I need to recover my business files from my formatted drive accidentally. I know I am stupid. I am using Windows XP. It is a Toshiba 500GB external hard drive.

Is there anyone that can help me to restore my files back? The inner files are really important to me. Help, please!

Have you get back your data?

Actually, data on a hard drive is only erased permanently when the status of the bits are changed. The formatting doesnt do that. It is just the space used to save these files that is marked as free space for the new data. Thats to say, these files are still there. Thats why we could get these files back. However, this situation would not exist forever. Once you save new file there, the original files also are rewritten and gone forever.

Therefore, in your case, you are supposed not to save anything new on this drive and download data recovery software to get back these files. Just search data recovery tools over the internet.

Have you get back your data?

Actually, data on a hard drive is only erased permanently when the status of the bits are changed. The formatting doesnt do that. It is just the space used to save these files that is marked as free space for the new data. Thats to say, these files are still there. Thats why we could get these files back. However, this situation would not exist forever. Once you save new file there, the original files also are rewritten and gone forever.

Therefore, in your case, you are supposed not to save anything new on this drive and download data recovery software to get back these files. Just search data recovery tools over the internet.

Yes! You mean that I still could get back my data by using a data recovery tool, right? Do you have any suggestion for me?

I am totally a computer noob. Thank you in advance.

Well! If you really know little about data recovery stuff, I think I could help.

Actually, after you Google data recovery tools on the internet, you could see plenty of data recovery tools available online. Some of them are free, some of them are not. You should put much more attention to this point and make a wise decision according to your won needs.

Here are some freeware for you:

http://www.piriform.com/recuva

http://www.formatrecovery.blogspot.com/2013/02/recover-data-after-formatting.html

Here are some paid tools for you:

http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-data-recovery-file-undelete-utility.htm

You should read these articles to know more information about data recovery stuff and select a right one:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_recovery

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_data_recovery_software

Well! If you really know little about data recovery stuff, I think I could help.

Actually, after you Google data recovery tools on the internet, you could see plenty of data recovery tools available online. Some of them are free, some of them are not. You should put much more attention to this point and make a wise decision according to your won needs.

Here are some freeware for you:

http://www.piriform.com/recuva

http://www.formatrecovery.blogspot.com/2013/02/recover-data-after-formatting.html

Here are some paid tools for you:

http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-data-recovery-file-undelete-utility.htm

You should read these articles to know more information about data recovery stuff and select a right one:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_recovery

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_data_recovery_software

Thank you for your prompt replies. I will try your recommended tools latter. Thank you very much!!!!!

Thank you for your nice help. I have restored my needed files back by using the second freeware recommended by you.

Thanks God! Thank you very, very much!!!!