I recently had some issues with my PC and ended up converting one of my hard drives into a USB drive without realizing that I might lose all the files on it. I've heard that data recovery is possible, but I'm unsure if it's still feasible if I boot my computer using the ESD from that USB. Should I attempt to recover my files first, or is it safe to use the ESD-USB without doing recovery?
4 Answers
Wait, what do you mean you converted a hard drive to a USB? Was it an external hard drive? If you’re using an external drive as a USB boot drive, it’s important to clarify what was done. Just make sure you don’t write any new data to the drive before recovering your files.
Yeah, I guess they meant they formatted it for booting? That can definitely complicate recovery.
It's really important to be cautious when dealing with file recovery. If you're not sure about recovering data, the safest bet is to create an image of the drive before making any changes. Sometimes, the more you try to recover files, the more you risk losing them permanently. If the data is really important, consider sending the drive to a professional who specializes in data recovery. They can often salvage what's left without causing additional damage.
Yeah, I've heard that professionals can significantly increase your chances of recovery without risking further loss.
Creating an image is a smart move; just make sure you have enough space to store it!
I'm a bit lost here; could you clarify what you did? It sounds like you’re using an external hard drive that you turned into an ESD-USB, but I'm not following the process. What exactly happened to the files?
You've got a good point; the sooner you try to recover the files, the better the chances. Don’t wait too long before trying recovery steps!
Exactly! If they formatted it for ESD, it could overwrite files and make recovery tougher.