How to Recover Files from Formatted Hard Drive in Windows 11

Updated on Jun 14, 2024 | by Edwards

Quick Navigation:

Method 1: Restore files from Formatted Hard Drive in Windows 11 with software
Method 2. Unformat Hard Drive in Windows 11 by Perform System Restore
Method 3. Recover files from formatted hard drive on Windows 11 using File History
Method 4: How to Recover Data from Formatted Hard Disk in Windows 11 Using CMD
FAQ:
Is it possible to recover deleted files from a formatted hard drive?
Can I recover a file that has been lost for more than a month?
How can I recover my lost data from my hard drive?
Is it possible to retrieve all the lost files from a formatted hard drive?

Don't panic if you've formatted a hard drive in Windows 11 and lost your files! There are viable solutions to recover data from a formatted hard drive on your Windows 11 PC. In this article, we'll provide a step-by-step guide on how to retrieve your lost files and unformat your hard disk. Let's get started!

Method 1: Restore files from Formatted Hard Drive in Windows 11 with software

If you somehow have a formatted hard disk and want to get back the erased files, you can do it using Windows 11 unformatted hard drive software like Deep Data Recovery. It's a professional recovery tool and can help you find more than a thousand file formats (videos, pictures, audio files, documents, emails).

You can retrieve files from external hard drive local HDD/SSD, USB flash drive, memory card, digital camera, etc., using this tool. The format recovery software is not only compatible with Windows 11 but also with other older Windows versions.

Here are the steps of how you can recover files from formatted hard disk in Windows 11 with the unformatted software:

Download the formatted disk recovery software in Windows 11

To get started with recovering your files from the formatted hard disk, click the Download button to get the trial version of the file recovery software installed on your computer. This software is fully compatible with Windows 11 and is designed to help you recover your files efficiently.

Select the hard drive to scan

To begin the file recovery process, you need to select the formatted hard drive from the list of available drives in the software. Once you've chosen the correct drive, click the "Scan" button to initiate the scanning process. This will allow the software to start searching for the erased data on the formatted hard drive.

Preview the found files one by one

After the scanning process is complete, the software will display a window with a directory (left panel) and a file information panel (right panel). In the left panel, you can navigate through the directory structure to find the location of the recoverable files. The right panel will display the details of each file, including its name, size, and type.

recover files from formatted hard drive windows 11

Recover data from formatted hard disk in Windows 11

To recover the files, locate the desired files in the directory and select them. Once you've selected the files you want to recover, click the "Recover" button. The software will then save the selected files to a safe location on your computer. Make sure to choose a location that is not on the same hard drive as the original files to avoid any further data loss.

Method 2. Unformat Hard Drive in Windows 11 by Perform System Restore

To use System Restore, follow these steps:

Open your Windows 11 and press two keys together (Windows + R). You can click on the Windows menu and go to the run search bar.
In the "search bar", type "rstrui.exe" and hit enter. It will lead you to the system restore window.
Choose a restore point from where you want to start restoring and then click on the "Next".
Then hit the scan button to look for deleted files.
The system will look at whether the drive is safe or not, and then you can simply click on the next.
Once the system restore process is complete, you can save any formatted files on your hard drive or transfer them to an external disk. This will ensure that you have a backup of your important files and can recover them if needed.

Method 3. Recover files from formatted hard drive on Windows 11 using File History

To prevent the loss of important files, it's essential to create a backup of your files. This way, you can recover them even if you've formatted your hard drive. You can use the Windows Backup feature to create a backup of your files, which will allow you to restore them if needed.

Here is how you can do it:

Open the "control panel" on your Windows 11.
Choose Update & Security.
From there, click on the "Restore your files with File History" option below the "File History".
Select the files you want to get from the current backup.
Once you have selected the files you want to retrieve from the current backup, click on the "Restore" button to begin the restoration process. The files will be saved to their original location, so you can access them as needed.
In addition to restoring your files to their original location, you can also choose to save them in a different location or transfer them to an external disk. This can be a useful option if you want to keep a copy of your files in a separate place, or if you need to free up space on your computer.

Method 4: How to Recover Data from Formatted Hard Disk in Windows 11 Using CMD

This last option is a bit tricky one but one of the most effective ways to recover deleted files from hard drive. Using prompt commands, you can easily restore a formatted hard disk in Windows 11.

Let's take a look at the instructions:

Open your laptop and then click on the Windows menu.
Go to the search bar and type Command Prompt.
Once the application shows up, double click on it or right-click > Run As Administrator.
Command prompt window will open up, there you need to write (chkdsk C: /f) and then hit enter.

You can recover a formatted hard disk by running the `chkdsk` command in the Command Prompt as an administrator. Here's how to do it:

The system will automatically check for the deleted files.
To save your files after recovering a formatted hard disk, you can use the `ATTRIB` command in the Command Prompt as an administrator. Here's how to do it:
That's it. Close the command window and enjoy using your deleted files.

Recover permanently deleted files in Windows 11 can be very problematic. It's better to have a backup of your files. Sometimes a hard disk gets broken, and then you have to format it or replace it. But before you do that, make sure to keep a backup of all your files. You can also move your files to another hard drive or an SD card.

FAQ:

Is it possible to recover deleted files from a formatted hard drive?

A: Yes! You can easily get your lost photos, video, and other files from a formatted hard drive with the above-mentioned ways. However, the best option should be using Deep Data Recovery to restore data from a formatted hard drive in Windows 11.

Download and install the data recovery software for Windows 11.
To recover specific file types from a formatted hard drive, follow these steps:
Select the formatted hard drive and click "Scan" to let the software scan for recoverable files.
Select needed files and click "Recover" to save them on your computer.

Can I recover a file that has been lost for more than a month?

The sooner you initiate the data recovery process, the higher the chances of successfully recovering your lost files. When you delete files, they don't disappear immediately. The deleted files are still present on the hard drive until they're overwritten by new data.

How can I recover my lost data from my hard drive?

If you're using Windows 11, you can easily recover your lost files using the Windows 11 unformat hard drive software - Deep Data Recovery. This software is designed to recover lost files from formatted hard drives, deleted files, and corrupted hard drives.

Is it possible to retrieve all the lost files from a formatted hard drive?

The answer to that is yes and no. When you're trying to recover deleted data, all the data has to be present in your hard drive somewhere to recover it. However, full recovery depends on the file's size and the time of its deletion. If you're unable to undelete your lost data, chances are they've been overwritten by other files already.

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