I formatted a partition while reinstalling Windows and recovered some needed text files from that partition, the problem is they all look like this:
is there any way to reincode them somehow? There are also .doc and .pdf files that don't open..?{y?U?zUq Uz|_UUi
Could you clarify please? Did you recover the files before the formatting or after?
Then I would suggest that your recovery software put the files into the state they are. Recovering files AFTER a format is tricky at the best of times, even after a so-called quick format. Which recovery software were you trying to use? Some are a lot better than others, but none are perfect. Do you have a backup of your files pre-reinstall? If you used the re-installed system much before attempting the recovery of your files their contents might have been overwritten.
Im limited to free options and was using Recuva, it doesn't have that possibility.
Any file recovery program (including Recuva) can only recover a file deleted from your computer if the same space on the hard drive hasn't already been used by another file. Every time something is saved or installed, the chance that your file will be recoverable decreases. Since you formatted your drive before using Recuva I would say that your files have been overwritten with the gibberish you have recovered from the same space on the drive. You should always take a complete system image backup before installing a new OS or formatting a drive. There are several free backup software options available for this purpose. They won't help you get your files back though. They are likely lost, I am afraid.
I thought the purpose of these programs is to recover permanently deleted files, and infact the partition itself wasn't actually formatted, I just deleted it and made a new one in its place. all the recovered files (tiny size text files) are "excellent condition" according to Recuva i.e they haven't been overwritten by anything. I really think its an encoding problem, I just dont know where to look to fix it.
Without a backup of your files you may be at a total loss. You could check for more free alternatives or pay versions that have a free trial. If you do decide to try another program remember if you install anything or write any thing to that drive you chance over writing the files your trying to recover.
Sorry but the process of deleting a partition does remove everything and creating a new partition in the resultant free space usually does have formatting automatically running. It does make recovery of files quite difficult. I delete partitions from HDDs in preparation to clean-installing an Operating System on a clean drive [same as if new from the factory].
Last edited by Berton; 08 Aug 2016 at 18:26.
You shouldnt use file recovery software for a formatted drive you use a special unformat software there is lots of free one Free unformat hard drive with EaseUS unformat freeware.
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