To recover data from a formatted hard drive, you should immediately stop using the disk to prevent data from being overwritten, and then use the MiniTool Partition Wizard to recover formatted hard drive.
A single accidental operation can format an entire disk, making it appear as if all data has been deleted.
In reality, the data is not immediately erased. Only the file system structure is reset.
Is it possible to recover data from a formatted disk? If so, how?
The following will explain the relevant principles and common data recovery methods in detail to help you recover files from formatted hard drive.
Is it Possible to Recover Data from a Formatted Hard Drive?
Whether data can be recovered after disk formatting depends primarily on two factors: the formatting method and whether the data was overwritten by new data after formatting.
The success rate of recovery can vary greatly depending on the circumstances.
The following will explain this in detail from several key aspects.
1. Quick Format vs. Full Format
- Quick format: Only removes index information in the file system (such as the file allocation table). The data itself is usually still retained on the disk. Therefore, the data recovery success rate is higher if no overwriting occurs.
- Full format: In addition to rebuilding the file system, it also writes 0 and 1 to the disk, thus overwriting the original data. In this case, data recovery is impossible.
2. Data Overwriting
Whether data has been overwritten is one of the most critical factors affecting the recovery success rate. If new data has been written, the original data may be partially or completely overwritten.
This will result in data being unrecoverable.
3. Storage Type
Due to the existence of the TRIM mechanism, data on SSDs is more easily and completely erased after formatting compared to HDDs. Therefore, data recovery on HDDs is generally much easier.
Further reading:
Here are some practical tips to help you successfully recover data after disk formatting.
- Immediately stop using the disk: Once you discover the disk has been formatted, stop using the device immediately to avoid writing new data.
- Avoid duplicate formatting: Do not format an already formatted disk multiple times. Repeated formatting may further damage the original data structure.
- Initiate data recovery as soon as possible: Start recovery operations as soon as possible after data loss. The longer you delay, the higher the risk of the disk being overwritten again.
- Choose suitable data recovery software: Choosing reliable data recovery tools is crucial. It can scan the disk more efficiently and improve the success rate of data recovery.
How to Recover Formatted Hard Drive
Even after a hard drive has been formatted, the data is not necessarily lost completely. There are still various methods you can attempt to recover it.
The following section briefly outlines three approaches to help you recover data from a formatted disk.
Method 1: Via MiniTool Partition Wizard
Recovering a formatted hard drive in Windows usually requires specialized data recovery software.
MiniTool Partition Wizard is a partition software that can thoroughly scan storage devices and restore lost data from formatted hard drives, SSDs, memory cards, and more.
It is capable of retrieving data lost due to accidental formatting, system crashes, power failures, and other unexpected issues.
Here is how to recover formatted drive by using the Data Recovery feature of MiniTool Partition Wizard.
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Step 1: Launch the MiniTool Partition Wizard to its main interface, and click Data Recovery.
Step 2: In the Logical Drives section, you can see every disk partition, whether it’s an existing one, a lost partition, or unallocated space. Then click the formatted hard disk and select Scan.
Step 3: If the desired data is found, you can click the Pause or Stop icon to get instant data recovery. You’ll automatically be placed in the Path category view. To find the files you’re looking for more efficiently, you can take advantage of the following features:
- Type: In this section, all files are categorized by their type and format.
- Filter: This feature lets you narrow down results by excluding unwanted files based on factors such as file type, last modified date, size, and category.
- Search: It allows you to perform a targeted search. Simply type a full or partial file name into the search bar.
- Preview: Select a file and click Preview to verify whether it’s the one you need.
Step 4: Select all the files you wish to recover, then click the Save button. In the pop-up window, pick a destination for the recovered files. Then, click OK.
After the recovery process is complete, you can navigate to the chosen location to access and use your lost files.
To prevent data loss resulting from accidental disk formatting, it is recommended that you perform regular backups of your important data in advance.
Methods 2 and 3 are data recovery techniques based on these backups, enabling you to quickly restore your original files to your computer.
Method 2: Via Backup and Restore
During daily use of the Windows operating system, data may be lost due to accidental hard drive formatting.
Fortunately, Windows features a built-in Backup and Restore tool that can help you recover lost files.
The following guide provides a detailed explanation of how to use this tool to recover data from a formatted hard drive.
Step 1: Type Control Panel in the Search box and click Open on the right side.
Step 2: In the new pop-up window, click Backup and Restore (Windows 7).
Step 3: Click Restore my files. Select Browse for files or Browse for folders to locate the specific files to restore.
Step 4: Select a location for the restored files (do not choose the formatted drive) and click Restore to finish the recovery.
Method 3: Via File History
File History is another built-in Windows feature that can assist you in recovering data from a formatted hard drive.
However, this method is effective only if the feature was enabled before the formatting.
The following section explains how to use File History to recover data from a formatted hard drive.
Step 1: Open Control Panel.
Step 2: Change View by to Small icons and click File History.
Step 3: In the new pop-up window, click Restore personal files on the left-hand menu.
Step 4: Select the files you wish to recover, then click Restore to recover them to the original location. To save the files to a different location rather than their original path, click the Gear icon and select Restore to.
Recover Formatted Hard Drive FAQ
Data loss due to formatting, on the other hand, occurs when the partition itself remains in existence, while the file system index is reset, and the original file directories and indexing information are erased.
Bottom Line
How to recover formatted drive? You need to first prevent data from being overwritten and then use the appropriate data recovery tool, like MiniTool Partition Wizard, to recover lost files from a formatted hard drive.
If you have any questions or feedback about MiniTool Partition Wizard, feel free to contact our support team at [email protected] for additional help.
About The Author
Position: Columnist
Cecilia is a new member of MiniTool. She works as an English editor on the MiniTool team. She likes to learn articles about computers and is passionate about partition management and Windows operating systems. She is committed to allowing readers to use simple, efficient, and fast methods to solve the computer problems they encounter. To provide more professional solutions, she will continue to learn and master computer knowledge.
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