You Formatted E: Instead Of F:A Quick Format Clears The List, Not The Files.

A quick format writes a fresh, empty index and leaves everything else where it was. To Windows the drive now looks brand new. To DRE Pro it is full of files worth reading. Stop, do not put anything on it and read this first.

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An external hard disk with its cover removed

Quick Format Or Full Format

This one detail decides everything. A quick format only rebuilds the index, which is why it finishes in seconds. A full format in Windows also writes zeros over the whole drive, which is why it takes so long.

If you clicked Format and it was done almost at once, that was a quick format and your chances are good. If it ran for a long time with a progress bar, the drive was overwritten.

The Order That Works

  1. Connect the drive and open DRE Pro. Pick it under Drives And Locations, or pick Entire Disk to read the whole device.
  2. Choose Deep Scan. Leave All Types ticked unless you only want photos or documents.
  3. Watch files appear as the scan reads the drive. Damaged photos and videos are repaired while the scan runs.
  4. Need the computer back? Pause the scan. Under Saved Scans you can resume it later, even after a restart.
  5. Preview what you need, tick it and save it to another drive.

Names May Change, Files Do Not

Files found by their contents sometimes come back without their old names or folders, because those lived in the index that the format replaced. The photo is the same photo. Sort by type and date, preview and you will know your files when you see them.

Formatted a pen drive or card in a camera or phone? The same rules apply. Most devices do a quick format.

When It Will Not Come Back

We would rather tell you now than after you have paid.

  • A full format wrote zeros over the drive. After that, nothing can come back.
  • New files were copied onto the drive after the format, over the places the old ones used.
  • An SSD was formatted in Windows. SSDs clear their blocks during a format, so the old files are usually gone.

What You Will See On Screen

Deep Scan reads every sector and works on formatted drives. You can pause it and carry on later.

Every File Gets An Honest Mark

The free scan lists everything it finds and tells you plainly what state each file is in.

Good

Looks complete. Open it, check it, save it.

Risky

Found but parts may be damaged. Preview before you count on it.

Overwritten

The space was reused. It cannot come back whole and we say so.

If It Was Something Else

See Every Situation

Partition Lost

A drive letter gone from This PC

Pen Drive Gone Blank

Shows empty, or Windows asks to format it

Deleted By Mistake

Shift+Delete, or a Recycle Bin you already emptied

Scan For Free.
Pay Only To Save.

See every file DRE Pro can bring back before you spend a rupee. ₹999 per computer a year, or ₹299 a month, plus GST.

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