Best Ways to Recover Data from Quick Formatted Computer

Quick formatting a computer is helpful in rapidly erasing file systems, preparing drives for reuse, and improving performance without completely overwriting the existing data structure. However, when you quick format a device without any backup, all its stored content including photos, videos, and documents, gets deleted. It removes the file system structure, rendering the data inaccessible but not entirely erased. The data remains on the drive until overwritten by new files. Luckily, there are several easy methods that you can try to recover data from such quick formatted computers.

This guide explores the best ways to recover data from a quick-formatted computer, with methods ranging from built-in recovery solutions to Windows data recovery software.

Quick Format Vs Full Format

Before you learn about recovery techniques, it’s important to distinguish between a quick format and a full format. A full format scans the drive for bad sectors and overwrites the data, making recovery nearly impossible without specialized equipment. Quick format, on the other hand, merely marks the file system as empty, but the actual data stays intact until overwritten by new data. It means, you can easily restore your lost or deleted files, but you need to act immediately.

Tips for Smooth Data after Quick Formatting your Computer

Here are some tips that you can consider to maximize your chances of recovering lost data after a quick format:

Stop Using the Drive Immediately: Avoid writing new data to the formatted drive. Continued usage can overwrite the old data, making recovery more difficult or impossible.
Save Recovered Data to a Different Drive: Always save recovered data to a different drive to avoid overwriting the remaining recoverable data on the formatted drive.
Act Quickly: The sooner you act with an adequate recovery process, the more likely it is that the data will be recovered easily.
Choose the Right Data Recovery Software: Opt for reliable Windows data recovery software like Stellar Data Recovery Standard, Recuva, Disk Drill, etc. These programs can recover lost files from formatted drives effectively.

How to Recover Data from Quick Formatted Computers?

Go through the recovery workarounds mentioned in this part of the blog one-by-one to get your deleted files back:

Method 01: Use Windows Data Recovery Software

There are several powerful data recovery tools available online, which are specially designed to recover files from a quick-formatted drive. Stellar Data Recovery Standard is an all-in-one recovery option which allows you to restore your files lost or deleted due to accidental deletion, formatting, virus attack, or any other reason. The software completely scans your storage drive and then displays all the recoverable files, so you can select and save the important ones to your device.

The Stellar Data Recovery Standard software is known for some amazing features, such as:

Support recovery of files of multiple types, like photos, videos, documents, emails, etc.
Can recover files deleted from any internal or external drive, including HDDs, SSDs, USB drives, and more.
It is compatible with both Windows and Mac devices.
100% safe and secure recovery option. Free from virus or malware attacks.
The software is available in multiple versions, which vary in features and prices. Check their features and select the one that best fits your requirements.

Here’s how to recover data from Quick formatted computer using Stellar Data Recovery Standard software:

Step 1: Firstly, download and install the Stellar Data Recovery Standard software on your computer. Launch the software and from the homepage, select the type of file you need to restore and click Next.

Step 2: Now, from the Recover From window, select the storage drive where the file was stored before deletion and click Scan. Wait till the scanning process is completed.

Step 3: Preview the recoverable files and choose the file(s) you want. Click Recover to save the selected file back to your device.

That’s it! Your file should now be restored and can be accessed from the desired location where you have saved it.

Method 02: Try File History/Time Machine Backups

If you use backup options like File History (Windows) or Time Machine (Mac) to backup important files on your device, you may be able to recover files from your quick-formatted drive without using third-party tools. Check out the below steps to recover your lost files using these backups:

Steps to Recover Files on Windows PC Using File History:

Launch the Control Panel and go to File History.

If you’ve set up File History earlier, select Restore personal files.

Browse through available backups and select the file you need to restore.
Click the green Restore button to save the selected file on your device.

Steps to Recover Files on Mac Using Time Machine:

Firstly, connect the external drive containing your Time Machine backup to your Mac.
Click the Time Machine icon from the menu bar at the top-right of your screen.
Use the timeline on the right or the arrows to scroll through previous backups.

Find the folder or location where your file was previously stored.
Once you locate the file, click on it and tap the Restore button to save it to its original location on your Mac.

Method 03: Try Data Recovery Services

If the aforementioned data recovery methods to recover lost data from quick formatted computers get failed, you may need to consult a data recovery service. These services can recover data even from severely damaged or formatted drives using specialized equipment and techniques.

There are multiple recovery services available, which can handle a wide range of data loss scenarios, including physical damage, logical corruption, and severe formatting issues. However, these services can be expensive, with costs ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on the severity of the problem.

Conclusion

Losing important data due to the quick formatting of your device can be distressful, but the aforementioned methods, including Windows data recovery software and manual approaches, can help you get those files back. Manual methods like checking previously created backups can help you recover lost files, but for more complex cases, Windows data recovery software like Stellar Data Recovery Standard may be necessary. Moreover, you can consider preventive measures like maintaining regular backups, installing reliable antivirus software, etc. to prevent data loss issues on your device.