How to restore permanently deleted files in Windows 10?

I. Permanently deleted in Windows 10

Data loss can be a frustrating experience, especially when files are permanently deleted in Windows 10. However, there are several methods and tools that can potentially help you recover those precious files.

II. File Deletion in Windows 10

When you delete a file in Windows 10. it doesn’t immediately disappear from your storage device. Instead, the file system marks the space occupied by the file as available for reuse. The file’s entry in the file allocation table or the master file table (MFT) is removed or updated to indicate that the file is no longer supposed to be accessible.

In a normal deletion process, the data of the file remains on the disk until it is overwritten by new data. This gives us a window of opportunity to recover the file before it is truly gone.

III. Using the Recycle Bin (if available)

The Recycle Bin is the first place to look when you realize you’ve deleted a file. When you delete a file, it usually goes to the Recycle Bin, which acts as a temporary holding area.

To restore a file from the Recycle Bin:

Double – click the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop. This will open the Recycle Bin window.

Locate the file you want to restore. You can use the search bar in the Recycle Bin window if you have a large number of files.

Right – click on the file and select “Restore”. The file will be moved back to its original location.

However, if you have emptied the Recycle Bin or used the “Shift + Delete” combination to permanently delete a file, the file will not be in the Recycle Bin, and you’ll need to use other methods.

IV. Using File History (if enabled)

File History is a backup feature in Windows 10 that can be used to restore previous versions of files. It creates backups of your files at regular intervals and stores them on an external drive or a network location.

To check if File History is enabled and restore a file:

Open the “Control Panel” and navigate to “System and Security” > “File History”.

If File History is turned on, you can click on the “Restore personal files” button on the left – side panel.

A window will open showing the available backups. You can browse through the different versions of your files and select the one you want to restore.

After selecting the file version, click the “Restore” button, and the file will be restored to its original location.

It’s important to note that File History needs to be set up and configured in advance. If you haven’t enabled it before deleting the file, it won’t be of much help in this particular situation.

V. Using System Restore

System Restore is a Windows feature that allows you to restore your computer’s system files and settings to an earlier point in time. While it’s not designed specifically for file recovery, it can sometimes help if the file deletion was related to a system change or update.

To use System Restore:

Type “System Restore” in the Windows search bar and open the “Create a restore point” option.

In the System Protection tab, click on “System Restore”.

Follow the on – screen instructions to select a restore point. Choose a point in time before the file was deleted.

Click “Next” and then “Finish” to start the restoration process. Your computer will restart, and after the process is complete, the system will be restored to the selected point.

However, System Restore doesn’t guarantee that the specific file you want to recover will be restored. It mainly focuses on system – related changes and may not always affect user – created files as expected.

VI. Third – Party Data Recovery Software

Panda Assistant is a versatile and user-friendly software designed to help users recover lost, deleted, or corrupted data from various storage devices, including hard drives, USB drives, memory cards, and more. With its intuitive interface, Panda Assistant simplifies the complex process of data recovery, making it accessible even for users with little technical expertise. It supports a wide range of file types, from documents and photos to videos and system files, ensuring a comprehensive recovery solution.

One of the standout features of Panda Assistant is its ability to perform deep scans, which allow it to locate files that are not easily recoverable through basic methods. The software can recover data from accidentally deleted files, formatted partitions, or corrupted storage media, offering a robust solution for those facing data loss. Panda Assistant also provides options for users to preview files before recovery, ensuring that only the desired files are restored.

Additionally, Panda Assistant offers features for file repair, including the ability to fix damaged photos and videos, which is especially helpful in cases of media corruption. Whether you’re trying to retrieve important documents, memorable photos, or vital system files, Panda Assistant provides an efficient and reliable tool for securing your data and restoring it with ease.

VII. Command – Line Tools for Data Recovery

Windows 10 provides some command – line tools that can be used for data recovery in certain situations. One such tool is the “chkdsk” command.

The “chkdsk” command is mainly used to check and repair file system errors. However, in some cases, it can also help in recovering data. Here’s how it works:

Open the Command Prompt as an administrator. You can do this by right – clicking on the “Start” button and selecting “Command Prompt (Admin)”.

Type “chkdsk [drive letter]: /f” (replace [drive letter] with the actual drive letter of the storage device you want to check). The “/f” parameter tells chkdsk to fix any errors it finds.

Press Enter. Chkdsk will start scanning the drive and may be able to repair file system issues that could potentially lead to the recovery of some data.

Another command – line tool is “testdisk”. Testdisk is a more advanced data recovery tool that can recover lost partitions and files.

Download and install testdisk. It’s available as a free utility.

Open the Command Prompt and navigate to the folder where testdisk is installed.

Type “testdisk” and press Enter. The tool will start and guide you through a series of steps to recover lost partitions and files.

These command – line tools require some technical knowledge and should be used with caution. Incorrect use of these commands can potentially lead to further data loss.

VIII. Precautions and Best Practices to Avoid Data Loss

Regularly back up your files. You can use external hard drives, cloud storage services like OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox to create backups of your important files. This way, even if you accidentally delete a file, you can easily restore it from the backup.

Be careful when using the “Shift + Delete” combination. This permanently deletes a file without sending it to the Recycle Bin. Make sure you really want to delete the file before using this shortcut.

Keep your system and software updated. Sometimes, software bugs or system glitches can lead to file deletion. Updating your system can help prevent such issues.