Accidentally formatting a hard drive can be a nightmare—especially if it holds valuable files, family photos, or important work documents. Fortunately, in most cases, the data is not lost forever. When you format a hard drive, the operating system reconfigures the file system and marks the space as free for new data, but the original files often remain beneath the surface until they’re overwritten.
In this article, we’ll explore how to recover a formatted hard drive—and most importantly, how to do it without spending a cent. We'll also cover critical precautions like avoiding data overwriting and offer tips for preventing future data loss. This guide is useful for both tech professionals and everyday users with no previous experience.
Method 1: Use Partition Recovery Software (EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard)
EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is a reliable program that recovers deleted or lost partitions on Windows systems. Whether due to accidental deletion, lost partitions, formatting, or system failure, this software offers a dependable way to recover data effortlessly. Its intuitive interface and powerful scan algorithms make the process simple, even for average users. Recovery can be performed from a wide range of storage devices such as HDDs, SSDs, USB drives, SD cards, and even a crashed computer, making it a comprehensive solution for any data loss issue.
Main Features
- Free data recovery up to 2 GB with support for all file types including photos, videos, documents, and emails.
- Recover lost data due to formatting, accidental deletion, OS crashes, virus attacks, etc.
- Supports various storage devices including HDDs, SSDs, USB drives, memory cards, and digital cameras.
- Provides quick and deep scan modes for detailed search and file recovery.
- Preview files before recovery to ensure accuracy and integrity.
- Filtering options to locate files by type, date, or name easily.
Steps to Recover a Formatted Hard Drive
Step 1: Launch the software and select the drive
Download and install EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard on your computer. Open the software and select the location where the deleted files were stored. Click the "Search for lost data" button to continue.
Step 2: Scan and filter your results
EaseUS will run a quick scan followed by a deep scan. Once completed, sort results by type, size, or date using the "Filter" at the top. You can also use the search box in the top right corner to search directly by file name.
Step 3: Preview and recover your files
Click on a file to preview its content and ensure it’s the one you need. After selecting your files, click the "Recover" button. Choose a different location or drive to save the recovered files to avoid overwriting data in the same location.
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