How to Recover Deleted Files in NTFS Format
Recovering accidentally deleted files on New Technology File System (NTFS) formatted hard drives will inevitably be a necessity. No matter what precautions you might take, there is always a risk of data loss when working with computers so it is important to understand how to recover unintentionally lost files. When it comes to data recovery on an NTFS formatted hard drive, time is of the essence. The faster you attempt to restore the file, the more likely you are to succeed. If you use Windows 7 or Windows Vista Business or Ultimate, you can utilize the shadow copy feature to recover deleted files. Otherwise, you will need to employ a third-party data recovery application.
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Instructions
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Shadow Copies
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Launch Windows Explorer by double-clicking "My Computer."
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Navigate to the folder where the deleted file was saved.
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Right-click on the folder and select "Restore previous versions."
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Select a file version date which would include the deleted file and click "Restore." The folder you are restoring will overwrite the current version of the folder so be sure to save any files that were altered after the restore date to a separate folder before performing the restore action.
Third-party Software
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Download and install the third-party data recovery software of your choice (see Resources). There are dozens of free and paid data recovery applications. These programs all function the same and only differ in the algorithm employed to locate deleted files.
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Launch the data recovery software.
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Select the hard drive you wish to scan for deleted files.
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Click "Scan." The data recovery software will scan your hard drive and find deleted files that can be recovered.
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Select the file you wish to restore from the list of recoverable files and click the "Restore/Recover" button.
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Tips & Warnings
The Windows Recycle Bin retains deleted files for 30 days, so check there before employing any of the above methods.
References
Resources
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