How to Recover Deleted PDF Files

A deleted PDF file can easily be recovered by installing and using a data recovery program, which searches your hard drive for recently erased files and presents you with the option to recover all or some of the found files. The key to successfully recovering your files is limiting your computer use until you have the data recovery software, because new information on your computer will write over the deleted files still present on your hard drive. Data restoration software can be purchased online or at most local computer software stores.

Things You'll Need

• Data restoration software

Instructions

PDF Recovery for Windows

1. Click the "Downloads" tab at prosofteng.com, and click the "Demo" button next to "Data Rescue PC 3." Type in your email address and click the "Get Download URL" button to continue.

2. Open your email client, and open the message from Prosoft. Click the software download link in the email to begin your download.

3. Save the file to your desktop, and double-click the file to begin the installation wizard. Follow the onscreen instructions to agree to the license agreement and complete the installation.

4. Click "Start," "All Programs," "Prosoft" and "Data Rescue PC 3" to run the program.

5. Click the "Demo" button to bypass the registration box, and click the "Select Drive/Volume" button to continue. Click your hard drive icon, and click "Next."

6. Click the "Deleted Files Scan" button and click "Start" to begin the scan.

7. Select a backup drive for the program to use while the your hard drive is scanned, and click the "Open" button to proceed.

8. Check the box next to "Documents" and click "Restore."

PDF Recovery for Macintosh Computers

1. Download the software. Click the "Download Now" button on CNet.com's VirtualLab Data Recovery page, and wait for the download to complete. Once the download is complete, go to your downloads folder and double click the program.

2. Drag the "VirtualLab Data Recovery" icon to your "Applications" folder to install it.

3. Open your "Applications" folder and double-click the "VirtualLabs Data Recovery" icon to run the application.

4. Click the "Deleted Files" tab on the sidebar of the application window, and click "Continue." Click your hard drive icon, and check the box next to "Documents." Click "OK" and "Continue."

5. Check the box next to the recovered PDF file, and click "Save Selected Files."

References

• BinaryBiz.com: VirtualLab Data Recovery for Mac User Guide
• Prosofteng.com: Data Rescue PC 3

Resources

• CNet.com: VirtualLab Data Recovery