How To: Recover Lost Data using DiskDigger
Image Source: DiskDigger
Accidental data loss can occur in a number of ways - sometimes it is initially intentional, only to realise later that you needed a certain file. Often, it is a result of a simple mistake and being too free with the Delete key. The accidental reformatting of an additional hard drive or removable mass storage disk containing irreplaceable data is probably also a familiar scenario to some.
When accidental data loss does occur, as it invariably will to most at some stage in their computing life, the most important thing is to stay calm and think rationally. There are tools available which are very effective at data recovery - as long as the right measures are taken to ensure data is not permanently lost (most data hangs around on storage devices for some time after being "deleted", and is only lost when fresh data overwrites it).
Our guide to the excellent open-source and portable DiskDigger shows you how to recover data that has been recently 'misplaced', whether photos, music files, videos, Office documents or just about anything else.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- 1
Access the related download link for this article and grab the application file for DiskDigger. Once this has finished downloading, locate the file in your downloads folder and extract the contents of the ZIP archive (DiskDigger.exe and the licence agreement text file) to a safe location on your hard drive. NOTE: if the data loss has already occurred, e.g. you need to recover important data immediately using DiskDigger, then save the ZIP file to a separate drive to the one where the data is to be recovered. Downloading new data to the same drive increases the risk that the data you want to recover becomes completely irretrievable.
- 2
Double-click the file DiskDigger.exe to begin the application. A list of available connected drives is displayed.
- 3
Select the drive you wish to perform a recovery on using DiskDigger (whether it is a removable storage disk or your hard drive) and click Next.
- 4
Select the file types you want to search for from the list, to improve the efficiency of the search. If it is photo files that you lost, just check the relevant image file formats. Searching for all file types greatly increases the time required to scan the selected drive for recoverable media. Click Next to proceed.
- 5
Click Search to begin the recovery process. DiskDigger begins analysing the selected drive for the selected file format and displays a list of results in the left hand pane of the application interface. The progress bar at the top informs you of the status of the current recovery.
- 6
When the progress bar fills up completely, you can start selecting the recovered files you wish to keep. Click a file to preview it in the right hand pane. Right-click any file and click Save As then choose a safe location to store it on your computer. Note: the filename will not be the same as it was originally. By default, DiskDigger names each file according to the disk sector where it was located. Once you save the file, open the specified location and right-click the file to rename it with something more user friendly.
Tips & Advice
- Sometimes data can easily be recovered from the Recycle Bin when it has been accidentally deleted, and this should be the first place you check when something goes missing. The Recycle Bin is found on the Windows desktop and can be opened just like a regular folder.
- Right click any file in the Recycle Bin and choose Restore to recover it. It is usually only when the Recycle Bin is emptied that data recovery tools become necessary.
