my boyfriend reformatted my hard drive, what are my options of getting my stuff back?

Answer 1

If you haven't done anything else with it, maybe 50-65%. Take it to a computer repair store.

The way that computers work is that formating does not remove the data, but removes the index. If you have done nothing else, there are programs that can recover the data, or most of it. But the more you have done since (i.e. install programs), the more of that data which has been overwritten and the lower your chances are.

If the data is important, it is best to take it to folk who know what they are doing because if you try freebie programs, they may or may not work, but in the process may reduce your chances of recovery of the remainder of the data.

Get an estimate of the cost before they start the work.

Answer 2

Formatting chops off only the marker that tells your computer where to find the data. The data itself may still be there if the spot it was stored in has not been written over yet by something else. It's hit or miss on whather you will get anything back if you pay someone to recover whatever is there.

A side note to all the folks screaming that the data is gone...you have to write over that stuff more than a few times to make sure it is totally gone...the DoD systems that ensure material is GONE for good write over things some 30 times.

Saying that your data is gone when you reformat something is like saying a peice of paper is shredded and unreadable if you cut it into a couple of dozen pieces with scissors.

Answer 3

^^ these people are idiots and have no idea what they are talking about. All a format does is removes the location of the files in the index, a hard drive works with tiny little magnetic pits that are either 1 or 0 for each bit. When you format it marks those pits as clear, but does not do anything to them until they are overwritten by something else...

There is expensive software that is either hit or miss that will scan all the passes for retrievable data.. Other then that you will probably have to spend a few thousand dollars to send your hard drive out to a data recovery company..

Answer 4

unless u have put ur stuff on an external hard drive first, its gone totally. reformatting erases everything on the drive. it's as bare as the desert after a reformat, and data cannot be recovered.

Answer 5

It is restorable, but at a price:
Cheap version: http://www.novastor.com/datarecovery.asp

http://www.p-dd.com/windows-data-recovery-software.html

http://www.quetek.com/prod02.htm?source=findwhat

And http://www.recovermyfiles.com/

These seem fine; I appear to have lost my link to the main data restore gear I recommend, and its the stuff I recommend. Works on linux open source code, but costs 69 dollars US for the simplest and 79 for the better one.
Sorry thats the best I can suggest

Answer 6

If the format wasn't a quick format, the files are deleted. If it is important, you might pay a service to recover the files. You might get some software to recover the files.

Answer 7

If it is reformatted it then it is impossible to get it back. The only way to get your operating system is by reinstalling it with the CD. It is impossible to get your data back once you reformat it.

Answer 8

Impossible: In short: Format = Erase HD

Answer 9

yer, the lot are right, if it was a quick format then there is a chance of your documents surviving but if it was a full reformate then sorry, your entire stuff has been wiped, you'll have to reinstall your system!

good luck!

Answer 10

I think it is time to reformat your bf.