Recovering Windows 8.1 deleted files

Hi

Yes I have had success in recovering deleted files, and recuva, Active@Undelete worked for me, but as pwillener mentions, it really depends on how quick the client got the PC to you, did they try anything themselves, if data recovery tools were used, was any data it did find saved directly to USB or External drive.

I mention external drives as if deleted data is found, then if an external drive is not specified for the recovery drive, the recovered data will write over the deleted blocks, this possibly overwriting the next batch of files to be recovered.

Also as pwillener mentions Windows 8 runs many cleanup tools automatically, so if a cleanup or defrag runs, the data is overwritten.

Could try this method as its worked for me, not on Windows 8, as not needed to go this route as yet, but has for previous Windows versions and use Linux Live CD

What I would also try as it may minimise Windows running cleanup maintenance is to slave the drive to another PC and run any recovery tools from the main drive on another PC, should stop background I/O

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As a side note, big lesson for all to learn, backup, backup, backup, many tools available in Windows 8.1 (File History - WHY this is off by default I will never understand), backup tools, Easeus ToDo is one and Built into Windows 8.1 is OneDrive, so cloud storage.

I know once the horse has bolted, but a good thing to type up in a info leaflet or on website for clients of yours or general public.

Wish you well with this as loosing important files can cause all sorts of issues.