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How to Use Disk Drill to Recover Files from a Formatted Drive
Edited 6 days ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team
Disk DrillFormatted DriveFile RecoveryData LossMacWindowsSoftwareHDDSSDExternal Drive
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Losing data is a distressing experience. Whether it is a formatted drive or accidental deletion, losing precious data can seem overwhelming. Often, these data losses can seem irreversible, giving people the impression that their files are lost forever. However, with the right data recovery tool like Disk Drill, you can save your precious files. This comprehensive guide will discuss in-depth the specifics of using Disk Drill to recover files from a formatted drive, giving you a full understanding of the process and ensuring that you have all the necessary information to perform a successful recovery operation.
Understanding Disk Drill
Before we move on to the step-by-step process, it is important to understand what Disk Drill is and how this paramount tool aids in data recovery. Disk Drill is a powerful data recovery software designed to help users recover lost files from external and internal hard drives, memory cards, USB flash drives, and more. It supports a variety of files, including documents, images, music, videos, and emails. Disk Drill is famous for its user-friendly interface, making it accessible to both beginners and advanced users.
The essential principle behind Disk Drill's functionality is its ability to scan and recover lost or deleted files by exploring the drive's underlying data structure. When a drive is formatted, the data is not immediately deleted; rather, it becomes unrecoverable, waiting for new data to overwrite it. Disk Drill takes advantage of this concept, carefully scanning formatted drives to identify and recover any salvageable data before they are overwritten.
Preparing for recovery
Before you begin the recovery process, there are a few preliminary steps to take. Ensuring that your device is equipped with the necessary features will increase the efficiency of the recovery:
- Download and install Disk Drill: Start by downloading Disk Drill from the official website. Choose the appropriate version for Windows or Mac and proceed with the installation.
- Secure the auxiliary drive: It is mandatory to have an additional storage device where the recovered files will be saved. This ensures that during the recovery process, the original data on the formatted drive is not overwritten.
- Minimize further data usage: If possible, stop all operations on the formatted drive. Continued use may overwrite the original data, complicating recovery.
Recovery process
Step 1: Launch Disk Drill
Once Disk Drill is installed, open the application. The interface is designed to be intuitive, presenting multiple recovery options right from the start. You'll see your available drives on the main dashboard. Make sure the formatted drive is properly connected to your system and is easily visible on Disk Drill's interface.
Step 2: Scan for lost data
On the Disk Drill interface, identify the formatted drive from which you want to recover data. Select this drive to initiate the scanning process. Disk Drill offers several scanning options, including Quick Scan and Deep Scan:
- Quick scan: This method attempts to restore recently deleted files. It's faster but may not be as comprehensive, especially for formatted drives.
- Deep Scan: This option performs a thorough examination of the drive's structure and can identify a wide array of deleted files. Although time consuming, it is ideal for formatted drives where standard directory information is lost.
For formatted drives, it is advisable to select the Deep Scan option to maximize recovery potential. Initiate the scan by clicking the appropriate button. Disk Drill will start analyzing the drive, and the scanning progress may take some time, depending on the size and condition of the drive.
Step 3: Review the data you receive
When the scan is complete, Disk Drill will provide a comprehensive list of the files it identified on the drive. This list is often organized and can be filtered by file type, modified date, and other attributes, helping users navigate through the array of recovered files.
Within this interface, you can view files and folders, use the search functionality for specific file names or extensions, and preview files to confirm their integrity before recovery.
Step 4: Initiate recovery
After identifying the files you want to recover, select them by ticking the corresponding checkboxes. Once you are ready, click the "Recover" button. A dialog box will appear, asking you to select the storage location where these files will be saved. Remember, it is important to save these files on a different drive than the formatted drive to avoid overwriting the data.
Confirm your selection, and Disk Drill will begin the recovery process. The time required to complete this process varies depending on the size and quantity of files, as well as the performance characteristics of the system.
Step 5: Verify the recovered data
When the recovery is complete, visit the storage location where you saved the files to confirm the recovery was successful. Be sure to verify the integrity and functionality of the recovered files. If some files appear corrupted, consider repeating the deep scan to attempt recovery.
Additional functions and features
Additional data protection feature of Disk Drill
In addition to its recovery capabilities, Disk Drill also provides additional functions to protect your data from future loss:
- Recovery Vault: This feature creates backups of each file, ensuring they can be recovered immediately if accidentally deleted. While this doesn't prevent data loss due to formatting, it does provide peace of mind for regular deletions.
- SMART Monitoring: Disk Drill provides users with tools to monitor the health of their drives. By providing real-time information and alerts about potential drive failures, users can take preemptive action to secure their data.
Data backup features
Disk Drill also offers data backup, allowing users to clone entire disk drives. This can be helpful in preventing further loss, as keeping regular backups ensures data redundancy and an immediate recovery solution in case of future crashes.
Troubleshooting common problems
Despite Disk Drill's efficient recovery performance, users may sometimes face challenges. Some frequently occurring problems and solutions include:
- Drive not showing up: If the formatted drive is not showing up, make sure all connections are secure and the drive is powered on. Try a different USB port or restart the application.
- Files become corrupted after recovery: Opt for a frequent deep scan or assess the drive's health for possible physical damage.
Conclusion
In short, Disk Drill provides a robust solution for recovering files from formatted drives. Its user-friendly design combined with powerful recovery capabilities make it an invaluable tool in your data recovery toolkit. Understanding and taking advantage of Disk Drill's breadth of features significantly increases successful recovery results.
Data loss is an unfortunate reality of digital life, but with Disk Drill, no file is truly unrecoverable. Equip yourself with recovery techniques and be prepared for future mishaps.
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