Your computer freezes, you freeze, and then your brain freezes. You opened your photo editing software to make the annual card sent out to family and friends. Suddenly, your entire holiday photo folder with 10,000 pictures in it DISAPPEARS. What?! Where did it go? It was just here a second ago. Click after click, folder after folder, and it’s still nowhere to be found. Now you’ve got some serious problems.
We’ve all been there and know just how stressful and unpleasant of a place it is to be when a computer hard drive loses your files. Having something so precious evaporate before your eyes can be incredibly upsetting. Stuck with no files and no solution in sight. The following is a collection of helpful tips and tricks that even the average computer user can try. If nothing else, it’s a great place to start before turning your hard drive over to the professionals.
1. Try not to Panic
It’s important to remember that recovering files from a hard-wired or external storage device isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. There are multiple avenues to take in the pursuit of data recovery. For starters, Macs and PCs have different operating systems, so things can quickly become extremely complicated for those who aren’t tech-savvy.
Just remember there are reasonably simple options the average person can take to try and recover files themselves. However, if those don’t work, there are always expert recovery companies you can turn to, like Datraction. They can take a much more in-depth look into the issue with their expertise and technology to give you the best chance of getting everything back.
2. Recovering files from the Recycle Bin
Another option for rescuing lost files is to look through individual Recycle Bin folders. Each hard drive, whether external or built-in, has its own separate Recycle Bin location. You can view these by right-clicking the Recycle Bin and choosing “Properties.” If the items are still sitting in your computer’s memory, you can then click “Restore,” and they’ll return as usual.
Unfortunately, much of the time, deleted files from the Recycle Bin are irreversibly gone. If this method doesn’t work for you, don’t be discouraged, there are still other options to try. In the same vein, don’t forget to check the cloud if you use it. You may find your data removed from your hard drive but backed up and is available in the cloud for restoration.
3. Restoring a Previous Version of the File
If your computer backs up files automatically, you might be able to try another simple HDD data recovery method known as restoring file history. Periodically your computer will save copies of files and folders to be recovered in case of a crash or other issues. This most commonly happens to people when your computer force quits an application before you have a chance to save progress. The file history feature will restore the most recent version of a file or folder before the problem occurred. In most cases, it’s as simple as right-clicking on the file or folder and selecting “Restore previous version”.
4. Run Hard Drive Recovery Software
Using HDD data recovery software can prove to be very helpful whether you’re trying to recover files from an internal hard drive or attempting to recover data from external hard drives. Most hard drive data recovery software programs will be capable of searching through your various drives for any hard to locate files. These programs can often be very useful. That is, as long as the issue doesn’t stem from physical damage.
5. Manually Check Physical Components
Manually checking the physical components of your hard drive, including cables and any pins and jacks, can sometimes make the issue clear. If your computer isn’t recognising a drive, then there might even be a loose internal cable connection.
Replacing and testing cables or other replaceable parts can sometimes get your computer to recognise the faulty drive. If your drive is recognised, be sure to run through the above steps to try and restore any important files. However, if nothing has worked at this point, it’s probably time to call in the professionals.
6. Bring in the Experts
If the steps above don’t yield results, it’s time to involve a professional hard drive data recovery service. Experts have the experience and tools necessary to recover any recoverable files – even the more challenging data loss issues. And to get that peace of mind that you’ve got professional data recovery experts working to restore your lost data and precious memories is well worth it.
Can’t Recover Your Files From Your Hard Drive? We Can Help
As a highly regarded data recovery specialist working with mobile phones, laptops, motherboards, and hard drives across the UK, we’re ready to take on any data loss challenges that arise. Data loss, system failure, mechanical damage, and unexpected disasters are all issues we can help with. Get a quote from Datraction today for efficient hard drive data recovery from our team of well-trained experts.
