Why
files can usually be recovered
When you delete a file, Windows only
marks the file as deleted, but doesn't actually remove it from your
system. Those files are only truly deleted (well, replaced actually) when other
data is saved to the same location on your hard drive.
If you accidentally delete files
from your system, they can usually be undeleted - even if you deleted them from
your recycle bin - as long as you attempt to recover the files shortly after
you delete them, and before Windows saves other data in those same file
locations on your hard drive.
How
to recover files that have been deleted
If you've accidentally deleted an
important file or erased a folder containing files that you later realize you
still need, chances are good that they're still on your system and can be
recovered.
The key is to use a good undelete program
like iRecover that can find files that have been
deleted. You can take your computer to a data recover specialist and pay them a
few hundred dollars to recover your data files, or you can spend less then $40
for a copy of iRecover and easily do it yourself.
I've tried a few different programs
that claim to be able to do this, but have discovered that some of them are
only able to show you what's still in your Recycle Bin (not much help if you've
emptied your Recycle Bin).
iRecover is able to recover files
that have been deleted from your Recycle Bin, and will also help you recover
data that was lost because of file system corruption, formatting, virus damage,
partition deletion, or even just plain user error.
Here's a link to download
iRecover.
Recover
files emptied from the Recycle Bin
Even if you've emptied your Recycle
Bin, iRecover may still be able to recover some of those files (if not all of
them). Here's a screenshot of iRecover that shows all of the files and folders
it was able to recover after completely clearing out my Recycle Bin:
So don't panic if you've cleared out
your Recycle Bin. Get a copy of iRecover and point it to
the Recycle Bin folder. It will tell you what it can recover, so you'll know if
it's worth paying for the licensed version.
An
ounce of prevention

I also highly recommend that you
backup your hard drive on at least a monthly basis, although weekly is even
better. If you're looking for a good backup program for your home computer, I
recommend Genie
Backup Manager which I use for my home systems.
I consider myself fortunate to have
been able to retrieve our family photos and financial documents... and my wife
is finally willing to speak to me again. However, I'm hoping to avoid this
whole scenario in the future by making regular backups to this new backup drive
(at least weekly).
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