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Question

Need help retrieving permanently deleted file

Jul 10, 2017 11:22AM PDT

Hi, I accidentally deleted an important file from my external drive connecting to my Windows 7 (work) laptop (thanks to my child distracting me). I've been researching how-to's all morning on how to retrieve it, with the majority stating to restoring the computer to a previous date. I wasn't able to find this feature on the application icon (under properties). I asked my work IT since it's on their computer and was told I can't retrieve a deleted item even with the available softwares out there which I was willing to purchase, because external drives are not set to be archived on our computers. Does anyone know if this is true, and if there's any way to retrieve this one very important file? Thanks!

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
Is this file...
Jul 13, 2017 9:10AM PDT

...an image file or some other type? If an image file, then try PhotoRec.

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Answer
Did you try RECUVA yet?
Jul 10, 2017 11:24AM PDT
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Does Recuva work if there's no backup of the drive?
Jul 10, 2017 11:44AM PDT

That's what i wanted to find out about. I was going to download Recuva (and would have already if it was on my private computer) but IT has to enter their credentials for downloading anything on my computer, and he's telling me that because external drives aren't backed up, even if I use a software, the deleted file won't be retrievable. I want to know if that's true so I can convince him to let me at least try.

By permanently, I mean that i right clicked on the file and selected "delete" and a pop up said are you sure you want to permanently delete this item and I selected yes. It never went to the recycle bin (I think because there's a size limit to go to the bin and it's a recording so the size is large) and so it "permanently" deleted from the computer.

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I've used Recuva
Jul 10, 2017 11:47AM PDT

On badly damaged externals (file system damage) and recovered a lot of files.

Must be a new IT person. Most will have learned about Recuva after a few months.

Remember I take it you knew to stop using that external. Why? Because using it to save, edit files will overwrite the deleted file.

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Thank you!
Jul 10, 2017 11:55AM PDT

Great thanks! I haven't used the drive yet and didn't know not to. I'll wait until a different IT person is around and ask him to give me access to download Recuva! Crossing my fingers (the external drive is not damaged if that's what you were asking, it's one of those voice recording devices and I have an important recording, can't wait to try the software to see if it will work).

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IT'S AN EXTERNAL DRIVE
Jul 13, 2017 9:11AM PDT

Hook it up to some other computer and run the recovery software on it. Even if the file is encrypted, it should still find the encrypted file.

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Not recovered one i need
Jul 13, 2017 8:50AM PDT

Just wanted to follow up to say that Recuva recovered a few files (out of many) from the hardrive, but strangely not the one I was looking for, and I hadn't used the drive since deleting it on Sunday. Bummer. It only recovered very small voice files (ones that were recorded in error when I would turn it on) but all the large ones I've deleted over the past few months, including the larger file from Sunday was not recovered for some reason, except for only 1 from a couple of months ago, stating it was in bad shape because it had been recorded over. The ones that were not recorded over, including the one from Sunday, I have no idea why it would not have recovered it...

I'm thinking maybe because the small files go to the recycle bin first before I delete the bin, vs. the larger files bypass the recycle bin which has a size limitation, and once deleted, can't be recovered? Someone in IT is going to help me figure out something he doesn't know either. If anyone knows please help, as I'll have to record over on Sunday to use the device. Thanks. (and I'm impressed with Recuva btw even though it didn't recover the one I need just yet).

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Recuva has more options than most apps.
Jul 13, 2017 9:13AM PDT
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recycle vs delete
Jul 13, 2017 9:14AM PDT

That software is set to recover deleted files. You could run GParted, available as stand alone, or in most Linux LIVE DVD distros, and inside is a program called TestDisk. It's under the Device header in GParted and there it's called Recovery, but it's TestDisk. I think there's a standalone version of TestDisk you can use too. As stated already, since it's an external drive, you can do this on your home computer.

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Permanent delete
Jul 13, 2017 10:28AM PDT

Hi, my file WAS deleted. I right clicked, and selected yes when it said "are you sure you want to permanently delete this file" and instead of sending it to the recycle bin, it bypassed that and instead permanently deleted it.

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Even on that delete.
Jul 13, 2017 10:57AM PDT

IF and that's a big if, the drive was indeed not used (Windows could index and overwrite the file area) I've been able to recover with Recuva.

It's about the best free recovery tool out there. But I find folk struggle with the options like deep scan.