If you have lost data files from a crashed hard drive, system failure or accidental deletion, you can recover them with an easy-to-use data recovery software program. Recuva is a free, simple, yet powerful data recovery program that searches root systems and folders on your PC system or portable hard drives for lost data files and allows you to recover and save them elsewhere. Within minutes, you can retrieve important files you feared were lost for good.
Step 1
Download the Recuva software (see Resources). Follow the setup and installation instructions to install it on your computer.
Step 2
Launch Recuva. The recovery wizard will show up.
Step 3
Click "Next" then select the type of data file you want to recover. If you are not sure of the name, click the "Other - Show All Files" button, and then click "Next."
Step 4
Click "In a Specific Location," and then click "Browse" to select the location from which you want to recover your data.
Step 5
Click "Next" and then check the "Enable Deep Scan" box if you want to perform a more thorough search. This feature may take hours to trace your data files, but has a better chance of locating them.
Step 6
Click "Start" to begin the search. When it is complete, the traced files will be displayed in a new window. Check the data files you want to recover, and then click "Recover" on the lower right of your screen.
Step 7
Select the location to recover the data files to on your computer, and click "OK" to save them there.
