01-15-2012, 06:54 PM
(This post was last modified: 01-15-2012, 06:59 PM by AceInfinity.)
You can use a program called Recuva, which is great, but if you've lost your file for quite some time, and you've been USING your computer over that period of time, the longer you let that go, the chances of getting that file back become less and less.
Data from deleted files still exists on your computer, but as time goes on that data gets replaced by newer data from newly created files and information as you use your computer. So really when you go to your hard drive properties, that information is fake, it's more of pseudo-statistical information because they know that you'll never be needing that information right away to occupy it, that hidden data in the background doesn't exist because it can become replaced at any time. Programs that recover permanently "deleted" files out there take that data and in essence recompile it's information into something usable based on the instructions given.
Edit: Re-installed? Ouch, the truth here is going to come difficult to you. Chances of recovering that file are almost nothing. The majority of that data is probably long gone, and what's left of it from the reformat (i'm assuming you reformatted) are probably very minimal.
Data from deleted files still exists on your computer, but as time goes on that data gets replaced by newer data from newly created files and information as you use your computer. So really when you go to your hard drive properties, that information is fake, it's more of pseudo-statistical information because they know that you'll never be needing that information right away to occupy it, that hidden data in the background doesn't exist because it can become replaced at any time. Programs that recover permanently "deleted" files out there take that data and in essence recompile it's information into something usable based on the instructions given.
Edit: Re-installed? Ouch, the truth here is going to come difficult to you. Chances of recovering that file are almost nothing. The majority of that data is probably long gone, and what's left of it from the reformat (i'm assuming you reformatted) are probably very minimal.