Accidentally deleted a folder of files using del command prompt [closed]

Question

Possible Duplicates:
Best undelete tool for NTFS/FAT?
How do I recover lost/inacessible data from my storage device?

I accidentally deleted a folder using del command from the Windows XP command-prompt. I am trying various tools with very little success to recover the files. They are all text based files. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Answer 1

GetDataBack has been my go-to tool for recovering files, though it costs. PC Inspector has a free tool that should work well enough so long as you have not used the system much since the delete.

Answer 2

Priform Recuva is my choice for recoving files. It's free and works quite well.

Answer 3

have you tried photorec? if the recovery doesn't work for you, could you have an encryted hard drive?

Answer 4

you must be warned that if you install or simply use your OS the deleted file can be overwritten!

when a file is deleted from the system its address is erased, but the data continues there as "garbage" until the system wants that space (a new file, an existing file that got bigger, defrag, swap, browser cache files...). in that case, garbage data is overwritten with another one and so it is almost impossible to recover that.

so:

1. if you have 2 or more partitions in your HD try 2, else try 3

2. if you deleted the file from the same partition that your Windows is installed, stop using Windows now and try 3 (do not use that Windows until you solve that problem, or you file can be lost FOREVER), else try 6

3. connect your HD as slave in another computer with Windows installed and use a program installed not in your HD. if you cannot do that, try 4

4. use a recover pendrive or a recover CD/DVD or a live OS from pendrive/CD/DVD to recover the data. if you cannot do that, try 5

5. install an OS in another partition (not in partition that your file was), but I do not recomend that (so complicated...). if it does not solve try 7

6. install a recover software in a different partition that your file was and recover it. if it does not solve try 7

7. pray. wait some time and think. pehaps you have previously backed up that file or there is its temporary copy in %temp% folder. i hope you will recover that file :)