Summary: It is sometimes possible to recover an file deleted by accident. Stop using the disk, check your recycle bin, and perhaps pull out an undelete utility.
I got carried away and mistakenly hit "Yes" when I was prompted about deleting a file - except it was the wrong file! Can I get it back? If so, how?
I think anyone who's used computers for any length of time has been where you are now. I know I've been there on more than one occasion.
The answer to your question is really, "maybe". It depends on a lot of things.
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First, and this is important, stop using the disk that had the file. I'll explain why in a second, but to increase the likelihood that the file can be recovered, stop doing things that might write to the disk. That even means leaving your programs running - since many will write to the disk as they exit - and it means do not browse the internet, since the browser will write it's history do disk. (Unless, of course, you know that the file was on a different disk than the operating system or other items.)
Now, first things first - look in the recycle bin. If you deleted the file using Windows Explorer, or many of the standard Windows controls, the file might not actually be deleted - just moved into the Recycle Bin. If that's the case, you can simply move it back out of the Recycle Bin to wherever you wanted it to be. Do move it out, because if the Recycle Bin is emptied then the file is truly deleted, and things get harder, as we'll see next.
If your file wasn't recycled, perhaps because you deleted it in a Command Prompt, some other program deleted it, or you were holding the SHIFT key down when you deleted it in explorer, the file has really been deleted. However, the contents might still be recoverable.
Deleting does not, by default, overwrite the data in your file. All it really does is say "OK, this disk space over here, that used to be a file? You can use it for other things now." The contents of the file actually doesn't disappear until it's been overwritten by something else. That's why it's so important to stop doing things to the disk that contained the file. Any writing to the hard disk after you've deleted a file could overwrite it's contents.
There are a lot of "undelete" utilities available. A Google search on "undelete files" returns a long list of utilities. I currently have no particular recommendation, but do make sure that the undelete utility supports the format of your disk (NTFS, FAT or FAT32 - running "chkdsk" in a command prompt will tell you).
Remember I said don't write to the disk? That probably means you'll need to search for, and download, an undelete utility using a different computer entirely, and use a floppy or CD-ROM to take it to the computer experiencing problems.
If you've not done anything to the hard disk since the file was deleted, the undelete utility should find it and be able to recover it for you. If you have been using the disk, then it's an unpredictable roll of the dice. It depends on how much has been written to the disk, where on the disk it was written, and where on the disk your now-deleted file used to reside. It might work. It might not.
There is one, last, hope - but it's expensive, potentially time consuming, and really only for the most dire of circumstances. It is sometimes possible, using advanced data recovery techniques, to recover data even after it's been overwritten. It requires special equipment and special techniques, so you'd be sending your hard drive to a data recovery service. And you'll be writing a fairly large check. There are many factors involved, and it's definitely not as easy as you might see on TV, but it can, sometimes, be done.
My ultimate recommendation? Regular backups. This situation happens to me often enough that I have been able to save hours of valuable time by simply recovering a deleted file from my regular backups.
Related:
Ask Leo! - What backup program should I use?
Article C2540 - February 1, 2006
Hello,
Posted by: Softlogica at February 27, 2006 12:47 AMMy name is Erica and I am a Technical Support Manager in SoftLogica LLC.
In fact,Handy Recovery 1.0 is still available; you can download it directly at http://www.handyrecovery.com/handyrecovery-fw.exe
Thank you all for helping me recovering an important document ! I hope it will work ! Thanks again. Sorry for my English... ;) Bye all
Posted by: Bogdan - Romania - Gorj - Rovinari at March 4, 2006 5:31 AMvery very lots of thanks to "Erica->Softlogica" really this uttility recover my valuable data.
i would also like to give my thanks Mr.Leo.
god bless all
Singh Mahendra
Posted by: fantoos001 at March 25, 2006 11:55 PMI suggest you use data recovery software such as [URL=http://www.easeus.com]EASEUS Data Recovery Wizard[/URL] to recover files.
Download demo version: http://www.easeus.com/download.htm
You can use "AdvancedRecovery" to scan your corrupted partition. After the scan is complete, the lost file will be displayed in Data Recovery Wizard, you can select them and recover them.
Posted by: chloe at April 19, 2007 12:43 AMAs you close comment at history part soo i post comment here. Is there any why i can save google search history,firefox and internet search history before deleteing them all.
Posted by: ujval at August 3, 2007 1:59 AMI deleted the sound application from my laptop. how do i get it back?
Posted by: Sergio at September 27, 2007 6:47 AMhi leo,
Posted by: geraldine at September 12, 2008 9:41 AMi saved precious pictures of my son a year ago,,,
i opened it to view them,i was playing the video when it stock,i exit it,but then to find out that it was broken,if only i saw earlier that it was broken i could have copied it first,,, up to now i dont know what to feel,,, my knees are weakening everytime i try to open it but still its not there.i hope that you can help me,,, i've been searching some ways in the internet but still nothing happen.i cant afford to buy them too.your my only hope.thank you in advance, and thanks also for time you gave me by reading.
this may sound weird but i really like your comments here.. i dont have a coment for now but i do have aquestion regarding this theme. i now some of the programs for undelete. but my problem is regarding not deleted files but moved files for example if you click deleted on file you can get it back with a undelete program. but if you seleste cut and paste. somewhere any of does softwares dont recognize does files .. my question is how can i get back files that i moved from a hard drive... ? sorry about gramar im from tijuana Baja California Mexico.. y hope any one here can just give me a tip/ about it!! thanks alot!! cheer on!!
Posted by: rose at October 7, 2008 8:37 AMIf you are looking for an excellent file undelete product then I would recommend File Restore Professional. It will recover all types of files from all types of Windows media. This includes PCs, iPods, cameras, video players. What is very cool is that you can even preview your deleted files before you recover them. The most amazing part is that you can even listen to your deleted music files and view your deleted videos before you purchase the software. I highly recommend it. You can find out more/download File Restore Professional from any of these:
www.pcrecovery.com
Posted by: Brian 500 at December 10, 2008 3:38 AMwww.photo-recovery.com
www.iPod-recovery.com
www.video-recovery.com
There are many undelete tools online. For example, Advanced NTFS Undelete at http://www.ntfs-undelete.com . Just search on Google for a list of them.
Posted by: Tom at August 23, 2009 5:14 PM