Your Photos Might Not Be Gone Forever

Recover files you thought were gone forever
April 2011
by Robin Wark

Are you ready to make memories this spring and summer? Weddings, vacations, days at the beach, trips with the kids or grandchildren... there is a lot to do and plenty of special moments to capture with a camera or camcorder.

Many of us now use digital versions of these devices. While they make it easy to take pictures of or film the action and then share it, things can go wrong. One wrong click and your photos and movies can be deleted or the memory card reformatted.

However, your precious photos and movies might not be gone for good. Please read on!

Not Really Gone
When you select a photo, or other data, to be deleted, it is not actually wiped away from the device or memory card. What happens is the space it occupies is marked as free. When new photos are taken, this space could be used for them. The same principles apply for digital camcorders and, actually, for most computer data. When a memory card is formatted, the entire card is marked as free.

So, once you realized that you have accidentally deleted photos or reformatted your memory card, do not take more photos. This could overwrite new photos over the photos you want to keep.

If the photos are not overwritten, there is a chance that they can be recovered. Data recovery is not always possible, as other factors such as damaged storage cards can play a factor.

Recovering Photos and Movies
Software such as ParetoLogic Data Recovery Pro will scan your storage card or camera memory to see which photos or movies can be recovered. Some features to look for in data recovery software include:

  • Ability to retrieve files from freshly formatted or partitioned devices or drives.
  • Previews of most files before recovery.
  • Saving recovered files to a selected location.

Of course, it is always a good idea to look for software that has a straight-forward process and is easy-to-use. A key to its ease of use is whether the software is backed by a Technical Support Team. It can be frustrating to have no one to turn to when you have questions.

Other Uses
File recovery software can be handy in more situations than just photo and movie recovery. Every year one in four PC users suffers from some form of data loss, according to the Gartner Group. Data recovery software is like a safety net that can save you time, money, work and frustration.

These programs search your hard drive – and peripheral storage devices – for files that can be recovered. Good data recovery software can even bring back to life files that are encrypted or compressed. Some other features to look for include:

  • Ability to recover from storage devices, such as flash drives, USB sticks, MP3 players and iPods.
  • Text search. This allows you to enter keywords or phrases for the program to hunt for in deleted documents.
  • Recovery of email messages and documents. More and more important "conversations" take place using computers. With one incorrect click, these messages can disappear.

Your information and files are important. While accidents happen, they do not have to cost you work and memories: data recovery software can help.

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