Data · Fix
Recover Deleted Files Before They're Gone Forever
Time matters with deleted-file recovery. Every second the drive is in use, the chance of getting your files back drops — Windows or macOS may overwrite the freed sectors with new data. The first step is to stop using the affected drive immediately, then run the right recovery in the right order. A remote tech can guide you through proper recovery and tell you honestly what is recoverable, what probably is not, and when you need to send the drive to a data-recovery lab.
$150 $79 per 30-minute session · No contract · You watch every action
Fast response
Typical response within minutes during business hours.
Encrypted CyberDesk session
End-to-end encrypted. Removable at session end. You watch the whole time.
No contract, no upsell
$79 for the session. If we cannot help, we tell you upfront.
Try this first
Real, useful steps to try before you book. If they do not resolve it, the next sections explain what is actually wrong and how a remote session fixes it.
- 1
STOP USING THE AFFECTED DRIVE
Do not save new files, install software, or run scans. Every write reduces recovery odds. If the deleted files are on your boot drive (C:), shut down the computer and use a different machine for recovery work.
- 2
Check the Recycle Bin / Trash
On Windows: Recycle Bin. On Mac: Trash. Most "deleted" files go here first. If found, right-click → Restore.
- 3
Check OneDrive / iCloud / Google Drive recently-deleted
Cloud services keep deleted files for 30+ days in a "Recently deleted" folder. Often the file you "lost" is there.
- 4
For business files: check shadow copies / Previous Versions
Right-click the folder where the file used to live → Properties → Previous Versions tab (Windows). If shadow copies are enabled, you may be able to restore the folder to before the deletion.
What is actually going wrong
How recovery actually works: when a file is "deleted", the OS marks the disk space as available but typically does not zero out the data immediately. As long as the OS has not reallocated those sectors to a new file, the data is recoverable with the right tool. Three things kill recovery odds: TRIM-enabled SSDs (which proactively erase freed blocks within seconds), ongoing use of the drive after deletion, and time. SSDs with TRIM are the hardest case — recovery odds drop to near zero within minutes. HDDs and external drives have much higher odds, often days or weeks. Cloud-deleted files (OneDrive, iCloud, Google Drive) are usually still there in a "recently deleted" or "trash" folder for 30+ days regardless. The tools that work: Windows File Recovery, Recuva, PhotoRec, R-Studio (paid). For physically damaged drives, only a clean-room data-recovery lab can help — that is hundreds to thousands of dollars and we will tell you whether it is worth it for your situation.
What we do in a 30-minute session
Your tech connects through CyberDesk and works through recovery in the right order: cloud trash check (OneDrive, iCloud, etc.), Recycle Bin check, shadow copies / Previous Versions, then file-recovery tools running against the drive in read-only mode. We use the right tool for the file system, scan only when other paths are exhausted (because scanning writes to the drive), and we are explicit about success probability before starting any deep scan. If the file is on a physically failing drive (clicking, not detected, intermittent), we stop and tell you to send it to a lab — running recovery software on dying hardware can finish the job of destroying it.
CyberDesk encrypted remote session
One-click connect. No software stays on your machine after the session unless you choose to keep it.
You stay in control
See your screen the whole time. End the session in one click. We document what we did when the session ends.
Why trust us with this
We are honest about success rates upfront. SSDs with TRIM are usually unrecoverable past a few minutes. HDDs and external drives have much higher odds. Cloud files are usually still there. We do not charge you for a recovery that has near-zero odds without telling you that first. $79 / 30-minute session — if a longer recovery is needed, we tell you the realistic time and price before continuing.
FAQ
Can you recover files I deleted from an SSD?
Maybe, depending on timing. Modern SSDs with TRIM enabled (most of them) wipe freed sectors within seconds to minutes. If the deletion was very recent and TRIM has not run yet, recovery may work. Past a few minutes, odds drop to near zero. HDDs are much more recoverable.
I emptied the Recycle Bin a week ago. Possible?
On HDDs or external drives: probably yes if the drive has not been heavily used since. On SSDs: probably no. Cloud files: yes if within the cloud-trash retention window (usually 30 days).
My external hard drive is clicking — can you still recover from it?
No, do not run software on a clicking drive — it makes things worse. Clicking means physical mechanical failure (bad heads or platters). A clean-room data-recovery lab is the only path. We can refer you to a reputable lab and explain the realistic price range ($300-$3000+).
I formatted the drive by mistake. Recoverable?
Quick format (default Windows format): usually yes, the data is mostly still there until overwritten. Full format: usually no. Either way, stop using the drive and we can attempt recovery in a session.
My SD card / USB stick says "format the drive". Should I?
NO — that is the prompt that destroys data. The "needs to be formatted" error usually means file-system corruption, and the data is still recoverable with the right tool if you do not click format. Bring the card to us first.
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