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Resolved Question

Please help me save files lost in Recycle Bin!

Nov 10, 2013 11:33AM PST

I am sorry to interrupt your guys here! I really need your help!
I am wondering whether there is a way for me to regain my files lost in my computer Recycle Bin. I should have not emptied it. Do you have any idea?
Thanks in advance for any help!

Discussion is locked

Aldrich0039 has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

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Google a data recovery program
Nov 13, 2013 10:17AM PST

Firstly, stop using this computer drive immediately in case that any new file would overwrite your original ones and make them gone permanently. Take care!

Secondly, download a proper file recovery program to retrieve all your deleted files back successfully. Just "Google" something like "deleted file recovery" or "restore deleted file".

I have done this in the past for a friend and found that there were many similar data recovery programs. But, not all of them could work as efficiently as we think. So, we just directly tried some data recovery freeware to take chances, such as Recuva, Power Data Recovery, iCare Data Recovery Free and more.

Fortunately, these data recovery freeware worked very well and finally restored all the wanted data of my friend.

So, I just think they will also work well on your computer. You can also give them a shot!

Thirdly, save and back up all the restored data on a different memory card or drive in case of data recovery failure.

Note: Never forget to back up everything important at least on two memory cards or locations in the future.
Good luck!

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Thanks a million! Have a nice day!
Nov 17, 2013 10:25AM PST

Thank you for your instruction.
In fact, when I Google how to recover these lost files after emptying my recycle bin. I read a lot of threads and articles that have advised a good data recovery program should applied in my case. So, I straightly followed your tips and tried the listed data recovery freeware. All of them seems to be great and efficient, especially the last one that has almost 90% of my files back.
Thanks a million! Have a nice day!

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Answer
Sure.
Nov 10, 2013 11:39AM PST

Be sure to stop using this HDD. Now on another PC that has RECUVA installed, add that drive and see if you can copy them out.

If you continue to use this HDD and install apps like RECUVA you usually overwrite the file before recovery. I find this to be the test if they were really sincere about recovery.
Bob

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I second Bob on Recuva
Nov 16, 2013 1:34AM PST

Recuva is an excellent program for general file recovery. I've used it and recommended it to those who used it with great success.

However, I have a story to tell you. A friend of mine gave me this computer. It promptly needed an OS re-install. So I did that and then installed Recuva on it just to see what it could/would find, if anything. To my surprise, Recuva found all sorts of files belonging to my friend which it was able to recover in reasonable shape. So, don't worry much if you find that you can't follow Bob's directions to the 'T'. You just might be able to get at those files, anyway. But, it is true that the less you use the drive until you can recover what you need from it, the better!

Get Recuva from it's own site at https://www.piriform.com/recuva