Formatted Drive - Need files!

T

Tullsy

Registered
So, I did the one thing that every does once in their lifetime... got fed up with their machine and decided to reformat the drive. However, unlike most people, this wasn't carefully thought out and calculated, it was forced, rushed and hasty and I ended up losing some files that I really need back.

That's why I'm here. After Googling, it's become apparent that those files aren't necessarily gone... they are just ... not there (?) - I'm not sure, I'm tech saavy, but not that tech saavy.

In any case, is there anything I can do to get those back? I really really really need them...
 
Just restore the files from your Time Machine backup, or other backup that you regularly keep.

Barring the existence of any kind of backup (for shame!), you may be able to partially recover those files using software like Data Rescue II. If that doesn't work, and the files are of particular importance, you may want to invest in some professional data recovery (through drivesavers.com or the like).

If you choose the latter route, be prepared for sticker shock -- data recovery services can run anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.

There is no "easy" way to recover those files. Formatting a drive removes all directory and drive structure, and while the data "bits" may still exist on the drive, it may be extremely difficult (if not impossible) to recover them. Backup, backup, backup, backup, backup. Can't be said enough!

Good luck!
 
If you reformatted, how can you still see "some files"? The drive should be blank.

You don't mean Defrag do you?
 
No, he means "re-formatted".
Formatting a drive only zero's the drive directory table, the files are all still there, until they get overwritten.
The less you use the drive after the format, the better the chance of recovering your data, but it does require special data-recovery software to get to it.
 
Read the OP again. Yes, OK, its reformatted. I was confused by the phrase saying he had (only) lost _some_ files.

Like the avatar jbarley. Do you ever visit here, here or here? :)
 
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