Losing files is hard, but it doesn’t have to be a disaster. Flashback in time after a format of your SD, camera, hard disk, drive and more.

No matter how hard you try to safeguard that data, you may still lose it if the luck is not on your side. You’ve lost the hard drive or the CD where you backed up all your data or the USB simply went corrupt. Whatever might be the case, losing data is inevitable and can occur at any time. They key to easy access to file recovery lies in making multiple copies of your data and storing it in various places. The following tips will help in ensuring that the file recovery process does not become a hassle for you:

Windows XP, 7,8,10 and OSX, Android and iPhone

1. Build your recovery toolkit:

If something goes wrong with your PC, the recovery tools will help in retrieving the data that has been lost in the process. Be proactive; download a free version like Help! data recovery freeware before disaster strikes.. and even better, set it up on a bootable CD so you won’t have any additional stress points or delay. Review and test.

2. Install to USB flash drive

No more worrying about losing data on any of the drives on your PC as you can always save the most important files on a flash drive.

3. File deletion

Even if you have deleted the file and have emptied the recycle bin, there still remains a chance of it being recovered if it has not been shredded with an advance deletion tool. This is because the file is not actually deleted. Instead, the first few bytes are altered a bit in order to provide space for rewriting. The remaining file is intact and can be restored with the help of advanced software.

4. Pick the right search

If you think that the lost data might be hard to find, pick the right search while using the recovery program app wizard. Careful searches may result in recovering the most difficult of files.

5. Deep searches:

Deep searches allow looking for files that otherwise do not become detectable. The file recovery tools offer a slow but thorough search of all the files which is actually quite useful.

6. Data recovery outside Windows

Be careful, virus can wipe you out quickly. Keep your data recovery tools in a USB flash drive as this will result in searching the data outside your windows. Doing this will keep you from panicking when your PC flashes “Cannot boot into Windows”.

7. Recover lost file from CDs/DVDs and Recycle Bin

Sometimes the CDs or DVDs become unreadable because of unknown reasons. This is the time when data recovery tools will come into action and help in reading that data that the hard disk is trying to hide (like that pesky recycle bin).

8. Recover images from memory cards desktop

As long as the card is visible to windows, be sure that the tools will help in recovering all kinds of photos and documents from a corrupt card. So, your memory card cannot betray you anymore.

9. Recover corrupt files

Even after you recover lost file or corrupt file, there’s a chance that it might be damaged. Recovery tools can help in restoring such files in the best possible condition.

10. Be prepared to pay

If nothing works, then be ready to spend a considerable amount if the data is of utmost importance.

File recovery can prove to be a tedious job but if one knows how to employ the right tools and recovery software, one can become lucky enough to never lose any data.