Can I recover a file after reformatting, reinstalling, and filling the hard drive to almost max with data?

Question

So I had some files I forgot to copy before my reformatting and reinstalling of XP and I have filled up around 75% of my 100gig memory with other programs and files. I have added and deleted all sorts of stuff for about a month now and just now noticed that I have files I was missing. Is there any way to get those back after such a time and all of those steps (reformatting, etc)? I heard that once you overwrite your data it is gone and I am sure after all that the data is for sure gone, but I just wanted to hear it from others.

Answer 1

You could try a data recovery program (I've used Recover My Files but there are many options out there) but your chances are significantly less than someone who has little disk activity. Unless the file is on the 25% of the disk that hasn't been overwritten, it might only be recoverable by a high end data recovery service that can handle the extreme recovery options.

Angie - Some data recovery applications, like Recover My Files, do work, even after a disk format. I used that to recover my mail files after losing my OS due to my mother-in-law hitting the power button in the middle of a disk defrag. I had a backup but it was a couple weeks old but I didn't realize that I had an important email that was post backup. I had already formatted my disk and reinstalled the OS and some applications (certainly didn't fill up the disk though). I was able to recover several versions of the .pst file and retrieved the important email.

Answer 2

I sincerely doubt it. If you've reformatted your hard drive there is very little chance of recovery without some very expensive FBI-type recovery software.