Tools like CrystalDiskInfo can give you a health report.
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Alternative Recovery Tools: Besides Disk Drill—which I’ve found to be one of the cleaner and more reliable choices—you might also try:
- Photorec: Totally free and open source but less user-friendly. Great for the tech-savvy.
- R-Studio: Offers a robust recovery option with a steep learning curve, perhaps better suited for advanced users.
Disk Drill remains user-focused and effective for quick recovery with minimal fuss. Download it from Disk Drill and follow @codecrafter’s steps, all spot-on.
- Professional Data Recovery Services: If all else fails and those files are mission-critical, consider a professional data recovery service. This can get pricey but sometimes it’s worth the guaranteed results. Look for reputable data recovery firms and get a quote—often, they’ll diagnose without immediate charge.
Pro Tip: Once you’ve recovered your files, invest some time in setting up a regimented backup plan:
- Cloud Storage: Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud are reliable.
- External Backup Drives: A good ol’ external HDD or SSD for regular physical backups.
- Version Control Systems: If your projects involve a lot of file iterations, tools like Git can help track changes and avoid data loss.
Lastly, and agreeing fully with @codecrafter, download recovery tools directly from the developer’s site. This isn’ just about avoiding malware; it ensures you get the latest, most secure version. Cheap knockoffs or bundled malware can lead to more problems than solutions.
File recoveries can go either way—while the software options mentioned have high success rates, it highly depends on how much of the storage has been overwritten or corrupted since the deletion. Best of luck, and maybe this unfortunate event becomes the catalyst for better data management habits going forward.
You gotta be kidding me with all these recommendations. These software solutions like Recuva or Disk Drill sound too good to be true. I’ve been down that road—if your files are overwritten, kiss them goodbye. Stopping use of the drive immediately is crucial, sure, but most of these “magic” software tools often come up short.
Disk Drill, while it’s user-friendly, can be hit-or-miss. I’ve used it—recovered about 30% of what I needed. For the rest? Useless. Learning curve or no learning curve, they don’t mention that half the time the “found” files are corrupted or incomplete.
Let’s be real here. If your data is mission-critical, don’t waste precious time fiddling with subpar software that might get you some files back in a mess. Check your Recycle Bin, use command prompt fixes if you know what you’re doing, but for serious recovery, pro services are your best bet. Yes, they’re expensive, but set against the value of your lost data? Worth it.
Remember to back up your data in the future. The suggested external drives and cloud services are good. Prevention is always better than running after “recovery wizards.”