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23 September 2024  Amanda J. Brook  Senior Product Manager
 

Summary
The article discusses how to recover data from a hard drive that has been accidentally formatted on a Windows computer. It explains that formatting a hard drive erases all data and sets up a new file system, which can be done for various reasons such as preparing a new hard disk, starting fresh, or removing malware. The article distinguishes between low-level formatting, which is done by manufacturers to prepare the hard drive for initial use, and high-level formatting, which is more commonly understood and used by consumers.



Table of contents

table iconWhat Is the Process of Formatting a Hard Drive
table iconCan You Unformat a Hard Drive?
table iconHow to Unformat a Hard Drive on Windows
table iconFAQ
table iconConclusion
Have you accidentally formatted a hard drive on your Windows computer that contained crucial data? If you’re searching for a solution to unformat a hard drive, you’ve come to the right place. This article will guide you through the process of recovering your lost data, step by step.
Formatting is required to use the error message

What Is the Process of Formatting a Hard Drive

Formatting a hard drive involves erasing all data on the disk and setting up a new file system, making it ready for use. This can be done to prepare a new hard disk for its first use, to clean out all data for a fresh start, or to remove certain types of malware from your system. There are two major types of formatting:
Low-level Formatting: Simply put, low-level formatting is the formatting process used by the manufacturer to prepare the HDD for its very first use. During low-level formatting, tracks and cylinders are marked out on the HDD, which are further subdivided into sectors.
how to format sd card with HDD LLF Low Level Format Tool
High-level Formatting: This is the more commonly understood type of formatting because it’s performed by users, typically when installing a new OS or preparing a newly purchased hard drive. During high-level formatting, file system structures that allow the operating system to read and write data to the disk are created.
quick Format
To complicate things slightly, the Windows operating system lets users perform two different types of high-level formatting—Quick and Full—and which of them is used has a major impact on whether you can unformat your hard drive, as we explain in the next section of the article. On Windows, users can format their drive using the File Manager, Disk Management, or the Diskpart command line utility. All these utilities only perform a high-level format.

Can You Unformat a Hard Drive?

Yes, it’s possible to unformat a hard drive, in certain scenarios. By unformat, we mean, that you can recover any data that was lost during formatting. It all depends on whether Quick or Full format was used:
High-level full format using Windows
In Windows Vista and subsequent versions, a full format overwrites all data by writing zeros across the entire disk, making recovery effectively impossible. Your only hope is to recover lost files from previously created backups.
High-level Quick Format using Windows
A Quick Format can often be reversed since it only deletes the file system metadata and not the actual data. Recovery software can usually restore data unless it has been overwritten by new files.
From the description above, it is clear that unformatting a hard drive is only feasible if the drive was subjected to a Quick Format and the data has not yet been overwritten. The above information applies primarily to traditional hard disk drives (HDDs). Solid-state drives (SSDs) typically have a TRIM feature that wipes out data completely as soon as it is deleted, making data recovery more challenging or even impossible. To increase your chances of successfully unformatting a drive, it is essential to avoid using the drive. Any additional data written to the drive can overwrite the original data, making it permanently unrecoverable.

How to Unformat a Hard Drive on Windows

As explained in the previous sections, data recovery programs can be used to essentially unformat a hard drive on Windows. But, it’s important to choose a good data recovery program that will not further escalate data loss and offers high data recovery rates. For the purposes of this guide, we will be using Renee Undeleter, a highly reliable data recovery program that is well-suited for unformatting hard drives on Windows.

1. What is Renee Undeleter?

Renee Undeleter is a comprehensive data recovery software that can assist in retrieving a wide range of files that have been lost due to accidental deletion, recycle bin emptying, disk or memory card formatting, and various other data loss incidents. This robust tool includes four essential modules: Fast Partition Scan, Whole Partition Scan, Whole Disk Scan, and Image Creation, offering a multifaceted approach to restoring lost data during system operation.
Renee Undeleter - Powerful Data Recovery SoftwareRenee Undeleter data Recovery software

Easy to use Only simple steps to recover data from storage devices.

Multiple scan modes Fast partition scan, whole partition scan and whole disk scan for different recovery needs.

File types Support to recover pictures, videos, audios, documents, mails, etc.

Supported storage devices Recover data from recycle bin, SD card, external disk, etc.

Supported systems Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP, 2000 and Mac OS X10.6, 10.7, 10.8.

Easy to use Only simple steps to recover data from storage devices.

Multiple scan modes - 3 scan modes for different recovery needs.

Supported storage devices Recover data from recycle bin, SD card, external disk, etc.

Free TrialFree TrialFree Trial

3000 users have downloaded Renee Undeleter and found data back!

2. How to recover hard disk data with Renee Undeleter?

Restoring data with Renee Undeleter is very simple, the specific steps are as follows:
Step 1: Download, install and run Renee Undeleter, select the (Whole Disk Scan) option on the main interface. Note: Do not install on the disk that needs to restore data, so as not to cause data overwriting.
select whole disk scan to scan disk in renee undeleter
Data Recovery Features
Fast Partition Scan: Recovers files from accidental deletions or recycle bin clearance.
Whole Partition Scan: Restores files from inaccessible or formatted partitions.
Whole Disk Scan: Analyzes partition information for a comprehensive disk scan.
Image Creation: Generates a partition mirror image for backup purposes.
Step 2: Next, select the hard disk device to be scanned, and click (Next). Select (default setting) on the advanced setting interface.
select a disk to recover in renee undeleter
Step 3: The software will initiate a scan of the hard drive and present a “Select the partition you need to scan” message. Select the appropriate partition.
Select the partition you need to scan
After the scan, preview the files by double-clicking in the preview pane on the right. To recover a file, highlight it and click the Recover button located at the bottom-right corner.
preview before recovery
Step 4: Click (Browse) to select another disk to save the recovered files, and then click the (Restore) button to start the file recovery command, you just need to wait patiently.
recover the whole disk data

FAQ

How to unformat a hard drive from XBOX One?
You will require a hard drive enclosure or case if you want to recover data from an XBOX One hard drive. After acquiring a hard drive enclosure, follow these steps:
1. Disconnect your XBOX One hard drive and put it in the enclosure.
2. Connect the HDD to your computer.
3. Scan the drive using data recovery software like Renee Undeleter to recover your data.
Renee Undeleter - Powerful Data Recovery SoftwareRenee Undeleter data Recovery software

Easy to use Only simple steps to recover data from storage devices.

Multiple scan modes Fast partition scan, whole partition scan and whole disk scan for different recovery needs.

File types Support to recover pictures, videos, audios, documents, mails, etc.

Supported storage devices Recover data from recycle bin, SD card, external disk, etc.

Supported systems Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP, 2000 and Mac OS X10.6, 10.7, 10.8.

Easy to use Only simple steps to recover data from storage devices.

Multiple scan modes - 3 scan modes for different recovery needs.

Supported storage devices Recover data from recycle bin, SD card, external disk, etc.

Free TrialFree TrialFree Trial

3000 users have downloaded Renee Undeleter and found data back!

How do you unformat a hard drive on a Mac?
To unformat a hard drive on a Mac, you can use data recovery software like Renee Undeleter:
1. Download Renee Undeleter and install it on your Mac.
2. Open Renee Undeleter.
3. Select the drive you want to unformat.
4. Scan it and choose the files you want to retrieve.
Is it possible to unformat a hard drive on Windows 10 for free?
While some data recovery software can help you recover your data for free, you need to ensure that they’re safe to use and won’t damage your HDD. It’s best to stick to tried and tested solutions like Testdisk.

Conclusion

Unformatting a hard drive on Windows is possible, especially if you have used a Quick Format and have not overwritten the data. Using a reliable data recovery program like Renee Undeleter can significantly increase your chances of recovering your lost files. Always remember to avoid using the affected drive to prevent further data loss and follow the steps outlined in this guide to recover your valuable data.