Hard drive data loss can happen for many reasons, including accidental deletion, partition loss, formatting, RAW file systems, virus attacks, or hardware issues. Fortunately, hard drive recovery is possible if the data has not been overwritten. This guide explains how to recover data from a hard drive using MiniTool Partition Wizard.
Can You Recover Data from a Hard Drive?
Yes, you can often recover data from a hard drive if the lost files have not been overwritten and the drive remains accessible. Hard drive recovery software can help restore files lost due to accidental deletion, formatting, partition loss, or file system corruption.
However, successful recovery depends on the cause of data loss, the condition of the drive, and whether the original data has been overwritten.
The following is a rough assessment of whether data can be recovered in certain scenarios.
| Data Loss Cause | Can Data Be Recovered? |
| Files are deleted accidentally. | High probability, provided the data has not been overwritten. |
| The partition has been formatted. | High chances, provided that a quick format was performed and the files have not been overwritten. |
| The file system is corrupted or becomes RAW. | Moderate–High possibility, depending on the specific cause of the file system corruption. |
| Partitions are lost or deleted. | High chances, provided that the file has not been overwritten. |
| Malware or virus infections. | Low possibility, as most malware encrypts or tampers with files. |
| Physical hard drive damage. | Low probability, but it’s worth a try. |
| Power failure or improper drive disconnection. | Moderate possibility, as some software performs automatic periodic saves. |
What to Do Before Recovering Hard Drive Data
Before attempting hard drive recovery, take the following precautions to help prevent further data loss and improve the chances of recovering your files.
- Stop using the affected hard drive. For example, stop saving any new files to this hard drive, and do not format or create new partitions.
- Check the Recycle Bin and available backups. Restoring files from a backup is often safer and simpler than attempting data recovery.
- Check the hard drive’s condition. Determine why the files were lost and whether the disk is recognized and functioning properly.
- Prepare a separate location for data recovery software installation and recovered files. Do not install data recovery software to the partition where data was lost, and do not place recovered files into that partition, as this may lead to further data loss.
Best Hard Drive Recovery Software-MiniTool Partition Wizard
MiniTool Partition Wizard is a Windows disk management tool that includes data recovery functionality in supported editions. It can help users scan supported storage devices for recoverable files and manage partitions.
It supports data recovery from the following scenarios.
| Feature | Details |
| Supported Devices | HDDs, SSDs, external hard drives, USB flash drives, SD cards |
| Supported File Systems | NTFS, FAT32, exFAT |
| Supported File Types | Videos, audio files, images, documents, archives, and more |
| Recovery Scenarios | Deleted files, formatted drives, lost partitions, RAW drives |
| Special Recovery | Data recovery from unbootable PCs |
MiniTool Partition Wizard DemoClick to Download100%Clean & Safe
How to Recover Data from a Hard Drive
Step 1: Install MiniTool Partition Wizard, but the installation location should not be a partition where data has been lost.
Step 2: Launch this software and click Data Recovery. Select a location to scan. The following options are offered.
- Logical Drives: An existing or lost partition, or unallocated space.
- Devices: An entire hard drive.
- Specific Location: Desktop, Recycle Bin, or a folder.
Step 3: Once the scanning process is completed, find the files you want to recover under Path or Type. Select them and click Save. Select a safe location to put the recovered file so that lost files won’t be overwritten.
How to Recover a Partition from a Hard Drive
If a partition is deleted or lost, MiniTool Partition Wizard can also recover it. Here is the guide.
Step 1: In MiniTool Partition Wizard, click Partition Recovery. On the pop-up window, click Next. Then, select the disk for partition recovery.
Step 2: Select a Scanning Range (Full Disk, Unallocated Space, or Specified Range).
Step 3: Select a Scanning Method (Quick Scan or Full Scan).
Step 4: After the scanning is completed, tick the lost partition and click Finish.
Step 5: Click Apply to execute the recovery operation.
Step 6: The recovered partition has no drive letter. Right-click it and choose Change Letter. Then, follow the wizard to add a drive letter to the partition.
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Bottom Line
This article tells you how to make hard drive data recovery and partition recovery with the best hard drive recovery software – MiniTool Partition Wizard. If you have any question about this software, you can contact us via [email protected].
About The Author
Position: Columnist
Linda has been an editor at MiniTool for seven years. She continuously learns about computers and puts her knowledge into practice. Moreover, she is particularly knowledgeable in disk management, data recovery, system installation, and PDF editing. Her articles typically reference multiple examples or are based on her own experience, providing users with the most suitable solutions.
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