Jan 15, 2024 • Filed to: Recover Files • Proven solutions
Q: How can I Restore Deleted Files on my Laptop?
I have a Toshiba Win7 laptop. A few days ago I copied some files (pictures, documents, and videos) from my friend's external hard drive to my laptop. This Monday I accidentally deleted these files from my laptop and emptied the recycle bin. Is there any solution that can help me recover deleted files from the laptop hard drive?
Take it easy! Accidental deletion is one of the common situations of data loss. Your deleted files are just marked as inaccessible data on your laptop before new data overwrites them. It will be no big deal to recover deleted files from a laptop if you stop using your laptop immediately and use a proper laptop data recovery program. In the following solution, we will show you how to recover permanently deleted files from a laptop hard drive with Recoverit Data Recovery software.
The data files got permanently deleted from your laptop hard drive? Try the powerful and professional Recoverit Data Recovery software to restore all lost data. The file recovery program can deep scan your laptop recycle bin folder to search your permanently deleted files. Download and install the recovery software on your laptop, then follow the 3-step to get your data back.
Step 1. Launch Recoverit Data Recovery software on your laptop, then select the recycle bin folder and next.
Step 2. The laptop data recovery program will start scanning the disk to retrieve your permanent files back.
Step 3. After the scan, you can check all recovered data files. Preview some recovered photos, videos, audios, music, then select your files and click the "Recover" button to save them on a safe storage device.
Data loss is a very common problem, to keep your data safe you should do a data backup regularly. Even the data files got permanently deleted from any storage media, Recoverit Data Recovery software can access the device and restore all lost data on Windows or Mac computers.
Anytime you find a missing file on your computer, the first place you should check is the Trash. Files reside in the Recycle Bin before they are automatically purged or deleted permanently by the user. To recover delete files from the Recycle Bin in Windows 7, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Go to your Desktop and click the Trash can icon.
Step 2: Right-click the desired file and select Restore.
This method allows you to recover all previous document versions. It is a useful method when File History in Windows 11/10 is enabled or you have created a restore point. To perform laptop data recovery with this method, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Right-click against the file in Windows Explorer, click Properties and go to the Previous Versions Tab. You will see all the different file versions available.
Step 2: Click the desired version and click Restore.
System Restore is a Windows feature that helps you recover from a software failure. Computers crash as a result of problems such as power surges and virus attacks. Malicious file deletion is also a problem. System Restore recovers the laptop into an earlier state. For this method to work, this feature must be turned on. To find out if it is turned on, go to the Windows Search box and type "create a restore point."
To recover delete files from a laptop using this method, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Once more, type "create a restore point" in the Windows search box. You will see a System Restore option, click this, then click Next.
Step 2: A list of Restore Points is displayed together with dates and time stamps. Select your desired Restore Point, click Next, and Finish.
Windows File Recovery is a recent tool introduced to the Microsoft Store by Microsoft. The tool is a command-line utility that allows you to recover deleted files from a laptop. Being a command-line tool, it doesn't have a graphical user interface. All commands are typed syntax. Also, note that it works with Windows 11/10 version 2004 Build 19041 and onwards. It comes with three operating modes:
Install Windows File Recovery from the Microsoft Store and launch the tool. You will be presented with a command-line window. Then, follow the steps below to recover a single file from a laptop, specific file types from a single folder, a folder, and any file including a specific term.
Method 1: How to Recover a Single File from a Laptop
Below is the sample command to show you how to recover deleted videos from a laptop. The code scans the folder for MP4s and MKVs and recovers any data to the recovery folder.
winfr C: D: /n \Users\Kevin\Videos\*.MP4 \Users\Kevin\Videos\*.MKV
Method 2: How to Recover Specific File Types from a Single Folder
To recover a specific file type or multiple file types in a single folder, type the following command.
winfr C: D: /n \Users\Kevin\Videos\*.MP4 \Users\Kevin\Videos\*.MKV
Method 3: How to Recover a Folder
To recover a folder, use the following command.
winfr C: D: /n \Users\Kevin\Documents\Reports\
Method 4: How to Recover Any File Including a Specific Term
To scan for filename terms as opposed to filetypes, type the following sample command.
winfr C: D: /r /n *report*
The above searches for all files containing the word "report."
Method 5: How to Recover Specific File Signatures
The tool also recovers lost data using specific file signatures. For example, MPEG has many similar file extensions such as MP4, MPG, M4A, M4B, M4R, MOV, 3GP, and QT.
The tool also has advanced commands and syntax. You can view the full list by typing:
winfr /!
If you use a cloud backup service such as Dropbox, Google Drive, One Drive, and others, you can check if a copy of the file is on the server. Follow these steps:
Step 1: Open your browser and log into your cloud account. For example, Dropbox.com.
Step 2: Search for the missing file.
Step 3: Download the file using the browser and save it in the desired location
Where do permanently deleted files go?
When files are deleted permanently, they reside in the storage media until they are overwritten by other data.
How can I recover permanently deleted files without the software?
It is not possible to recover permanently deleted files without software. You need an advanced data recovery program such as Wondershare Recoverit.
Can you recover permanently deleted files on Google Drive?
No, you can't. Once you delete a file permanently is Google Drive, it is gone forever. However, you can contact Google within 25 days to recover the file.
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Amy Dennis
staff Editor