How to Recover Data from a Formatted Hard Disk During Windows 10 Installation

Recovering data from a hard disk that has been formatted during a Windows 10 installation can be challenging but is often possible, especially if the data has not been overwritten. This guide provides a step-by-step process to help you recover your lost data.

Steps to Recover Data

Stop Using the Disk

Immediately stop using the formatted disk to prevent any new data from being written to it and overwriting the old data. This is a critical step to preserve your chances of successful recovery.

Choose Recovery Software

Select a reliable data recovery tool. Some popular options include:

Recuva (free and paid versions) EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard MiniTool Power Data Recovery Disk Drill TestDisk (free and open-source)

Ensure that you choose a tool that is compatible with your specific needs and confirm its reputation for effectiveness.

Create a Bootable USB (Optional)

If you want to avoid writing any data to the formatted disk, consider using a bootable USB with the recovery software. By booting from this USB, you can run the recovery tool without booting into Windows, which minimizes the risk of further data corruption.

Install the Software

Depending on the method you choose, perform the following steps:

If using a bootable USB, boot from it. If using another computer, install the recovery software on a different drive.

Scan the Formatted Drive

Perform the scan using your selected software:

Launch the recovery software. Select the formatted drive and initiate a scan. Most tools offer a quick scan followed by a deep scan option. Choose the deep scan for a more thorough search.

Preview and Recover Files

Once the scan is complete, you will see the list of recoverable files:

Preview the files if possible. Select the ones you want to recover. Choose a different drive, preferably an external drive or cloud storage, to save the recovered files.

Follow Up

After recovery, check the integrity of the recovered files. Some files may be partially corrupted, especially if they were overwritten after the formatting.

Additional Tips

Professional Help

If the data is highly important and recovery software doesn’t work, consider contacting a professional data recovery service. They have specialized tools and expertise but will charge for their services.

Backup in the Future

To avoid data loss in the future, regularly back up your data using external drives or cloud services. This ensures that you have a safe and redundant copy of your critical files.

Important Note

The success of data recovery largely depends on how much of the original data has been overwritten after the formatting. The sooner you attempt recovery, the better your chances of retrieving your files. Act quickly to increase your chances of a successful recovery.