How to recover data

How to recover data from flash drives, memory cards, internal or external hard drives (desktop or laptop) in case of

• accidental file deletion,
• formatted hard drive or other storage,
• Windows failing to start,
• RAW filesystem.

Important immediate actions

Stop using the storage device immediately once you have discovered the data loss on it.

• Do not write anything onto the device containing the lost data (the more writes, the less recoverability).
• Do not install any software on the device containing the lost data.
• If Windows is installed on that drive, shut down the computer and stop using it.

Do it yourself data recovery

Generally, data recovery at home boils down to

1. Getting access to the drive with the lost data.
2. Preparing enough free disk space on the good storage to hold the recovered data.
3. Using data recovery software like ReclaiMe (Download ReclaiMe)

Getting access to the drive with the lost data

If Windows works OK then you do not need any special access to the drive but to be an administrator on the computer.

If Windows does not start, or if the lost data is on the drive where Windows is installed. You need to remove the hard drive from the computer and connect it to another computer. Use an USB enclosure if required. If you do not feel quite confident about the procedure, consult a local expert for details.

Using ReclaiMe

Download and install ReclaiMe. Important: never install ReclaiMe on the drive from which you are going to recover data.

1. Launch ReclaiMe and identify your drive in the device list using information provided by ReclaiMe:
   • drive letter (if there is any),
   • devices attached via USB are displayed in a separate group,
   • disk size,
   • disk model name.
2. Click Start to begin the recovery, once you selected your device from the device list.
3. Click Save to save the recovered data. Important: never save files onto the same device you are recovering these files from.

Click here to download ReclaiMe.