Jean updated on Jul 03, 2019 to Format Recovery | How-to Articles
Low-level formatting indeed erases all existing data on storage devices. However, some people hope to find a possible way to restore data from a low-level format. If you are looking for a low-level format recovery solution, EaseUS with its data recovery software will give you a chance.
"I've reformatted my hard drive and reinstalled Windows but nothing else. I've looked at several hard drive recovery options and many say they can recover data after reformatting but the reformat I did was a low-level reformat, not the quick format. Is it technically possible to recover files after a low-level reformat?"
Most people know that formatting can help them clean up hard drive and storage devices at once without extra operations. However, most of them don't know formatting includes two different levels - high-level and low-level.
Normally, Windows Explorer right-clicking formatting, Disk Management format volume and even CMD: format fs =ntfs or format fs =fat32 are all the high-levels. The lost data after high-level formatting can be restored by using professional data recovery software.
As for the low-level, it needs to be executed by using third-party low-level format tools such as HDD Low-Level Format, Iformat command in DOS or format tools provides by its manufacturers such as Seagate and WD. Can you recover data after performing such an operation on your device? Read on to find the answer.
Looking into the possibility of low-level format recovery, it's highly important to understand its working principle. It's said to totally wipe and reset drives by leaving it with empty platters. Technically speaking, it destroys the data structure which makes data restoration impossible. So is there a tiny chance of restoring data from this level formatting?
The answer to "can you recover data after low-level format" depends on how you proceed with the formatting process. As the low-level formatting process lasts a very long period, you may still have a chance of data recovery from the below situations:
Normal users, who are staying with any one of the above-listed cases, can take a breath from the low-level format with the right methods of low-level format recovery. Check the provided methods below for data recovery:
When the formatting process of low level gets interrupted, halted or the data sectors didn't get fully wiped out, you can definitely apply professional format recovery software for help.
EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, being featured with quick scan and deep scan functions, can deeply search all formatted data on every sector. It's renowned in retrieving data after performing a quick format in Windows file explorer as well as a thorough format in Windows Disk Management. Although it's not 100% guaranteed, however, it's a worth shot to recover data after format.
Your Reliable Choice - EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard
Personal users, vital companies or organizations who are not urgent can also afford great money on some special tools or local data recovery service providers for help. But the success rate of data recovery cannot be guaranteed.
Comparing to find a reliable method for restoring data after all levels of formatting, what matters more is to find a reliable way to protect your data from formatting. EaseUS software has offered a complete plan for you to apply and protect data.
Normally, having a backup of essential data saved on an external hard drive or even Cloud will perfectly prevent data loss from formatting, deletion, and other issues. You can either choose to copy files or create a full backup of all files on your storage devices at once with the help of professional file backup software.
Here we'd like to recommend you to try EaseUS Todo Backup. It enables to you selectively back up files, a whole disk partition, and even Windows system within only 3 simple steps:
Step 1: Launch EaseUS Todo Backup software and then choose "File Backup", "Disk/partition Backup" or "System Backup" for different backup purpose.
Step 2: Choose the system, disk partition, files that you want to back up. Then select a destination where you want to store the backup file.
Step 3: Click "Proceed" to start the data backup process.
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Frequently Asked Questions
It is recommended to check the version installed is Free or Trial because they are different versions.
Trial has data preview function but cannot save any files, while the Free version enables to recover 2 GB files. The default free space is 500 MB and you may share the product on social media to get another 1.5 GB.
A file is saved as 2 parts on the storage device: directory info (which is comprised by file name, time stamp and size info, etc.) and data content.
If the files with original file names and folder structures cannot be opened, one possible reason is the corrupted directory info. There is still a chance to recover the data content with the RAW Recovery method in our software.
The storage structure of the lost files would be altered or damaged by any changes on the drive. If you save the recovered files back to the same drive, the original data structures and data content would be corrupted or overwritten, which causes permanent data loss. So you should prepare another disk to save the files.
The Free version helps you save 2GB files to better verify the recovery quality of our product before purchase.
It strongly depends on the capacity of your hard drive and the performance of your computer. As reference,most drive recoveries can be completed in around 10 to 12 hours for a 1-TB healthy hard drive in general conditions.
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