Help! My Laptop Came Back from Repair with All My Files Missing

You might still have a chance if they just did a reset instead of a full wipe. Try out Recuva as soon as you can, but know that any new data saved on the laptop could overwrite what you're trying to recover—it’s a race against time!

When you send your device in for repair, always expect that it might come back without your data. Most shops tend to take the easy route and just wipe everything for a quick fix. It's really frustrating to deal with, but it’s the industry standard. Sorry you’re facing this.

It’s best practice to back up regularly, not just when something goes wrong. Make sure to do a thorough backup next time. If you had a Microsoft account, check if any of your files are saved in cloud storage; sometimes, syncing can help you retrieve lost documents.

As someone who's worked in tech for years, I always make sure to back up anything before sending it off. A fresh install typically means they won’t keep your data. If they didn't inform you about this beforehand, that's pretty messed up. Pro tip for future repairs: always check the guidelines.

If your laptop had a clean install of Windows, then unfortunately your files are likely unrecoverable. Some repair shops might just reset it, in which case you could use recovery software like Recuva to attempt recovery. It's worth a shot if they didn't wipe the drive completely. Good luck!