How to recover your lost files

You have deleted some old files and now you need them back.
Or, you disconnected your thumb drive by pulling it out of the machine without bothering with that “Safely Remove” thingy, and now your machine cannot “see” the thumb drive at all– it’s dead.

Your files are gone and you need them back.. what a nightmare! How do you get them back?

I cannot count the number of times I have advised my readers to make regular backup copies of their files (in fact, Automate your backup and get some peace of mind was one of the very first articles I wrote). Having copies of your files on some place other than your hard drive (such as a CD/DVD) is the surest way to make sure that some unfortunate mouse click, mechanical failure, or glitch doesn’t permanently rob you of important documents, irreplaceable photographs, or costly music downloads. (There. I’ve nagged you again. Now, will you please run a Backup program and burn some discs?)

But you don’t have backup copies of these files… you didn’t think you’d ever need them.. but now you do. OK.
As I mentioned in Delete does not erase your data–preventing recovery, if the reason you no longer have access to the file you want is because you emptied your Recycle Bin (Trash) or right-clicked+delete, you may recover your file with an undelete tool.. just so long as too much time has not elapsed.
* It is a very good idea to install an undelete tool on your computer before you need it. If you haven’t done so and you don’t already have an undelete tool installed, use an online scanner/recovery tool such as Softperfect File Recovery to try to effect your recovery.

Other reasons for missing (“inaccessible”) files are varied and numerous.. and I could fill a book book with detailed steps for each variant. (If you’ve had to reformat your hard drive, for example {try an “unformat” tool}. Data recovery is a large– and costly –business.) Fortunately, I don’t have to write it, it’s already been written.

Tip of the day+Today’s free link: Visit and bookmark the following Webpage.
PC World Magazine and MSN Tech have teamed up to bring us Kirk Steers’ How To Recover Almost Anything, a three page primer on data recovery steps, and advice for which tools to use.
This information is first place to look when you run into a file recovery situation.. having it bookmarked ahead of time is a good idea, because timeliness is a factor in your success or failure.

*** Disclaimer: you may have noticed that I used the words “may” and “can try”; this is because recovering damaged/corrupted, deleted, or “lost” files is as much luck as it is science. Certain things improve your chances of success.. but the only sure method is making copies of your stuff, and keeping them somewhere else.. like in a safe-deposit box.

* Bonus free link of the day: Folks, my friend and fellow Internationally Renown Tech Blogger, Bill Mullins, has posted what I consider to be a very important article regarding the current state of security on the Internet. You, your loved ones, and your friends should (IMHO) take a look at Script Kiddie Bonaza–Do-It-Yourself Phishing Kits

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