How can I recover files from a formatted hard drive?

I had a similar situation with a hard drive that was accidentally formatted. In my case, I first stopped using the drive because continuing to save or copy new data onto it can overwrite the deleted files and make recovery more difficult.

I used This https://marketplace.microsoft.com/pt-br/product/saas/systoolssoftwareprivatelimited1632140387066.hard-drive-data-recovery?tab=overview to scan the formatted drive, and it performed quite well for me. I was able to find many of the documents and photos I was looking for, preview the recoverable files, and then save the required data to another drive. The results can vary depending on how the drive was formatted and whether new data has been written to it since the formatting.

If you are facing the same problem, you can give this tool a try, or you can also try other reputable data recovery software available for Windows or Mac. I would recommend choosing a trusted recovery application, especially when the data is important, rather than installing random tools from unknown websites.

Also, avoid recovering the files back onto the same formatted hard drive. Save them to a different drive or external storage so that you don't risk overwriting other recoverable data.

If the drive has physical problems, such as clicking sounds, frequent disconnections, or it is not detected by the computer, software may not be the right approach and a professional data recovery service would be safer.

The files are not deleted immediately after the drive is formatted. You can still recover files from a formatted hard drive. However, you should choose the right tool for data recovery.

https://www.devshowto.com/recover-files-from-a-formatted-hard-drive

I am using this one for two years and it helped me retrieve dozens of deleted files from my computer.

StrongRecovery: Easy to use and free version with 5 GB of data to recover at this moment - better than other freemium stuff!

What you're experiencing is pretty common. Many people accidentally format their hard drives, especially during system reinstallation or when changing devices. While it may seem serious, there’s a good chance of recovery as long as you haven't written too much new data to the drive since it was formatted. 

I’ve been there myself when I accidentally formatted my WD MyPassport. Over time, I tried several tools to recover my files, including R-photo, 4DD1G, and Windows File Recovery. 

• R-photo: This tool works best for recovering photos, especially if that’s your main concern. 
• 4DD1G: It’s easy to use, and the ability to preview files before recovery is a plus, though it might not always recover everything in perfect condition.
• Windows File Recovery: This is a free tool from Microsoft, and while it's decent for basic recovery tasks, I found it a bit limited when dealing with formatted drives. 

Disk Drill: A user-friendly tool for recovering lost files.

Data Recovery Wizard: Known for its intuitive interface and effectiveness.

GetDataBack: Advanced software for deep scans and recovery.

It is highly possible for recovering data from formatted hard drive, but the success depends on several factors such as the type of formatting, data overwriting, etc. Below are the specific steps:

Step 1: After formatting, avoid continuing to use the hard drive in case the new data overwrites the original data and reduces the recovery success rate.

Step 2: Use reliable data recovery software. If the hard drive is inside the computer, make sure it is connected properly.

Step 3: Select the formatted hard drive in the software. Select ‘Deep Scan’ or ‘Full Scan’ to find more recoverable files.

Step 4: Once the scan is complete, preview the found files and confirm whether they are recoverable or not.

Step 5: Recover files to another hard drive or partition to avoid overwriting the original data.

Step 6: After recovery, check whether the files are complete and usable.

Losing files after formatting a hard drive is frustrating, but it is not impossible to recover them. Here are two common recovery methods for your reference:

1. Try professional data recovery tools: 

Some specialized recovery software can help you recover files from a formatted hard drive, such as Disk Drill and Data Recovery Wizard. These tools are available for Mac and Windows and are easy to use. You just need to scan the hard drive and the software will list the files that may be recovered. Many people have successfully recovered documents and photos from formatted hard drives using these tools.

2. Restore files from backups: 

If you have a backup before, such as using Time Machine (Mac) or the built-in backup function in Windows, you can restore the backup to get your data back. Although not everyone has a backup in advance, if you do, this method is quite direct and effective.

When using data recovery tools, try to avoid storing new files on the formatted hard drive to avoid overwriting important data. I hope these two methods can help you recover files from a formatted hard drive!

Formatting does not erase data immediately, but only resets the file system index. By scanning the hard disk sectors at the bottom level, there is still a chance to recover files from a formatted hard drive, but the following conditions must be met:

No new data is written after formatting (otherwise old files may be overwritten)

Use a tool that supports raw data extraction

 Windows command line solution

1. Use chkdsk to repair the file system (logical damage only)

chkdsk X: /f /r

(X is the hard disk drive letter, which may repair some index errors, but cannot directly recover files from a formatted hard drive)

2. Use the testsdisk tool (cross-platform)

Download address: https://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestsDisk
Operation steps:

testdsisk -> Select hard disk -> [Proceed] -> [Intel] -> [Analyse]

Recover files by analyzing the partition table (supports NTFS/FAT/exFAT), suitable for partition reconstruction after recovering files from a formatted hard drive.

macOS command line solution
1. Use ddrescue to create an image backup

sudo ddrescue /dev/diskXsX ~/disk_image.img ~/disk_log.log

(Create an image first to avoid secondary damage, then scan the image file through other tools)

2. Extract files through photosssrec

photosssrec /dev/diskXsX

(Specializes in image/document recovery, supports 200+ formats, suitable for extracting fragments after recovering files from a formatted hard drive)

4. Precautions
Stop using the hard drive immediately to avoid data overwriting
It is recommended to save the recovered files to other storage devices
It is recommended to create a disk image before complex operations (such as using the dd command).

If you’ve already started using that drive (even a little) before you recovering files from a formatted hard drive, you risk overwriting the files you’re trying to recover. I once popped open a drive thinking I was just going to do a quick operation, only to realize later that I’d saved new files on it. Major bummer! Not all recovery software works perfectly every time. I’ve tried a few different tools, and while some did the trick, others were practically useless.

recovering files can be a major time suck. I spent an entire afternoon running scans on a formatted drive only to come out with partial success. It feels like you’re waiting for a slow-loading website, and the whole time you’re just praying something good comes out of it. 

When you download your recovery software, install it on a different drive (like your C: drive if your formatted drive is D:). Installing it on the same drive can accidentally overwrite the files you're trying to recover files from a formatted hard drive. I learned this the hard way once when trying to save my own neck after a formatting mishap! If you can remember specific file names or extensions (like .docx, .jpg, etc.) that you want to recover files from a formatted hard drive, jot those down. Some recovery tools let you filter searches, which can save you tons of time. Trust me—it’s way faster than sifting through a massive list of every single recoverable file.

Keep in mind that not all files may be recoverable—especially if they were overwritten or if the formatting was extensive. Some files might come back incomplete or corrupted. It’s always good to have realistic expectations. Once you manage to recover your files, make a backup plan. Use an external hard drive, cloud storage, or tools like Windows File History. I’ve set up File History for my important data, and it’s great because it automatically backs up my files regularly. You can find it by going to Settings > Update & Security > Backup.