Recover & restore deleted files with recuva​

Fortunately, there are various data recovery tools available to help us retrieve lost or deleted files. Recuva is one such tool that stands out due to its user-friendly interface, effectiveness, and wide range of features.

Recuva, developed by Piriform, the creators of the popular CCleaner utility, is a powerful file recovery software. It is capable of recovering files that have been deleted from your computer, memory cards, external drives, and even USB flash drives. Recuva works by scanning your storage devices for remnants of files that were once deleted but not yet overwritten by new data.

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Whether you’ve lost a Word document, photos, videos, or any other important file, Recuva is designed to help you recover these files with minimal effort and time. This guide will walk you through the process of recovering and restoring deleted files using Recuva, covering everything from installation to advanced recovery techniques.

Part 1: Installing Recuva

Before you begin the recovery process, you need to install Recuva on your system. The installation process is simple and quick.

Step 1: Download Recuva

Visit the official Recuva website: 

Click on the Download button to get the free version of Recuva. If you need more advanced features, consider purchasing the Professional version.

Choose the version that matches your operating system (Windows 10. Windows 8. Windows 7. etc.).

Step 2: Install Recuva

Once the installer is downloaded, open the installation file.

Follow the on-screen instructions to install Recuva. The installation wizard will guide you through the process.

During installation, you may be asked whether to install additional tools like the CCleaner toolbar. It’s recommended to opt out of installing unnecessary tools to keep your system clean.

After installation, launch Recuva by clicking on the shortcut created on your desktop or by searching for it in the Start menu.

Part 2: Understanding Recuva’s Features

Before diving into the recovery process, it’s important to understand the key features that Recuva offers:

File Recovery Modes: Recuva offers a variety of recovery modes, including a Wizard Mode for beginners and Advanced Mode for experienced users.

Deep Scan: Recuva has a deep scan option that scans your drive sector by sector, which can help recover files that are harder to find.

Preview Files: You can preview files before recovery to ensure they are the ones you want to restore.

File Types: Recuva can recover a wide range of file types, including documents, images, videos, emails, and more.

Secure Deletion: If you wish to permanently erase files beyond recovery, Recuva offers a secure deletion option.

Part 3: Using Recuva to Recover Deleted Files

Now that Recuva is installed and you’re familiar with its features, it’s time to start the recovery process. We will guide you step by step through the process of recovering deleted files.

Step 1: Launch Recuva

Open Recuva by double-clicking the desktop shortcut or searching for it in the Start menu.

Step 2: Choose the Recovery Mode

Upon launching Recuva, you’ll be presented with two main options:

Wizard Mode: This is a simplified, user-friendly mode that walks you through the recovery process. Ideal for beginners.

Advanced Mode: Provides additional options and settings for more experienced users.

For the sake of this tutorial, we’ll focus on the Wizard Mode for ease of understanding. However, if you’re familiar with file recovery, you can switch to Advanced Mode for more granular control.

Step 3: Select the Type of File to Recover

Recuva will first prompt you to specify the type of file you want to recover. You can select from:

Pictures

Music

Documents

Videos

Emails

Other

If you’re unsure of the file type, choose Other to scan all file types. This will ensure that no potential recoverable files are missed.

Step 4: Choose the File Location

Next, Recuva will ask where your deleted files were located. You can select from:

In the Recycle Bin: This option is helpful if you accidentally emptied the Recycle Bin and want to recover files from there.

On my Media Card or External Device: Useful if the files were stored on external storage devices like USB drives or SD cards.

I’m not sure: If you don’t know where the files were stored, this option scans your entire system.

If you’re recovering files from an external device or memory card, ensure it is connected to your computer before proceeding.

Step 5: Start the Scan

After selecting the file location, click Start to begin the scanning process. Recuva will scan the selected location for deleted files. The duration of the scan depends on the size of the drive and the type of scan chosen (normal vs. deep scan). A normal scan is faster but less thorough, while a deep scan takes longer but offers more comprehensive results.

Step 6: Review the Scan Results

Once the scan is complete, Recuva will display a list of recoverable files. Files are usually color-coded to indicate their chances of successful recovery:

Green: Files that are most likely recoverable.

Yellow: Files that are possibly recoverable, but may be partially overwritten.

Red: Files that are highly unlikely to be recovered.

You can preview certain types of files (like images or documents) by selecting them and clicking the Preview button.

Step 7: Select Files for Recovery

Scroll through the list of recoverable files and select the ones you want to restore. You can select multiple files at once by holding down the Ctrl key while clicking.

Step 8: Recover the Files

After selecting the files, click Recover. You’ll be asked to choose a location to save the recovered files. It’s important to choose a different location than the one you’re recovering files from to avoid overwriting any data.

Part 4: Advanced Recovery Options

For users who are familiar with the recovery process and need more control, Recuva offers several advanced features:

Deep Scan

If you couldn’t find your deleted files with a regular scan, try the Deep Scan option. This option scans the entire storage device at a low level, which can uncover files that might not have been detected in a standard scan. However, a deep scan can take longer, depending on the size of your drive.

To use the deep scan, select the Enable Deep Scan checkbox during the initial scanning phase, and click Start. It’s worth noting that this scan might take several hours, especially for larger storage devices.

Search by Filename or File Type

If you know the name of the deleted file or its file extension, you can use Recuva’s Search functionality. This allows you to narrow down the results and find the specific file you’re looking for more efficiently.

Secure Overwrite

If you want to permanently erase files from your storage device, Recuva also provides a secure overwrite feature. This is useful when you need to ensure that sensitive files cannot be recovered by anyone else.

To securely overwrite files, select the files and click Erase. You can choose the overwrite method based on how many times you want the data to be overwritten.

Part 5: Tips for Successful Data Recovery

Stop Using the Affected Device: When you realize that files are deleted, avoid using the device until the recovery process is complete. The more you use the device, the greater the risk of overwriting the deleted files.

Save Files to a Different Drive: Always save the recovered files to a different drive than the one they were recovered from. This helps prevent data from being overwritten.

Check the File’s Integrity: Not all recovered files are guaranteed to be intact. Always check the integrity of the files after recovery, especially if they are important.

Use Recuva Regularly: Consider using Recuva periodically to create backups of your files or to recover deleted files before they are permanently overwritten.

Recuva is a powerful and versatile tool for recovering deleted files from your computer, external drives, memory cards, and more. With its user-friendly interface and a range of features, it makes data recovery accessible to both beginners and advanced users. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you should be able to recover your deleted files with minimal effort.

While Recuva is an excellent tool for file recovery, remember that success rates can vary depending on the situation. Files that have been overwritten or corrupted may not be recoverable. In any case, using Recuva gives you a fighting chance to restore important data that you thought was lost forever.