Important Recovery Tips
If you have deleted your data then it is VERY important that you read the following best practices for recovering your lost data.
It is VERY IMPORTANT once it is realised that data has been deleted that the drive activity is kept to a minimum. Windows, or another program, will start writing new data to the newly allocated "free" area of the drive, i.e. where the deleted or lost data is located. Stopping the use of the device (the drive) will minimise the chances of Windows overwriting the deleted data. Once a deleted file is overwritten the deleted data will no longer be recoverable.
The primary steps for successful data recovery are:
The primary steps for successful data recovery are:
- Protect and secure the target drive where the deleted or lost data is located.
- Install FileRestore Professional, purchase a licence key and activate FileRestore Professional.
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Scan the target drive and save the recovered data to another drive.
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Recovering deleted or lost data from a PC system/boot drive
If data has been deleted from a PC system/boot drive (usually the C: Drive) be aware that internet activity, email, Windows updates, instant messaging etc., can all involve writing data to this disk. Drive activity must be kept to a minimum to help ensure successful file recovery.
Experienced/Technical computer user
If you are an experienced computer user and you have deleted data from a system drive. If you have access to a second computer then the following are the best practices for recovering your lost data from a system drive. If you do not have access to a second computer then see the non-technical computer user details below:
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Protect and secure the target drive
To provide the best chance of maximum data recovery then the computer should be shutdown, the drive removed and attached to another Windows computer. -
Install FileRestore Professional on the second computer
Install FileRestore Professional on the second computer, purchase a licence key and activate FileRestore Professional.
If the drive containing the lost data is at risk of failing, or there is a possibility that the lost data may become overwritten, then it is recommended that an image (a backup image file) of the drive be created. The drive image can be opened, scanned (as with a physical drive) and the data recovered. -
Recover your data
Scan your drive and recover your detected data to another partition. It is very IMPORTANT that the data is NOT saved to the same drive. Saving recovered files to the original target drive will potentially overwrite the very same files that you are attempting to recover.
Non-technical computer user
If you are a non-technical computer user, or you do not have access to a second computer, and you have deleted data from a system drive.
If you are unsure how to remove a system drive and attach it to a second computer (per the technical user details above), then the following are the best practices for recovering your lost data from a system drive:
If you are a non-technical computer user, or you do not have access to a second computer, and you have deleted data from a system drive.
If you are unsure how to remove a system drive and attach it to a second computer (per the technical user details above), then the following are the best practices for recovering your lost data from a system drive:
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Download FileRestore Professional
It is recommended that FileRestore Professional is downloaded to a USB attached Windows storage device (e.g. memory card), etc.
Do NOT download or copy ANY files to your system drive. This includes the FileRestore Professional installation files. Downloading or copying ANY files to your system drive (e.g. your computer's desktop) will potentially overwrite and therefore permanently erase the very same data that you are attempting to recover. -
Install FileRestore Professional
Install the FileRestore Professional installation files on to the USB attached Windows storage device. The default is set to install on the system drive, it is very important therefore that the USB attached storage device is selected during the installation, to save the installation files to.
Alternatively, you can download FileRestore - Emergency Undelete to the USB attached Windows storage device. FileRestore - Emergency Undelete includes the same functionality as FileRestore Professional, but has NO installer and can therefore be run directly from the USB attached storage device. -
Recover your data
Scan your drive and recover your detected data to another partition. It is very IMPORTANT that the data is NOT saved to the same drive. Saving recovered files to the original target drive will potentially overwrite the very same files that you are attempting to recover.
If the drive containing the lost data is at risk of failing, or there is a possibility that the lost data may become overwritten, then it is recommended that an image (a backup image file) of the drive be created. The drive image can be opened, scanned (as with a physical drive) and the data recovered.
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Recovering deleted or lost data from a data drive i.e. a non system drive, USB attached Windows storage device e.g. a memory card, etc.
If you are an experienced or inexperienced computer user and you have deleted data from a data drive, then the following are the best practices for recovering your lost data:
If you are an experienced or inexperienced computer user and you have deleted data from a data drive, then the following are the best practices for recovering your lost data:
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Download FileRestore Professional
Download FileRestore Professional to the computer's system drive i.e. NOT the data drive where the deleted or lost data is located. -
Install FileRestore Professional
Install FileRestore Professional on to the default system drive, or any data drive other than the drive where the deleted or lost data is located. Purchase a licence key and activate FileRestore Professional.
If the drive containing the lost data is at risk of failing, or there is a possibility that the lost data may become overwritten, then it is recommended that an image (a backup image file) of the drive be created. The drive image can be opened, scanned (as with a physical drive) and the data recovered. -
Recover your data
Scan your drive and recover your detected data to another partition. It is very IMPORTANT that the data is NOT saved to the same drive. Saving recovered files to the original target drive will potentially overwrite the very same files that you are attempting to recover.
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Remember, to have the best chance of recovering your lost data it is very important that drive activity is kept to a minimum. Continued use of the drive will reduce the chances of your being able to successfully recover your lost data.
It is very IMPORTANT that you recover your lost data ASAP. If for any reason you must continue using the same computer drive (before you recover your lost data), then it is very possible that your lost data will become overwritten by any newly created files. If a lost file is overwritten then it will be permanently erased and nothing will be able to get it back. You can however preseve your lost data by creating an exact sector by sector copy of your drive. You can do this by using the FileRestore Professional "Imaging" function. Once the image file is created you will then be able to continue your use of the drive without further potential risk to your data.
Creating an image file is easy to do AND is completely FREE of charge. Imaging is highly recommended if you have lost your data, and your only option is to continue using the same computer drive.
It is very IMPORTANT that you recover your lost data ASAP. If for any reason you must continue using the same computer drive (before you recover your lost data), then it is very possible that your lost data will become overwritten by any newly created files. If a lost file is overwritten then it will be permanently erased and nothing will be able to get it back. You can however preseve your lost data by creating an exact sector by sector copy of your drive. You can do this by using the FileRestore Professional "Imaging" function. Once the image file is created you will then be able to continue your use of the drive without further potential risk to your data.
Creating an image file is easy to do AND is completely FREE of charge. Imaging is highly recommended if you have lost your data, and your only option is to continue using the same computer drive.
...and very finally
If you are to have the best chance of successfully recovering your lost data then you must; Act fast, stop using the drive, preserve your data and recover your files!
If you are to have the best chance of successfully recovering your lost data then you must; Act fast, stop using the drive, preserve your data and recover your files!
