Without meaning to, you clicked on your computer’s “format” icon and oops, all the data on the SSD hard drive disappeared. Yet this lost data is more than valuable, and you should try to recover it. Obviously, if you have the makings of a little computer genius, it would be possible. Find out how to go about data recovery. Otherwise, it’s best to entrust this delicate task to a professional.
Understanding formatting
Formatting consists of storing data via a file system on a device so it can be read by other equipment. Once the drive is formatted, files are stored on a system to be recognised later, which is why data recovery is entirely possible.
During formatting, a hard drive creates a storage space for lost files and folders. So, during the process, all previous files and structures are removed by the device. In the event of accidental formatting on a storage medium in general, and on an SSD in particular, it will no longer be possible to access the files, but this data still exists there. However, the data on a freshly formatted SSD remains invisible and unavailable for consultation until another write permanently overwrites it. In short, as long as the formatted SSD has not been used, the data is recoverable. Otherwise, given technological progress, software is now available to recover files on formatted storage devices.
A few tips for preserving your data after formatting an SSD
Recovery after formatting is a fairly difficult task, and a delicate one. The best option is to call on a professional. Failing that, follow the steps to the letter to succeed. It is necessary to take safety precautions, particularly if you wish to take on the task of recovering your files yourself.
Here are the steps to take to avoid data loss in the event of accidental formatting:
- Unmount the storage unit, especially if it is the partition on which the system is installed
- Install recovery software (Hexascan as it has technical support in France) on another computer and connect the external hard drive to it
Then, for data recovery, here are the steps to follow:
- Select all for a full recovery, or the file types to recover for a partial recovery (photos, videos, files)
- Select the accidentally formatted SSD device from the list
- Choose the partition from which the recovery will be carried out (SD card, flash memory, USB stick)
- Select “scan” to start the recovery process
- Click on recover
- List all the files and check their integrity
To recover data on an SSD, it is essential to make sure you choose a location different from the affected device to store them. In addition, the file system of the storage unit hosting the recovered files must be determined. Indeed, this data may differ depending on the platform used. This is because each platform has a compatible operating system (FAT32 or NTFS for Windows, EXT3 or EXT4 for Linux, HFS for Mac OS X). When in doubt, the best option is to use FAT32, a widely compatible system, but with a capacity of only 4 GB. After recovery, rest assured that you can use your formatted storage medium again. Otherwise, call on a professional for greater peace of mind.
Recovery on the SSD
As for the recovery itself, it is preferable to entrust it to experts. This is an option to guarantee the integrity of the recovered files. That said, the steps are as follows:
- Download recovery software
- Install the software
- Provide a safe location for file recovery
- Launch the recovery software
- Select the recovery storage medium
At the start of the process, the software carries out a scan before starting the recovery. You will recover your uncorrupted files, which will be displayed in a new window. All that remains is to select them and save them to a new storage medium.
Turning to professionals to recover data from a recently formatted drive
After formatting, whether accidental or intentional, data recovery is possible on a healthy medium. If the hard drive is damaged, it becomes more complicated to recover and retrieve your precious files. This is one of the reasons why we always recommend entrusting this difficult task to a professional for data recovery from an SSD you have accidentally formatted. As an expert in the field, they will know how to diagnose the SSD before carrying out quality treatment to recover deleted files.