Formatted & Wiped Drives: data recovery
Formatted the wrong drive, reinstalled Windows over your files or accepted a “format this disk” prompt? Quick formats are usually recoverable.
Quick versus full format
A quick format replaces the file table but leaves the data in place. A full format or a secure erase overwrites it. Reinstalling Windows overwrites part of the drive, so the sooner you stop, the more we can recover.
Common questions
I clicked Format when Windows asked. Is it gone?
Usually not, if it was a quick format. Stop using the drive.
Can you recover after a factory reset?
On many modern devices a reset erases encryption keys, so recovery is often impossible. We will advise honestly.
How long does a recovery take?
Straightforward cases take a few days; clean-room and RAID work can take longer.
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