Losing important photos or documents is stressful. Whether you’ve deleted something by mistake or a drive has stopped working, the first few steps you take can make a big difference to whether those files can be recovered.
First, check the obvious places
- Look in the Recycle Bin (or Bin on a Mac) and restore the file if it’s there.
- Check any cloud storage you use, such as OneDrive, Google Drive, iCloud or Dropbox. Many have their own deleted-files folder.
- Search your computer for the file name, in case it was simply saved somewhere unexpected.
What NOT to do
- Don’t keep using the drive. When a file is deleted, the space it used can be overwritten by new data. Every file you save or program you install reduces the chance of recovery.
- Don’t install recovery software onto the same drive you’re trying to recover from, for the same reason.
- Don’t keep powering on a drive that’s clicking, grinding or not recognised. A physically failing drive can get worse each time it’s used.
- Don’t open up the drive or try home remedies you’ve read about online. They usually do more harm than good.
- Don’t run repair tools on a failing drive before your data is safe, as they can make recovery harder.
What to do instead
Switch off or safely remove the affected drive, write down what happened (what you were doing, any error messages, any noises), and get advice before trying anything else. The less the drive has been used since the problem, the better the chances.
Stop it happening again
The best protection is a backup you don’t have to think about. A simple approach is to keep important files in at least two places, for example on your computer and on an external drive or in cloud storage, and check now and then that your backups are actually working.
Need a hand?
If you’d rather leave it to us, Knight Computer Services can help with data recovery and backup set-up at your home or business across Norwich and the surrounding areas. Call or text 07708 543665, email info@knightcomputers.co.uk or send us a message.
