In December 2016, my Samsung laptop was given to a computer technician to repair a broken screen. Without asking me, he formatted the entire laptop, apparently because he wanted to use it for something else. I lost photos and videos from roughly 2013 through 2016, including a lot of important childhood memories.
I used the laptop again from January 2017 until around July 2018, then stopped using it. The laptop is still stored at my parents' house and should have the original hard drive inside. I realize that nearly two years of use after the format probably overwrote much of the old data, but is there any realistic chance of recovering at least some photos or videos?
I would like to preserve anything currently on the drive before attempting recovery. Should I create a complete copy of the drive and try recovery software, or is this something I should take directly to a professional recovery service?
4 Answers
For a DIY attempt, remove the drive and connect it to another computer only for imaging. Make a sector-by-sector clone or disk image onto a separate drive with enough free space, then run recovery tools against the clone rather than the original. Tools such as Recuva with a deep scan may find remnants, but never save recovered files back onto the source drive.
The odds are unfortunately very low, especially because the laptop was used for another 18 months after the format. A quick format usually removes the file system information rather than immediately erasing every sector, but installing an operating system and continuing to use the drive likely overwrote at least parts of the old files. Photos and videos are particularly vulnerable because even partial overwriting can make them unusable.
If the files are extremely valuable, stop using the laptop and contact a reputable data-recovery company first. Do not let them work on the original drive without understanding the risks. Recovery may only produce fragments or corrupted files, and the cost can be substantial, so there is no guarantee it will be worthwhile.
There is a small possibility that some older data survived, particularly if the original format was quick and certain disk areas were never reused. However, after the format, a new system installation, and nearly two years of additional use, I would expect most of the important files to be gone. Try only if you are comfortable with the possibility of finding little or nothing, and keep backups of anything currently on the drive.
Copying the current files first is better than nothing, but making a full image is safer because it preserves the drive exactly as it is. If the drive starts clicking, disconnects, or reports errors, stop immediately and use a professional service instead.